New To Collecting

thanks again for all your input...i think I might try the Eisenhower dollars

I agree that Eisenhower dollars are a good choice for a BIG coin collector. You can have a lot of fun looking for high quality BU coins from some years.

Dollars are really the only "larger" option you have, with the exception of double eagle golds and those are very expensive.

1: Pick up a RedBook and take a look at all the different dollar types and decide which ones you like.

2: Decide if you want to collect (complete sets) of a particular type, or just buy random dollars from different types. Of course you can do both. Important: If you want to complete a set make sure you can afford ALL the years and mints. Basically decide if it's affordable to complete it. Many of the expensive (key) dates have copies for sale if you don't mind filling holes without the real thing.

3: The most important thing of all. LEARN as much as you can, especially if you're going to invest significant money. Just to brush up on a few tips.

-NEVER go by Coin Values magazine or the online PCGS price list. I got screwed by that big time on my first large purchase. Unless it's a cheap coin, make a Heritage Auction account at http://coins.ha.com/default.php and look up historic prices for given coins/grades/graders. Actual realized prices is THE best "price list".

-Never trust alphabet soup coin certifiers. Certifiers aren't loved by all, but they ARE widely accepted. For overall reputation the order goes PCGS, NGC, ANACS and then ICG. Some people may have varying opinions about what they think about each grader, but that IS the order for (overall) reputation.

-Know to never clean, polish or alter your coins in any way. The one exception is to gently remove surface dirt and grime from your coins with distilled water.

-Know that it's not JUST the grade that will determine the market value of a coin. Eye appeal is another factor. Not all like/grade coins are the same.

-Keep coming back to this website and asking questions! Even my most friendly dealer gets busy and it's not his job to teach me everything. You will always find knowledgeable who are eager to help new collectors. I wouldn't know half of what I do if it wasn't for THIS particular coin forum. You can't imagine how much there is to learn, so never stop.