I want to try to get into collecting coins?

Question

I have been looking to find a new hobby. I came across coin collecting and it seems like interesting. But, I don't know where to start?

Answer 1

Try to look......

*under your........

couch

bed

ETC

in your........

pockets

bookbag

ETC

or ask some one for a penney or earn a some money!!! or but some thing with your money and when the cashier gives you change (coins) and collect the one you want!!! :) hope this helps!!!!

Answer 2

There is so much to collect that many collectors narrow their collecting to one area. Quarters, type collecting (meaning one of each), halves, US, Mexican etc, proofs, commemorative, slabs, cents, world types, silver, gold, copper, Early American, dollars and so on. I collected a little of everything and then settles on halves as my favorite.

I recommend that you read up on coins, join a coin club, or at least go to a few coin shows. Do not buy anything expensive unless you know what you are buying. Never trust a coin dealer too far. They are like car salesmen. Inexpensive coins are not a problem. You can find coins on eBay or at coin shops. Coin shows have more than anywhere and you can see them in person and there is competition for your business. Slabbed coins have been graded by professional services so you know what you have. Sets from the mint can be a good deal but they are new and common. Damaged coins and cleaned coins are worth a fraction of undamaged and cleaned coins. It is difficult for a novice to recognize a cleaned or dipped coin. An old coin should be tarnished and dirty. That is expected. If you come across an old coin that is very bright and new looking but slightly worn you can figure its dipped. A mint state coin that is ugly from tarnish and silver can be dipped with no real damage and will take on new and attractive tarnish in weeks of exposure to air. Coin dealers often cannot tell the difference. The dip is in the jewlery area of your store. If you want to learn about dipping and dipped coins get some old cheap silver dimes etc. and dip them as a learning experience. Knowing helps you get what you pay for. Get a lupe to look at coins for signs of cleaning (whizzing).

My advice is start slow and learn. At some point you will know where your interest lies.

Answer 3

State quarters are good place to start.

Check out the coin collecting books at your local public library. One of the better books is The Official Red Book: A Guide to United States Coins"  the 2009 version is out. It costs @ 14.95.  Edited by Kenneth Bressett

The introduction tells about how to use the book and about the hobby (Numismatics).

There are probably websites, too. check those out. Sometimes there are coin shows in the area. Dealers are there to sell and trade coins. You can get tips and good advice from them.

Good luck.

Answer 4

start with collecting state quarters and go on from there, maybe go take a tour of the mint  in philly and you will find out more about coins

Answer 5

Sometimes small coin websites will have cheap coins.  Most companies charge more than red book value on coins, but small coin dealers usually sell there coins at a reasonable price.  An example of that would be the following...

1)  www.gourleycoins.com

2) People who sell at http://www.ewaey.com/Coins-and-Paper-Mon...

etc.

I like gourley coins because if you can not find what you are looking for, he has ads to take you to other good coin dealers.

Answer 6

Get yourself a good guide and find yourself a good local collectors shop, also ebay for bargains, but a guide is essential so you don't pay too much!

Answer 7

Start by reading on the hobby through online articles, magazines, and the Red book, available at a coin shop or bookstore. If you have a coin shop in your area, meet the dealer and ask lots of collecting questions, to develop a sense of your interest. In my opinion, the best collecting area is cents; there is a rich history of cents in this country. A good source to begin collecting is a bank. Buy a few dollars worth of coins and begin a search.