Coin Collecting Guide

Numismatics is the traditional term for coin collecting, which originated from the middle ages. Besides coins, it includes the study and collection of silver and other token and paper money. A numismatist can also be described as a collector of coins that are in a frame. The early enthusiasts of coin collecting were called nautical men. They studied nautical charts, bought and sold sea shells, and collected coins related to sailing and navigation.

Coin collecting, by its very nature, is a hobby that requires vast experience and knowledge about coins. A beginner should start his or her collection with only few hundred pieces, as collecting more coins would require more time, effort and money. One of the first coin collecting guide books that could be useful is Dime Guide. It gives a detailed idea about the grading system followed by the US government mints. It provides information about the rarest coins and the grading criterion that is used by the mints to assign them different classifications such as nickels, dimes, pennies, quarters, fractionals, or dollars.

Another coin collecting guide is the Modern Currency grading book. It provides complete details about the coin grading scales used widely by coin dealers and collectors. It includes the grades of each coin and the denomination in which they are presented.

There are many online sources from where one can learn about coin collecting. Some of these online sources give information free of charge while some others charge a small fee. Most of these websites provide information about the coins that have a historic value and also those that are presently worth money. There are websites that help beginners to prepare an inventory of their collections. These websites also offer valuable tips and hints on how to improve the quality and quantity of coins being collected.

An individual interested in coin collecting should make it a point to know more about the history of coins. He should know the Mint that released the particular coin and the period when it was in circulation. The Mint that is generally acknowledged as having issued the coins is known as the denomination. The years during which the coin was in circulation is termed the age of the coin. The significance of the age and the type of coin in which it was minted are important in determining the value of the coin.

A collector should understand that collecting coins requires proper care. Collectors should make it a point to store their coins in proper display cases. Some coin collectors find it useful to have a coin collection portfolio in which they can categorize the coins and place them appropriately in their display cases. In this way they can identify which coins they want to add to their collections. In order to get the best value for their coins, coin collectors should also follow the minting process carefully.