New To Collecting- Where Should I Begin?

Thanks wiggam, I think that I am on the right track from what you're saying! Appreciate the response!
Regards,
AG

Anthony!

I suspect my experience will be similar and yet different to many here. Like a lot of people, I got a few coins from my Dad, picked out the ones I liked and decided it would be fun to collect.

And like many, I decided to collect coins I'd spent as a kid. There perhaps the similarities ends, because here in England, unlike the US, our earlier coins were mostly de-monetised with the introduction of decimal coins in 1971. So you can't pick them up in change any more, you have to trade, beg or buy the things!

Also, we don't have a history of certifying coins so, unless an American TPGS has been involved, pretty much all coins are raw. OK, I have at least one coin that was slabbed, but it was broken out before I bought it.

In the end I have specialised (for the past 10 years) in coins from the early 1600s (well, 1625-1649).

Why? Because I like the look of the things, the history, the connection with people who handled and spent them, or later on collected them (or hid or lost them) so that they are still around today for people like me to enjoy!

Best advice I have? Collect what you enjoy. Learn about the coins you collect, particularly how to tell the real deal from a fake and how to grade. Buy the coin, not the slab. Don't worry about future value.

If you collect decent coins that are interesting, there will be someone else who will buy them off you if you want. And if it comes to the worst? Well, you'll have had the enjoyment of admiring and safeguarding a bit of history for a few years. All for the modest cost of a few pieces of metal.

Oh, I can't resist a show-and-tell! So as a contrast to Mudler's lovely coins, ... here's one of mine!

(If it looks a bit odd, that's because it was hand (rather than machine) struck. A shilling (roughly equivalent to a Quarter) minted sometime between July 1639 and July 1641. The chap on the front is King Charles I, the son of James I of England (of King James Bible fame) who was born November 1600 and executed January 1649.

Another angle you can add, which I have going, is collecting birth year sets for yourself and/or family members from the mint nearest their place of birth.

I also take this idea a step further by subtracting 100 years from those dates to determine which coins to get for my 1800's typeset of denominations

Those are two great ideas guys. I really appreciate the responses- they've been very helpful!

to the CCF and to this tremendous hobby ... hopeful the hobby sticks with you and that you enjoy many years of pleasure from it.

I will suggest a simple and very low cost method for you to begin your collecting adventure ... and gain as well a tremendous amount of baseline numismatic knowledge.

Roll search current circulating coins from your local bank.

Many of us here at the CCF are roll searchers ... there is even an entire forum dedicated to the topic.

http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/...FORUM_ID=147

The beauty to roll searching is that you pay only face value for any coins you decide to collect ... and a few low cost folders can be acquired to house your growing collection.

I search cents and nickels (hence my forum name) ... but pick a demonization of your choosing.

While roll searching you will gain baseline knowledge of many important numismatic topics ... all of which will serve you well should you decide to move onto more expensive numismatic pursuits.

Again ... welcome and trust that the CCF experts are here to support you with questions.

David

Welcome to the hobby!

- I would warn against purchasing expensive coins to start with unless you are certain of their provenance. That goes double if you're looking at old coins.

- Coin collecting is basically an aesthetic hobby. Only bother with coins that you actually enjoy looking at.

- Add to your collection regularly.

Thanks demarco.
HAAA @ just carl- actually I've been working off of theblue book prices and seemed to have had great success with my purchases so far. don't know if this is normal but I guess time will tell. And I will pick up the Red Book for comparison prices regardless- thanks again everyone!