How to Collect 9/11 Commemorative Coins

Collecting coins that help to honor and commemorate those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 can be a noble endeavor. By using a combination of online resources and brick-and-mortar coin stores, you should be able to assemble a collection that would make any numismatist proud.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gloves for handling coins
• Coin collecting album with individualized plastic sleeves

1. Choose a type of metal. You can find varieties of 9/11 commemorative coins in bronze, nickel, 24-karat gold and silver. If the type of material is not noted in the coin's description, you can usually assume it's made of a cheaper alloy.

2. Opt for a novelty coin if you just want to collect a memento in memory of 9/11 and aren't concerned with authenticity or future value. Options for 9/11 novelty coins include designs with colored surfaces as well as those with "pop-up" elements, such as silver-colored Twin Towers that can be lifted up from a gold-colored background.

3. Visit your local coin dealers, and tell them you want to collect 9/11 commemorative coins. Coin dealers can place special orders for you if they don't have a particular coin in stock and they can put you in contact with other numismatists who may have exactly the coin you want. In addition, many coin dealers put up bulletin boards to encourage trading among customers.

4. Purchase coin collecting supplies to help you display and appreciate your investment more effectively. Gloves will prevent the oils in your fingertips from marring the surfaces of each coin and coin collecting albums with plastic see through sleeves will protect your collection for many years.

5. Check out one of the many online auction websites such as eBay, and bid directly on the specific coin you want (see Resources below). Be sure to research the approximate value of the coin in question in advance so that you won't overbid.

Tips & Warnings

• Never use any type of cleaning solution or polish on a coin. Most chemicals can damage the finish of the coin over the passage of years. Cleaning a coin is perceived by coin collectors (numismatists) as cheating and will instantly deflate the value of the coin.
• There is quite a bit of backlash among serious coin collectors about the value (and good taste) of some of the more gimmicky 9/11 commemorative coins, such as the ones who claim to be made of silver taken directly from Ground Zero and those with pop-up elements. This will almost certainly affect the future value of these coins.

Resources

• Collectible coins at eBay