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How to Select Collectible Coins

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(1 Ratings)

When you are starting out in coin collecting, the huge number and variety of coins available in the world can be overwhelming. There are so many different kinds of coins to collect, it's hard to know where to start. If you are collecting coins for sheer enjoyment, you don't have to be particular in the coins you choose; you will simply select what you like. However, if you are collecting as an investment, then it is important for you to know how to select collectible coins.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Coin guide

    Learn How to Select Collectible Coins

  1. Step 1

    Invest in 'The Official Red Book,' by R. S. Yeoman and Kenneth Bressett. This comprehensive guide to U.S. coins puts out a new edition every year and is an industry standard among coin collectors and dealers alike. With thousands of listings for coins of all types, along with photos and price guides, 'The Official Red Book' is a great starting point for learning what coins are the most collectible. Find a copy in your local library or on Amazon.com (see Resources below).

  2. Step 2

    Get an education on eBay (see Resources below). eBay is a great place to learn what coins are considered collectible. Over the course of several weeks, make a daily visit to eBay and search for coins. By browsing the listings that come up, you can see what kinds of coins are selling and for how much. This will give you a solid idea of what coins are collectible and which are not.Chat up a coin dealer. Pay a visit to your local coin dealers and ask questions. Coin dealers are storehouses of coin knowledge.

  3. Step 3

    Pay a visit to your local coin dealers and ask questions. Coin dealers are storehouses of coin knowledge. Let them know you are new to collecting and want to know what the best collectible coins are and how to find them. Most dealers will be happy to talk with you. After all, you are a potential future customer!

  4. Step 4

    Attend a coin show. Even if you are not going to buy anything, you can still browse. By examining the coins on offer at the show and talking to other collectors there, you will learn more about what coins are collectible and how to select the best ones for your own collection.

  5. Step 5

    Purchase coin sets directly from a coin mint. These are the same coin sets you often see ads for on late night television or in magazines. While they may not have a large value now, the fact that they are minted in limited quantities increases the likelihood they will be collectible in the future.

Tips & Warnings
  • Be alert for forgeries. Counterfeit coins are unfortunately quite common in the world of coin collectors. If you have any questions about the authenticity of a coin you have purchased or are considering purchasing, take it to a coin dealer for verification. Find an experienced and trustworthy coin collector through the American Numismatic Association (see Resources below).
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