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 Replies: 36 / Views: 4,759 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
All too often we get postings here from folks who purport to collect coins, but they seem to lack any of the necessities to rationally engage in that pastime. At the very minimum, any collector, even one just starting out, absolutely needs: 1) a digital scale - accuracy ro .01 g is best, but even one that has .1g increments is better than nothing. They're dirt cheap on ebay. 2) calipers, usually digital nowadays, too. Also cost very little on ebay. 3) a digital camera with some closeup capability - many cellphone cameras are inadequate. 4) a good lamp, halogen highly recommended. 5) a quality magnifiying glass, such s a jeweler's loupe. 6) reference works - price guides are a start, with many other specialized books available. I think it'd be wise to have all these items in hand before buying a single coin. Is there anything I'm missing? Colligo ergo sum
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5417 Posts |
Gloves if handling coins. A strong Magnet (Neodymium) to test for silver.
And Most Importantly: PATIENCE AND A RATIONAL DECISION MAKING CAPABILITY
All too often I see people who have not done their research of see a coin they like and buy it and it turns out it was 6 times overpriced.
*****EDIT: While I do recommend gloves, to be honest I never use the pair I have. I think I get along perfectly handling coins by the edge.
I have a loupe but again, hardly ever use it.
My scale is also rarely used.
No halogen lamp or camera either. I use my 8MP Samsung Smartphone.
Price guides are absolutely crucial though.
Edited by zxcccxz
07/08/2014 10:14 pm
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Rest in Peace
 United States
1380 Posts |
Is there anything I'm missing?
Yes, tolerance. Not everyone collects coins the same. I collected as a kid, left the hobby for almost 40 years, then got back into it semi-seriously about 8 years ago when my Dad died and left me his collection. I've had fun bringing it up to date and expanding it. It currently has a replacement value in the tens of thousands of dollars, with about $1500 face value in US silver, 150 ounces of various US and foreign bullion silver, and 83 Dansco albums in various stages of completion, and 19 different coin reference books. Am I a real collector? I think so, but on your list I don't have either number 3 or 4. Why do I need them? I'm not selling my coins, not documenting them with pictures, not showing them off on-line.
Do our young collectors need all of your items to start a collection of half dollars or Silver eagles?
I tire of people thinking their way of collecting is the only way, and those whose only question on a new issue is "will I be able to buy a bunch of them a resell at a huge profit to those who missed out?" or "why did they make so many? Now mine aren't worth 20 times what I paid!"
I collect for FUN and RELAXATION! Doesn't anybody else?
Edited by jgfindring
07/08/2014 10:08 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1804 Posts |
zxcccxz============================== Quote:
PATIENCE AND A RATIONAL DECISION MAKING CAPABILITY Out of the running  Over my qualifications  Being fitted for a straight jacket  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1804 Posts |
Quote:
I collect for FUN and RELAXATION! Doesn't anybody else? Yes === and more. When I am lucky enough to get a new bag of Ikes === The thought of a Morgan or Peace, is beyond words. The hunt for Errors, Toners, 40% == 90% == .999% Spending the extra Ikes is the icing on the cake. Watching the faces as we spread the MIGHTY Ikes back into circulation. Guess the bottom line is that I get them at face. Face Ikes is the only free hobby I ever had. |
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Moderator
 Australia
16830 Posts |
1. I bought a scale a couple of years ago and was given another last year. I've hardly ever used them.
2. Bought some digital calipers may years ago. I've gone through two sets of batteries just sitting there. Hardly ever used it.
3. I have one, but certainly don't consider it essential by any means. Obviously, if I want to share my coins on the Internet, I'll need something decent to take pics with, but I've found my 10 year old flatbed scanner just as good for the purpose. You certainly don't need bajillion-megapixel gear just to post stuff here on CCF; you'd just have to shrink the pics down anyway.
4. I have one of those LED-magnifying-lamp things, which I bring along to coin club meetings sometimes since the meeting venue is poorly lit in places. I never use it at home.
5. There are a couple of magnifying glasses about the place, but unless I'm trying to read the date-in-the-star on Spanish coins, I don't need it. Using the scanner at maximum res usually works just as well, if I'm feeling too lazy to walk into the next room for the magnifier.
6. Books are the only thing on your list I personally would consider "Essential". The old adage "first the book, then the coin" still holds true, although to an extent the Internet can at least partly supplant it. Perhaps the adage should be modified to "first the research, then the coin", and research can at least initially be done online.
One of my other interests is amateur astronomy. But I've never really taken it much further than mild and occasional interest. Why? Because all the astronomy-for-beginners books I've read will tell you that you really need to buy this or that piece of kit otherwise you're just wasting your time, and I can't justify the expense. It's a very discouraging attitude.
One of the things I like about coin collecting is that you can just jump right into it, with nothing more than what you find in your pocket change.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Valued Member
United States
461 Posts |
Well I have been collecting off and on for a decade or two... I consider myself a fairly adept collector... I have a couple of the things on your list. Let's see... I have a loupe for examining coins up close. I have reference books because I enjoy reading and learning.... Do since I do not have the rest, I have to be a below novice level collector. Warm greetings to any new collectors out there that don't have these things. Depending on the items you collect these items may be useful but not all are necessary to pass the novice level.... Regardless of what you read
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2563 Posts |
I've been a collector for two years now and still don't have some of these.Just the scale and halogen lamp are what I don't have
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4409 Posts |
I am big on reference books--my personal library contains 52 works and I'm working on adding 4 books to it this month.
The only thing I'd add as a sub-point to the reference books is if you are collecting American coins the Redbook is a handy starting place. A used copy of one from 5 or 6 years ago is inexpensive...sure the prices are outdated but the basic info never outdates(mintage, stats--diameter, ASW, mint marks, photos, etc.)
-MV
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
I have everything except the calipers. I use cloth gloves sometimes when handling coins as well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
964 Posts |
Is there anything you are missing?
Pardon me, do you have any grey poupon?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5208 Posts |
All I need is a digital camera, my $10 Harbor Freight scale, my internet reputation, and the experts here  |
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Pillar of the Community
1325 Posts |
for the rich you should add: storage supplies fireproof safe insurance for the starting collector, or person who enjoys coins, they only need the coins they are interested in. Google can provide just about any reference material since libraries are in decline. I got a scale last month and paid the $10 for it (0.1g) and only used it for checking 10 halves that I thought were a little thin. lost $5 there! next thing I will do with it is check the 1982 cents I have about 40 rolls worth of to find which is which for my folders. might actually pay for itself then. the bigger scale already paid for itself when I caught a grocery store overcharging for meat because THEIR scale was off and got refunded the over charge and a gift card type thing at the store as an apology! the only thing a new collector needs is the place to put the coins even if that is an old mason har, because there are many types of collectors. what would you need the camera for? don't all phones have them now? don't most people have a webcam that can take the HD pics? i like coins because the feel and sound of them. having that is all I need and all I ever needed. even refused to buy the fancy junk the Boy Scout merit badge required and still got the badge! and if you look at the requirements for that badge now, it is all messed up, and for some reason they think that dollar bills and the markings on them for security and such have something to do with COIN collecting.  why a halogen lamp? serious question because I have one of those lamps on an arm with a magnifier in the center of the light, but havent used it since I bought it because my painting desk cant support its weight. |
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Every collector will use different supplies but should have the "basic" supplies to get started and the list that Lucky Cuss posted is a good one.I started collecting in 1971,I now use a 14x doublet but started with a 10x. I have never used gloves.I use a point and shoot camera and a usb microscope.I have one CP guide that a rarely use and a few old Red Books that I rarely use.I use web sites that I have book marked. I have a $6 scale 0.1 but I would like a 0.01. I have used all types of lighting and now use a CFL that works pretty good. Never had calipers. I mainly roll hunt cents for errors/varieties wheaties and higher grade coins. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
I have exactly 1 of those things, the camera. I admit, a scale would be useful, but I've got along fine.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2368 Posts |
I either own personally or have access to just about all of these items.
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Replies: 36 / Views: 4,759 |
Posted 07/08/2014 9:21 pm
