How to Easily Start a Coin Collection

Coin collecting is a fun hobby that is easy to start. The change in your pocket is almost all you need to start collecting coins.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A coin book (or money to buy one)
• Pocket change
• Additional Coins for your collection

1. 
   Pennies are a good way to start

   Start by deciding which coins you want to collect. It is easiest to start with more common coins in circulation today. Late years are easier to find. Pennies are the cheapest way to start. I began my collection with common circulated coins, which are pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.

2. 
   A Penny book starting in the 1950s

   Once you have made your decision on what to collect, you should buy a coin collecting book. Whitman coin books are the standard, inexpensive books to use. You can buy them at any book store, coin collecting store, or online at Amazon or the Whitman web site.

3. 
   Pocket Change is a Good Start

   Look in your pocket. The best way to begin fueling your coin collection is by sorting through your change from everyday purchases. While the grade (quality) of the coins may be low, circulated coins are easier to come by.

4. 
   Coin Rolls Quickly Build Your Collection

   To expand your collection quickly, head to the bank and trade in cash for rolls of coins. Sort through the rolls to find the coins you need to fill your albums. In no time you will have most of the late date coins. You might luck out and find a rare, old coin too! This takes a small investment, but coins you don't need can be brought back to the bank and changed out for new rolls or changed for cash.

5. As time goes, your collection will grow. You may eventually need to purchase additional books or coin storage tubes to handle your rare and older coins. You can also find dollar and half dollar rolls at some banks. These can build up other parts of your collection.

Tips & Warnings

• Better quality coins are worth more. You can get the coin collectors "blue book" to learn more about coin grades.
• Be persistent and keep your eyes open. You never know when you will get change that includes a coin you need.
• Have fun collecting.
• Keep your collection in a safe place, the value can add up quickly.
• Be wary of buying coins for stores and online. It is easy to be ripped off and spend too much. I don't buy many rare coins, I try to find them on my own.

Resources

• Whitman Coin Books
• American Numismatic Association
• United States Mint

[Biscuit4u]

on 1/3/2009 Great ideas, Thanks