New To Collecting

I'm in Britain where collecting is slightly different and the only coins you can pick from circulation are under 45 years old.

But my advice is that, unless you're collecting for investment (which I don't really count as coin collecting and feel that as long as what you buy will sell for more it doesn't matter) you need to find coins you like.

It might be the size, the metal or the designs. But really there's no fun trying to collect things you don't find attractive and enjoy looking at.

Beyond that, I'd recommend a coin guide. In the UK there are a few for under $8 that explain coin grading and give a guide to the prices of coins and tell you what's easy to find and what's not. I'm sure there will be US equivalents someone can suggest.

And, depending on where you are, maybe you could look out a coin club or society? Though the internet is a good place to learn, it's fun to handle coins too!

Oh and

I suggest you look into purchasing something called the Red Book by Whitman Publishing. Look through that to see what you like. Also, try the many different web sites on coins such as the Whitman Web site and request a catalog. Also, try to find a coin show and/or coin store in your area. Go there and just look to see what appeals to you. And also what you can afford. If only looking through change, go to banks and request rolls or in some places they have bags of coins you can purchase. Just remember not to return those to the same place. They get mad when you do that.
And don't forget to ask your friends, neighbors and relatives if they have any jars, boxes, cans of coins you could look through.

I think the first thing you will have to decide is how are you going to go about building your collection: => are you

1) going to collect them from change/circulation
2)do roll hunting
3)purchase from auctions , coin shops etc
4)a combination of any of the above

Once you have decided the most cost effective way of bui;lding your collection is, then comes the decision of are you going after modern coins, ancient coins or both?

A very good start and challenge would be to try and collect commemorative coins in circualtion.

This may not float your boat but another area of coin collection that is growing in popularity especially in Europe is collecting fakes or forgeries of coins. I dont know if any criminals in the US make fake coins but its one of the dark side yet fascinating area of coin history.....

Once you get going with your collection you will eventually start reading more about coins and with increased knowledge will come the desire to own some of the coins you see or read about hence you will eventually expand your horizons ! Best of luck