So why collect coins? Answer is simple really. Coin Collectors, sometimes called Numismatists, enjoy collecting coins on various levels. Some collect coins for their rarity, some collect coins in the hope that one day their collection will be worth a value. Some just do it for the sure pleasure of having a hobby that is easy to do. Doing a little research and starting off small is the greatest way to get started in this hobby. Learn all you can about coin collecting basics. There are many Coin collecting books and websites (like this one) out there, that will try to put a clearer understanding of what coin collecting is all about, and we are hear to teach you what you need to know about coin collecting. Coins have a history about them, when they were struck, why was the design chosen for that time period. There are no reasons etched in stone that says you have to collect coins in any particular way. You collect the way you want to, if you want to only collect pennies, then only collect pennies, if you want to collect complete sets of each of the denominations of coins, then do that, or you can just collect the coins that interest you. You decide what, when, and how to collect.
Coin collecting basics is this, start small. Decide what types of coins you would like to collect. What would you like your collection to consist of? Pennies, Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, Half-Dollars, Dollars, Gold, Silver, Paper Money. It doesn't matter. Maybe you want to just collect coins from a certain time period that interest you. Whatever your decision, stick with it and work to completing your collection. Also remember that coins that were struck at different places have different mint marks. A mint mark is a letter that tells us where the coin was struck. Each of the coins that you wish to collect will have different mint marks, to complete a set you will want to have each of the mint marks for that coin. Subscribe to a coin magazine, Coin World is a good one. They have a wealth of knowledge pertaining to collecting coins. Also visit a local coin dealer, not only will you be able to look at a variety of coins that the dealer will be selling, they also can answer questions that you may have, they are there to help you build and understand coin collecting basics. Use that to your advantage. I guess you will need a nice place to put your newly acquired coins. Find yourself a coin folder to display your coins. And once you get into the hobby more you can get some coin sleeves to house your collection and store them the way you would want. The possibilities are endless with coin collecting, and learning coin collecting basics is the first real step in the progression of building a great coin collection.
Building a coin collection, is a long process. It doesn't happen over night, it doesn't happen in a week, and unless you are filthy rich, it won't happen in a year. Collecting takes time, effort, and persistence, and the fact of the matter is, there are so many different types of coins to collect that it takes time to study and learn about each of the prospects. The United States have produced many different varieties of coins from the penny to the gold dollar. They have produced commemorative coins celebrating a historic event or an anniversary. What ever you chose to collect I am sure that with a little effort on your part, that your collection will be something that you can pass on to your children, or build a small nest egg for your retirement, or whatever you choose to start coin collecting for. Learning coin collecting basics is a healthy start to building a wonderful coin collection.
