Showing posts with label Collecting Coins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Collecting Coins. Show all posts

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Pointers on Starting a Coin Collection for Your Children


Letting your children start their own coin collections could bring them a lot of excitement and fun. It could also teach them the importance of money in the society plus the fact that every coin carries a piece of history with it will make them more interested in it. Moreover, you could also show your children how a coin evolved into what they are now in order to instill interest in them. Starting a coin collection for your children has several factors that you must follow to make the tasks for your children much easier. Here are some of them:




You must be able to figure out the amount that you are ready to dispose for your children’s coin collection. You must keep in mind that coin collecting will need some of your money because when your children made it passed the starting phase, they will surely seek for rare or older coins, which are the more expensive ones.

Next, you must also know what your children intend to do with their coin collection. It is either they will drop the hobby by the time that they reach the age of adolescence or continue it until they are adults. If they only intend to do it for a short period, it is not advisable to spend a lot of money for it. However, if you see that they are serious about this hobby, it could possibly mean that they will carry the hobby for a long time. You can also let them know that their collections could also be a neat investment for their future due to the value that old and rare coins could bring them some fortune in the future.

Furthermore, the ideal allotment of money for your children’s coin collection is from $50 to $100, depending on the coins that your children intend to collect. The Internet could also provide some alternative sources for old and rare coins from around the world, which your children could also add to their collection.

In addition, you must also motivate your child to maintain their collection. Let them know about the benefits that they can get out of this kind of hobby. Tell stories about the coins and their stories. If you are not well versed about these kinds of things, you can do some research on the Web to gather some interesting information.

Lastly, train your children to take care of their collection so that they can preserve its value. This will teach them about the importance of these things. You can consider instructing them on how to place the coins into folders and keep them in a safe place where they can be sure that people will not be able to take it from them.

Starting a coin collection for your children is not a hard thing to do. However, you must encourage them to do so or else they will just lose their interest. Show them that you love this kind of hobby to so that they can see that they will be able to enjoy doing it too.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Collecting Coins – A Hobby for Everyone





Regardless of your age or gender, coin collecting is a great hobby that anyone could have. There are no set of rules to follow when casual coin collections are concerned, but when you talk about advanced collectors, which is when the rules come in play. However, if you do not intend to be an advanced collector as of the moment, you can do anything that you want.

There is always a sense of fascination among coin collectors, especially when they examine every minute detail a coin has – its symbols, marks, emblems, details, and historical significance. Coins are like mementos from the past that you can learn so much about. A coin could also let you know about its origin and place where it is issued. Usually, coins have famous public figures and heroes on them, which make you more familiar with people who had made big differences on the society.

The collections that you intend to make solely depend on you. As it is stated earlier on this article, there are no set of rules to follow in coin collection. However, you must learn about the different methods of coin collecting so that you have a sense of direction as far as collecting is concerned. Some collectors do methods such as the ‘shotgun method,’ which means that they are collecting coins that they are interested in, regardless of its worth.

On the other hand, some people choose to collect coins that were issued at a particular date or era. In addition, there are also individuals that choose to collect strange looking coins instead of the standard ones, which are usually flat and circular in shape. Odd shaped coins usually come from other countries – so if you usually travel to many countries, this method of collecting is also a nice choice.

Beginning your coin collection is not a hard task to do because you can do it on the comfort of your own home. Old coins could be lying around your home and considered as trash, but once you have learned about its historical background, you might be adding it to your collection. There are also local coin shops that you can visit to trade or purchase coins.

However, coins might look very inexpensive but the truth is; it is the other way around. If you really want to have a beautiful and lavish collection of coins, you must be willing to spend some money for it. Do not worry, even if you are spending a lot of money for rare coins, you can get it back because these rare coins will cost you a fortune as the years pass by. If you are not sure about the coins that you would want to purchase, you can attend coin collection exhibits, expos and events so that you can talk to expert collectors about certain things regarding this kind of hobby.

Collecting coins is a hobby worth engaging in. The benefits and satisfaction that it could bring to you can exceed all of your expectations.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Different Approaches to Coin Collection





Collecting coins can be very pleasurable and fulfilling. However, these feeling can be heightened if you are able to know the methods on how to choose a coin collection. If you are just starting out your journey in coin collecting, it is advised to start in a traditional manner, which means that you can start collecting by collecting coins from your family, friends, or relatives that kept some old coins or foreign coins. After you get the hang of it, you must do the real thing. There are methods on how to do it, and here are some of them:

First, you can collect coins according to their date or era that they were issued. This method is recommended for collectors who intend to make their collections as investments. The older your coin is, the higher its value becomes. You can consider 100-200 year old coins or Revolutionary coins (currencies used at a particular era or time in history).

The second method is through local and foreign coins. You can collect any coin denomination as long as it came from other countries. This is said to be a daunting method of collecting but it tends to excite collectors because of the diversity of coins that they acquire. It also teaches a collector about the culture and history of different countries. You could also begin your collection by acquiring coins from your own country. Afterwards, you can purchase foreign coins from coin shops if you have enough money to do so.

The third method is through metal coin acquisition. If you are just a starter in this kind of hobby, it is not advisable to go after silver and gold coins because they are very expensive. Instead, you could begin your collection with lower metal levels. This is the case if you do not have enough money to spend for this kind of hobby. This kind of method is said to be very demanding and risky so if you are not passionate about coin collecting, this is not the method for you.

There are other patterns on how to collect coins such as through details, which involves the intricacy and quality of the coin’s details. If the details are worn out, its value is lower. Toning is also important. When a coin has discolorations, the value also decreases. Lastly, a coin must be in tiptop condition to ensure that its value is preserved. Even if it is centuries old, it must still look good or else you would only end up having a lower priced coin.

Those were the methods on how to choose a coin collection. This article hopes that you have learned a lot of information about coin collecting. May you enjoy this exciting hobby and benefit from it for the years to come.

Friday, January 21, 2011

State Quarters as Part of your Coin Collection





Nowadays, coin collecting is becoming one of the most popular hobbies around the world and many individuals are getting into it. This kind of pastime is very fascinating plus the fact that it could also be a good way of investing. If you are intending to start a collection of your own, you may consider having State Quarters into your first coin collection.

Some of you may ask what State Quarters are. Well, here is a description about it. State Quarters (also known as the Fifty State Quarters Programs) is an act approved last 1997 and is still in effect. It is the most popular minted series of coins released in the United States. In fact, five state quarters were issued on 1998, which lasted for ten years. Every ten weeks, a quarter is released. These kinds of coins were never released in public because they were minted and were produced to cater to the coin collector’s passion for this kind of hobby.

Moreover, the act also formulated a new and distinctive approach to coin issuance. The State Quarters were issued according to the year that a state became part of the United States of America. These quarters are all minted – you can even notice George Washington’s face located at the front side of the coin while the design of a particular state is placed on the backside. These coins are different from normal coins because of the backside design. Every state has the authority to choose its own design, usually a symbol that signifies what the state represents.

However, the issuance of these coins were discontinued after 2008. This means that nowadays, coins are designed back to their original design. State Quarters are one of the coins worthy to be included to your coin collection because they are now starting to become rare. If you happen to acquire one before the program ended in 2008, you are very fortunate. These coins are considered as collector’s items and may cost a lot if you try to purchase one from another collector or dealer.

These kinds of coins will increase its value as the years pass by. However, the value of a State Quarter (or any coin) will decrease once its condition become below standards. In addition, there are also State Quarters that were manufactured with defects (error coins) that are more expensive than the normal ones, which could cost you $500.

State Quarters are very good addition to your coin collection. You can go to your local state office and ask if they still have some of those in safekeeping. If you did not found any, you can go to a coin shop and purchase one.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Coins Collection Tips





Everyone has a hobby of their own; some people like making miniature aircraft or train models while some people love collecting stuff. Coin collecting has been a great hobby that is practiced for centuries and it shows no signs of wavering. Some collectors, even in their later ages do not sell their coins but hand it over to their grandchildren so that someone else could carry on with their hobby. They do this because of the fact that coins tend to increase their value as years go by, which means that the older their collection gets, it increases in value.

In fact, many coin collectors nowadays are willing to spend thousands of dollars just to have a rare coin and add it to their collection. Therefore, coin collection is really worth trying out. There is no specific age or time to start collecting coins. You can do it even if you are already an adult. However, some people say that it is better when you start at a younger age because you have the chance to learn more about the hobby and gain more experience until you reach adulthood.

Moreover, this hobby will make you appreciate the contributions that coins give in terms of cultural, social, and historical aspects of our lives. Coin collecting will also make you interested about the shapes, sizes, marks, symbols, and the reasons why they happen to be like that. Most of all, this kind of activity will bring you a sense of fulfillment.

Nevertheless, if you are on deciding on making a hobby out of coin collecting, you must first consider some things before you do it. You must choose what kind of coins that you want to collect. If you are not aware, some people love to collect local coins (old, historical, and current currencies) while some people choose to seek for foreign coins. Moreover, rare and ancient coins are some of the most expensive types; so if you intend some of them, you should save some money for them because they do not come cheap.

If you are able to add a rare or historical piece to your collection, it will serve as an investment for your future. On the other hand, if you just intend to do it for fun, you can ask your family, friends, or relatives for spare coins or coins from abroad that they have in their homes so that you can start your collection easily.

Coin collecting is a rewarding and enjoyable hobby. Try it and you will see the benefits that it can bring to your life. It is never too late to start your own collection. With perseverance and patience, you are on your way to hitting the jackpot.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Coin Collecting as a Hobby





As technology and people’s lifestyle progress through the years, hobbies and leisure activities have also undergone some changes. Nowadays, people tend to forget about these kinds of hobbies and be consumed by their work and responsibilities. Hobbies serve as stress relievers and give a person some sense of fulfillment each time they accomplish something. Nevertheless, people have come to realize that these hobbies have withstood the tests of time and remained as good choices for getting rid of the stressors in their lives. Coin collecting as a hobby is also one of the most popular hobbies from yesteryears until now.

As you can see, many individuals right from the earliest civilizations have been collecting different kinds of coins. One of the good things about coin collecting is its educational value. You will learn many things about the history of your country and other countries as well. Therefore, if you love to learn about history, coin collecting is a great hobby for you.

Moreover, the value of coins could provide you with a secure investment, as rare coins could cost from hundreds of dollars up to a million. In fact, some people go out their way to travel across the globe, in search of rare coins that they can add to their collection. Numerous conventions and forums are also being conducted to serve as a place where coin collectors can share knowledge about this hobby, trade coins, and auction some of the most expensive coins around.

Coin collecting could be very rewarding if you learn about the rewarding benefits that it could possibly bring into your life. Sure, coins have little monetary value, but when a coin is more than 500 years old, its value could increase up to more than a hundred thousand dollars. Coins are appreciated for their historical, monetary, and age value.

Therefore, if you are planning to make coin collection one of your hobbies, you can consider some of these tips. First, you must determine the kind of coins that you intend to collect. You can choose to start with foreign coins, then progress to rare coins (which have greater value), and move on to ancient coins. However, rare and ancient coins could be very expensive but it can also serve as investments. You can ask a friend who travels out of the country several times to give you some coins from countries that he/she has gone. You will eventually get the hang of it after time has passed and see that you will grow fonder of the hobby.

In conclusion, coin collecting as a hobby can serve as a good investment method as well. You may never know; some rare coins that you will have in your collection could cost millions of dollars in the future.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

How to Find a Good Coin Dealer





When you have coin collection as a hobby, you could use the help of individuals who are very adept in this kind of field – coin dealers. However, as we know that there are people who love to take advantage of certain situations, you must be able to learn the steps on how to find a good coin dealer or else, your collection could simply be a part of history. Listed below are some of the characteristics a coin dealer must have:

If you want to have good coin dealers working with you, they must have in-depth knowledge about coin collecting and other aspects of this kind of hobby. Years of experience are certainly better than skill. How could you work hand-in-hand with a coin dealer who does not know what he is doing? You can examine their credentials in order to acquire the services of a certain coin dealer that goes well along with your purpose. Some dealers are good at giving you tips for investment-type of collection while other are good at guiding you through casual-type coin collecting.

Furthermore, their colleagues, coin collectors, and other people must also respect them as well. This gives you a sense of security that they will not do anything foolish to ruin their reputation. This will let you know their whereabouts – how they conduct business transactions, and how they get along with their clients. When a coin dealer has no friends or colleagues backing him up, it does not seem to appear that he does his job very well.

A coin dealer must also possess financial stability to eliminate your doubts about entrusting your collection to them. He must have the necessary assets and income that would make him stay in the industry for a long time. This comes handy when a dilemma arises. Think of a situation where a dealer is responsible for purchasing a fake coin to be added to your collection. It is his responsibility to provide you with the best coins, which means that if he had purchased a fake one, he will also be the one to pay for it in the future.

Lastly, he must also hold his/her principles well so that you can be assured that you are working with a professional that has dignity, honor, and fairness. You cannot trust a dealer who goes about his business with dishonesty, greed, and deception. A dealer must display equality in every client or customer.
You must know how to find a good coin dealer if you really want to make your coin collection progress. There will be coin dealers who would take advantage of your situation and leave you empty handed. That is why this article could make a big difference in your pursuit for coin collecting excellence.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Coin Collections – How to See an Error in Coins





If you happen to be a coin collector, then looking at the details of a coin is a natural procedure that you usually do. However, recognizing errors in your coin collections is another thing. This procedure could be very exciting and profitable at the same time. This article gives you some tips on how to see an error in coins:

(You must have some tools so that you can clearly see these imperfections. You will need a magnifying glass and appropriate lighting.)

First, you must organize the coins according to its denominations. When you are tracing for mistakes in coins, you must set the coins in groups. Place pennies on the left side of your working area, the dimes, next to it, so on, and so forth. By grouping the coins, you are making it easier for your eyes to see the differences between similar coins. Use both eyes to its full potential when you are trying to look for these errors. This will allow your brain to memorize every minute detail and patterns that a coin possesses. Moreover, this will also help you perform the procedure faster.

Next, examine every lettering, detail, encryption, and feature of each coin. If you see any odd or unfamiliar section of the coin, take a note of it. Doubling, missing letters, misspelling, and other forms of mistakes are likely to be found whenever you look into these details.

Afterwards, check for the mintmark and date of issuance. By going through these marks, you will certainly have a good start of what you are looking for. These are the places where mistakes usually occur. Some of the most common errors regarding mintmarks and date are doubling, overpunching, and repunching.

Then, you must examine the portrait of the person, place, animal, or symbol that a coin possesses. Proportional errors, doubling, facial and body part errors could possibly be noticed when you use your eyes better. In addition, you could also touch the edges of every coin. Use your palm, glide through the coin, and check if there are significant differences between similar coins. When you have determined the error-laden ones from the normal ones, set them apart.

You can do these simple steps in order to determine errors in coins. Practice makes perfect. If you are able to distinguish error coins from your collection, chances are, the value of your coins will increase.


INSIGHT:
"Stay away from errors; they diminish your value."

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Introducing Coin Collection as a Hobby for Children





If you have a son and you want him to have a hobby that he could carry until he turns into an adult, collecting coins is a good option. Instead of giving him another toy to play with, give him a chance to experience what this type of hobby brings. You can introduce this hobby to him by giving him a nice set of 50 coins to start with. You can give it on special occasions like their birthdays or on Christmas Eve, so he will know that this present means a lot to you.

However, do not be shocked if ever he does not appear to be excited or burst out in tears of joy when he receives his gift. You can explain him the pleasure brought by coin collecting and tell him stories about these coins. Through this, he will become interested and would develop his passion for this hobby.

It does not matter what age or gender your child has, but it is better to introduce this kind of hobby to them early in their lives so that they can feel more successful they would feel about their collection when they grow up. If they begin the process of collecting at a young age, they will be able to collect different kinds of coins throughout their lives up until they reach adulthood.

Furthermore, this kind of hobby will teach them the importance of saving money. You can also teach them the virtue of being thrifty by training them to save money for themselves. In addition, coin collecting can also be a method to let your children learn about the history of your country and other countries as well. Older coins from your own country would serve as a memorabilia about the history of your country.

Moreover, letting a child learn about the stories and reasons behind a coin’s history would build their interest and let them know its importance in everyday life. It can also give you the opportunity to bond with your child and have a stronger relationship. You can do this by examining and elaborating the details present in the coin – the symbols, people, and places. Use a magnifying glass to enlarge the coin and let your child see the particulars of every coin.

However, before you do this, you must be prepared to answer questions that will likely be asked by your child. You can research about the coins included in your child’s collection through the Internet. It is a much cheaper method of gathering information rather than spending lots of money on books about this kind of hobby.

Finally, by the time that he had acquired the hobby, you must teach them the important things that come with this hobby such as the proper storage method, cleaning, scouting for discontinued coins, and collecting. This may turn out to be a life enhancing experience for your child so you must always support him.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Teach your children something worthwhile; it will enhance their worth."

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Types of Coin Collectors





According to a survey, close to ninety percent of the whole world’s population made coin collecting one of their hobbies at some point in their lives. Some of these people turned this hobby into a passion that gives them a certain kind of joy and accomplishment every time they add new pieces to their collection. The leisure pursuit known as coin collection has been a hobby throughout the course of human history. This kind of hobby, when taken seriously, would also take some of your time and effort.

The American Numismatic Association has organized a convention known as The World’s Fair of Money, which is one of the best places to learn and see the world’s best numismatists, most recent discoveries, rarities, and every aspect related to this particular hobby.

There are no particular rules or guidelines when it comes to this type of hobby. Some prefer collecting coins from their own country only. On the other hand, others like to collect different coins from around the world – old, new, commemorative, historical, or just the present currency in a particular country. Some people also like to add coins that have errors in it because they are considered as rare collectibles.

There are several types of coin collectors - the casual type, the passionate hobbyist type, the historical type, and the advanced coin collectors. The casual type of collector is the type that collects random coins regardless of the coin’s value and where it came from, while a passionate hobbyist collector goes beyond the casual type of collecting and makes a conscious effort to improve his collection.

Some even buy coins from dealers to add them up to their coin sets. The advanced coin collectors on the other hand are different from the two kinds of collectors earlier stated. These collectors have in them an impressive line of collections such as medals owned by an emperor from the Egypt that are several centuries old and very rare coins from earlier civilizations. Historical coin collectors are those who are more into error coins and historically relevant coins.

In conclusion, whatever type of coin collector you would be in the future, this hobby requires dedication, patience, dedication, effort, time, and at some point, money. You will feel a sense of fulfillment every time you add another piece in your collection. You may never know, it could also be an inspiring hobby for your friends or relatives to try this kind of hobby too.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“We have different approaches to the same thing; respect others’ preferences.”

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Collecting Coins for Every Age Group





Coin collection revolves around the age of the coins, not of the person collecting them. However, the kinds of coins being collected by different age groups differ widely according to the purpose of their collection.

Collecting coins is a very good hobby. For kids, it can be a source of enjoyment and leisure. For teenagers, it can spell fame and popularity. For adults, this hobby can be an investment, an heirloom, art, and history. However, everyone who is engaged in this hobby will attest that this brings satisfaction to the soul, no matter how young or old you are.

Child Coin Collector

As a child, you may not have much money to buy coins for your collection, so you must go with what you have and what you can find free. First you must get a box, choose a special one, where you can put your coins. Your coins may come from your own pocket, your parents’ – ask permission first, or your friends. You may also find special coins from a flea market or coin shop. Each time you travel abroad, see to it that you get every coin from that place. This way, you can fill your box with a variety of coins.

Teen Coin Collector

At your present age, you now have extra cash to spend for your collection. I suggest you secure a coin album to protect your coins, because you will be collecting more valuable coins now and your collection can be the basis of your collection when you grow older. Thereby, you may start looking from rarer coins. If you can afford, buy a magazine or a book on coin collection to give you an idea what to look for and how to protect your collection. Of course, you may visit this blog to get updated on this special hobby.

Adult Coin Collector

Because you have varied interest why you collect coins, your collection must follow your purpose. You may collect coins as a source of enjoyment and pride, as well as a source of income or money. Because of this, your hobby may require you to spend extra time looking for those rare coins. The places to look for can be the Internet, flea markets, coin shops, and even houses of friends. It is important to look for and be a member of a coin collectors’ association, local or international. Reading about coins is also necessary.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Your age must dictate your collections and actions."

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Coin Collecting for Amateurs





Collecting coins has benefits whether the collector is a child or an adult. For children, collecting coins is basically based on the shape and size of the coins. Adults who want to collect coins are more serious and consider the age of these coins. Children boasts of their collection because they look unique, whereas adults collects because of the coins’ relative value.

The challenge to this hobby is where to find rare coins. Collectors normally wait for specially minted coins, which were produced once in a while. Commemorative coins are always a good part of a collection.

However, there is more to collecting coins than merely gathering them. Handling these coins is equally important. Avoid touching the faces of the coins because fingerprints lessen the value of these metal legal tenders, especially uncirculated ones. If you will need to handle the coin hold it by its edge.

Another thing to consider is the possibility of scratching the surface of the coins. Thereby, it is important to use a velvet cloth to put your coin. If you do not have one, you can use a clean soft cloth. If the coin is of very high value, you must use surgical gloves to protect its face mask.

The next thing to consider is the cleanness of the coin. Remember this: although clean coins are good to the eyes, coin collectors are after the authenticity of the coins, rather than its cleanness. Even if you use soft and lint-free rag, it will still leave hairline scratches on the coins. This will reduce its value, so leave the coins as you got them.

However, you must not let your coins get dirtier under your care. Although you must not clean them, but still you must not let them get dirty. So storage is also an important concern in coin collecting. You must protect your coin from extreme temperatures and humidity. You must prevent the damaging effects of dust, dirt, chemicals and fingerprints. Use dehumidifying equipments to protect your coins.

Coin collecting can be a profitable hobby if you know what to do with your rare coins, whether you are a child or an adult.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Proper care is important to things we value in life."