Top 5 Items A Coin Collector Needs?

Zorb? never heard of it ill have to see what your talking about.

hahaha perhaps... but I don't know that either is any less nerdy than the other. :) I swear she's just waiting to catch me off guard and stick a picture of me sporting those nerd specs on FaceBook.

Here's my position on why I like the nerd specs: My vision is fine but I'm not getting any younger, and staring at the miniscule dates on Roosevelts for 2 hours can give anyone a headache unless you're Lee Majors. These sweet jammies allow me to have both hands free, look over (or under) the magnifier to catch the football game or movie, then shift my eyes back to focus on the DDR (hopefully) coin in my hands. And even if you have 20/20 vision, you need help to see the fine details of any coin, therefore magnifiers are a must. It's just a function of how suave and debonair you want to be while using them. The Most Interesting Man in the World probably doesn't need magnification, but I do. Come to think of it, he could probably make my nerd specs look awesome.

I like the egg, merclover. Very Austin Powers.

Yes, it's still nerd central.

Actually your all missing the most important item that should be used in this or many other hobbies.
A Vodka Martini. Gen if that is the preference.
My reasoning is using this one item for coin or other collecting hobbies makes anything and everything you buy and/or plan on buying look much better. Appears to be more valuable. Makes you not want to even argue many of the subjects on this forum that start those arguements.
Even all your friends, neighbors and most relatives are now more likable.
The only downside is stopping it's use.

But which one cleans coins the best?

I'm new to this too....2 questions:

- why do you need a scale...what do you use it for?

- can you post a link to the type of microscope that a coin collector would use? Why would you use a microscope instead of a good set of loupes?


Thanks in advance for the answers....

I totally agree that booze (red wine is my poison) makes the whole experience a bit more random => I've made some pretty bad and/or bold purchases that I never would have made if I'd been sober (but those are consistently the winners!) => come big, or stay at home!

... anyway (kinda joking) ... the other major thing I've found interesting/important is:

=> man, I wish that I'd been more patient and that I'd decided to buy "nicer, more valuable" coins, rather than scurrying-out and buying-up as many mediocre coins as possible, just to fill as many album-slots as possible ...

... yah, I realize that it's a learning experience, but I really wish that someone had told me that I'd eventually be up-grading all of the "mediocre coins" (my "spare coin" collection is now almost as big as my primary coin-collection!)

=> regardless => the fun is figuring-it-out yourself (good luck, young dude!)

My five would be
1 time
2 patiance
3 A thirst for knowlage
4 A few dollars
5 An understading wife ( Most Imprtant)

My history of collecting coins from the past 30 years: Collected everything from foreign coins to paper money. If I could go back in time, I would do things totally different.

#1 FOCUS on one type of coin or a small group of coins. Learn everything you can about them.

#2 Buy supplies and then document them and store them in an orderly fashion.

#3 Then expand to include other type of coins. Slow and steady.

Otherwise you will end up like me. Got a gazillion coins and paper money from everywhere all in sleeves and have no clue what they are.

Now, once my ordered supplies come in, I will be sorting them and organizing them for months! Then after they are sorted, I will try to really look close at each one of them for what I REALLY HAVE. What a mess!

I do have several reference books (which I will not try to grade them myself) but only for variations, etc. I also have a strong bendable lamp and a magnifier. I am not intending on selling any of them but I do enjoy looking at them for personal satisfaction.

So, I guess my point is, don't go crazy like I did getting everything you could get your hands on. Be more focused on a few types and then expand. But, be organized as you go.

Some may disagree with me, but if I could go back in time, my money would have been better spent.