Coin Collecting for the Novice

Collecting coins can be a fun and entertaining hobby for anyone! A coin collector can choose to focus on many different types of coins and build their collection to fit their interests. You might collect coins from just the U.S. or from around the world, and some people even collect coins as a way to make money. This is an easy hobby to start, and learning can happen all along the way.

The History of Coin Collecting

History experts believe people began using coins around 650 B.C. and started collecting coins as a hobby in the 16th or 17th century. In the United States, the Philadelphia Mint was established in 1792, and the production of American coins has evolved over the years as people have needed different types of coins. Today, we have penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar, and dollar coins.

• History of Coin Collecting: Read about the history of coins starting in ancient Greece.
• Collecting Historical Coins: Use this guide to learn what a historical coin is and why people collect them.
• The History of Coins: Find out about how coins and coin collecting got started here.
• Coin Collecting: This article goes into detail about the past and present of coin collecting as a hobby.
• Seven Reasons to Collect Coins: People collect coins for lots of reasons, including an interest in history, a desire to invest in coins that they can sell later on for more than they paid, or just the challenge of tracking down and putting together a collection.

How to Get Started Collecting Coins

Beginner coin collectors can dive in by reading about different coins and looking at pictures of coins to learn more about them, then deciding what types of coins they want to collect most. Some collectors spend thousands of dollars on coins that are extremely rare, but it is possible to have fun and build an impressive collection without that type of money. One easy and fun way to start a collection is to decide on a theme. Maybe a collection of pennies sounds perfect, or maybe the collection will have a coin from every country in the world. A coin collection can also be based on a certain year, or the Tooth Fairy can even bring a quarter from each state in the country!

• Coin Collecting for Kids: Kids can start off with simple collections and build from there.
• Basics of Collecting Coins: Read this issue of The Mini Page to learn all about coins and the hobby of collecting them.
• Five Steps to Get Started Collecting Coins: Follow these tips from the Royal Mint to start this fun hobby.
• Developing an Interest in Coin Collecting: Dive into the intriguing world of coins and find out why people love this hobby.
• Coin Collecting Terminology: Learn some of the words that people use to describe coins and what they mean.
• Starting a Child’s Coin Collection: Often, your parents will be able to give you a few coins to start your collection, and they might even want to collect coins with you.
• Deciding What Coins to Collect: You can create a coin collection based on lots of different themes, like all of the U.S. state quarters, a penny from every country, or every coin minted in a single year.
• Coin Collecting for Beginners: Guide to Starting Your Numismatic Collection: Read this detailed guide all about building a collection of unusual coins that can be added to for years.
• Basics Every Coin Collector Should Know: Once you start collecting coins, you’ll learn about things like how to properly hold and examine coins and how they are graded.
• Choosing a Coin Type and Series to Collect: Decide on a collection type to focus on when you’re starting out as a coin collector.
• Coin Collecting for Beginners: Browse ideas for different ways to start a coin collection.
• The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to U.S. Coin Collecting: Learn how to get started with this guide that tells you just about anything you’d want to know about the hobby.
• Getting Kids Started in Coin Collecting: Here, parents can read all about starting a coin collection with their children.

Where to Get Coins

When you’re starting out as a coin collector, it may be confusing to know how to find coins. There are many paths to take to start a collection, and the best one will depend on what type of collection is being built. If you want to collect American coins, you might just start by asking friends and family to look through their coins and show you any that look interesting or different. You can also join clubs for coin collectors and go to conventions where people buy, sell, and learn about coins.

• Investor Education: What Determines the Value of Coins? Find out what goes into the price of a collectible coin here.
• List of the Top 100 Modern Coins: While some collectors focus on only old coins made of pure silver or gold, more recent coins can be fun to collect, too. This page has a list of some of the most interesting coins made since 1965.

Taking Care of and Organizing a Coin Collection

When starting a collection, it is important to decide how to organize your coins. You might choose to put them into a special binder, or each coin can be kept in an individual envelope. It is a good idea to get a pair of cotton gloves that you can use to handle old coins and a magnifying glass that will let you look more closely at the details of each coin. Take notes on where each coin came from, how much you spent on it, and any other important or interesting information. It can be fun to look back at these notes throughout the years.

• How to Store Your Coins: Check out these different ideas for where to put your collection.
• Caring for Your Coin Collection: The U.S. Mint offers tips on how to organize, handle, and protect your coins.
• Tips for Organizing Your Coin Inventory: Learn ways to keep track of a coin collection.
• Collectible and Rare Coins: Explore five different types of rare coins that you might decide to collect.
• Personal Checklist of U.S. Coins: Print out this guide to keep track of all of the American coins you have collected or are still looking for.
• How to Organize and Inventory Your Coin Collection: Read all about different ways to organize coin collections.

Coins and Their Values

Coin collectors learn quickly that similar coins can have very different values. Older coins tend to be worth more, and rarer coins are also more valuable. Coins are sometimes rare because only a few were produced in the first place. Once you’ve been collecting for a while, you’ll learn more about how to spot rare coins.

• Selling Your Coins: If you decide to sell part or all of your collection, read these tips for how to do it.
• How to Sell Coins for Top Dollar: Make money as a coin collector by selling coins for the highest price.
• U.S. Currency Pricing Guide: This page can give you a general idea of how much different coins are worth.
• NGC Coin Price Guide and Values: Take a look at the values of ancient and rare coins here.