New To Collecting- Where Should I Begin?

to the Community!

You are going to get a lot of different stories, opinions, and recommendations to collect what you like. And you are going to enjoy every bit of it. I know I do.

About me? I prefer to collect circulated coins and I love Eisenhower dollars.

Hello AG and welcome to the forum!

First off, there is no wrong way to collect. I am sure that there are a million different ways that people have done it, so don't worry so much about where to begin and just explore the hobby first to see what you like and what makes sense to you.

Sounds like you already of the blue book (the Red Book is the other alternative) which gives you a lot of information on US coins and types. What you described is generally called a date or date/mint mark set, where you choose one type of coin, say the Morgan dollars and then collect an example of every date/mint mark combination. Another very popular way to go for new collectors is to do what is called a type set. Take a look or do a search for the Dansco 7070 coin album to get an idea, but basically this set is one of each type of design for all denominations from the 19th century to the present. And of course, you can always just collect whatever coins interest you at any time!

Registry collection services are offered by both NGC and PCGS. They allow you to enter the serial number off your slabbed coins and enter them in a digital database. (Note: PCGS only allows PCGS coins to be entered while NGC allows both NGC and PCGS graded coins to be entered.) It also displays your collection compared to other collections based on complete your collection is and the grades that they have received. I know that for some sets it can get very competitive at the top, but for us regular people, it is still a great way to track your collection and show it off.

I came into collecting because I ended up with a ton of extra coins around from my job, so I started looking into whether or not there were random varieties that might be worth something in there, but it just kind of stuck. I am, right now, primarily a type collector working on my album. However, I sort of go where the wind blows me and have a list of just generally cool stuff that I would like to have one day.

Good luck with your new hobby!

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