Starting To Collect!

One of the greatest things about coins shows, are the forums. Look at the schedule and see what you want to attend. Sometimes there are 2 great forums to go to, that are at the same time, so you have to chose. If you aren't sure, please ask. We can help. That should be a great show. The ANA has great forums in it.

Save them. I have some uncirculated rolls from when I was 13 that I got from the bank (1975-D Lincolns to be exact). While I know they won't be worth much, they do connect me with my youthful collecting days. Years from now, you will remember that roll and exactly where/how you got it. Not bad for a 50 cent investment.

First off
I collected coins as a kid and then spent them like a kid. But I came back to collecting a few years ago as an adult, and here is what I do, or have done.

I started out collecting by roll searching and putting everything into folders. When I began to find fewer and fewer upgrades from searching, I move everything to 2x2s, and put them in plastic sheets in binders. The nicer coins go into either airtites or snaptites. I then give away the folders to individuals like you.

You will want to buy yourself a loupe. Most people recommend a 10x. Personally tho, I have a 10x magnifying glass, a 30x loupe, and a USB microscope for my laptop which I also use to take photos with.

In my "Library" I have a copy of the Red Book as well as the Blue book. A copy of "Strike it Rich with pocket change". Also both volumes of " CherryPickers' Guide to rare die varities...". Next is a copy of the " ANA Grading Standards". Finally, Whitman has a series of Guide Books for each denomination and series. Of those I have the ones for "Flying Eagle and Indian Head cents", "Lincoln cents", "Buffalo and Jefferson nickels", and the "Franklin and Kennedy halves" guide books. I need the ones for " Liberty nickels" and also " Mercury dime".

Now looking at the folders you bought, keep in mind the following is just MY personal opinion or preferances.
The post 1965 Roosevelt dimes I don't collect. I have one 1964 Roosevelt dime I found in pocket change and that's it. I still haven't found a 2009 yet, but when I do, that will be kept. I don't care for the coin myself. I prefer the Mercury dime.
The State Quarters, I know won't be worth much if collected from circulation, but they were fun. I started collecting them when the Territory Quarters were coming out and found myself waiting with great anticipation until the next one came out. Most were pretty easy to get, but I did have to buy a few P mints 'cuz I live on the west coast and didn't want to wait for them to get here. I don't collect the America the Beautiful Quarters tho. Kinda too much of a good thing deal. Perhaps closer to the end of the run.
Jefferson nickels 1962-1996. My circulating collection is from 1938-1959. From 1960 to Present I am collecting Proofs only, with the exception of the "Westward Journey" nickels and any with Full Steps.
Cents. I collect the Flying Eagle and Indian Head cents, along with the Lincoln Cent. You can get most of the Lincoln Cent set from 1909 on, from roll searching and pocket change. As a matter of fact, I found my 1909 Lincoln roll searching. So If you are roll searching and collecting Lincoln cents, I suggest starting those from 1909. Then you'll have the Wheat, Memorial, Bicentennial, and Shield Lincoln cents.
The Washington quarters I don't collect. Again, the coin just doesn't appeal to me. If I were to collect these it would be pre-1965 only and that's because of the silver content. Same for the Roosevelt dime.


Yes and coin dealers too. I think you can already call yourself a collector.




If you are a collector, it's not about the silver. It's about the coin. If you even remotely think you might collect these, this is where I would focus your attention. As you have discovered, roll searching is a good way to get a collection going. About a year or so ago I decided I better get on this collection, because the silver miners were hitting them hard. I hit it kinda hard too and at one point bought 5 boxes of halves at a time, thinking that I should still be able to get a circulating set from roll searching. Nope, could not do it. I went to my coin dealer and was able to trade for the last few I needed. So I still never paid more than face value. But that's been a little while and it's going to do nothing but get harder to do, because those silver miners are still there melting our hobby. A box of these run $500, so you might want to start with just a few rolls.
Here is a link to my homepage.
http://home.wavecable.com/~kenringold/
There are a few links on it you may like.

LOL I don't think you need a scale with THREE decimal places. Even one is just fine. Reason: They cost too much and don't give you much more information than a scale with 2 decimal places. You're not weighing by carats.

Another thing: collect for yourself, not for others. Yes, take notes from other collectors but if you don't like your own collection then it's not really for you. There are many ways to collect: by type, by year, by grade, by country.... I like taking the educational route, but lately I've been trying to complete high-grade year sets of Canadian coins to put in capsule sets (the ones with a place for each coin of that year made by Aurora/Whitman). If you can inspire or educate another person with your collection I think you're a winner. There are lots of bad collections that have no rhythm or flow to them. I like organized sets that follow a simliar grade because they look better.

"I started out collecting by roll searching and putting everything into folders. When I began to find fewer and fewer upgrades from searching, I move everything to 2x2s, and put them in plastic sheets in binders. The nicer coins go into either airtites or snaptites."
^^^This right here is good advise. I've wasted lots of 2x2 flips on coins XF and lower only to open them up and spend them later. Rolls are the best, IMHO.

Finding a reputable coin dealer in your area would be a good start. Perhaps some forum members could make a reccomendation. Until you gain more knowledge it is likely best to stay away from ebay and other internet auction sites like it.

Windchild: point taken...nevertheless, a 3 point decimal scale is too expensive for a hobby.