Your Recommendations On Getting Back Into Numismatics

Can you tell us a bit about what you have collected so far, and if there's anything in particular that you do/not have interest in?

It's not uncommon for me to find the hunt more exciting than the actual find, but I have a certain amount of pride in what I have collected so far. Sometimes, when one set is nearly complete, it's hard to figure out what to collect next but then something surprises me with its appeal and I'm on the hunt again, documenting the quest and ticking off what I get. One case (bi-metallics) have always been interesting but it was another thread on here that showed the range of coins fitting that category. Another case (Chinese pandas) were not on my radar until I one showed up on a more general search (world bullion) and I was captivated by the designs.

For me, getting a set of Franklin halves (done!) or Peace dollars (3 to go) hasn't been as entertaining as bi-metallics or pandas. There's so much more history and art out there. Just keep an open mind, browse a lot (not just shops or auctions, but blogs, newsletters and magazines as well), and when you find yourself looking longer at a category, that's a cue.

There is so much breadth and depth to numismatics that most fields could be said to be functionally bottomless.

I started out collecting pocket change, then dabbled between US classics and world coins before I randomly decided to build a Japanese type set - still one of my favorite albums to flip through.

I got bit by the ancient coin bug, and while not as cheap as 19th/20th century world coins, the diversity and historical intrigue is staggering.

And, if you really only enjoy the hunt and learning experience, try catch and release collecting - buy, learn, sell, rinse & repeat! You will minimize your losses, and eventually learn how to turn a profit, allowing you to pursue bigger game!

I found too that when the hobby is saving to make a buy, then saving some more, it becomes more that saving is the hobby, not coin collecting. So I decided to start setting up at shows and becoming a dealer. You really feel you are more part of a community as a dealer and you get discounts on everything you want to buy and put away anyway. It also frees you from trying to complete sets of everything when you just buy coins that appeal to you, put prices on them and try to sell them.

Don't get back into coin collecting. That way you'ld be helping me. Remember there are only so many coins of each type out there and if you get back into collecting them, less for me. For each coin collector added to the amount presently out there, one less of some coins I need. So be nice to me and collect things like Beanie Babies or sports cards.

Sharing your progress here on CCF might help. I know I get satisfaction from sharing my purchases here and I get even more from seeing what is shared by others.

Thanks for the help guys. I'll give a more detailed post about my collection when I have more time. I think something that made me lose a little enthusiasm is that I went through about a year long dryspell of finding nothing in the spare change (which is what I do for the most part, with an occasional buy here and there). However, I do feel a bit of rekindling by the fact that I recently found a 1909 Wheat cent in the change. It was a truly glorious occasion. I think that posting here on the community is definitely helpful. I need to re-immerse myself in numismatic culture, and I need to start actively sifting through rolls again. I'm currently working on my Wheat cent collection, plus my Confederate currency collection, and I think I'll maybe start an album for coins and currency from the Franco era in Spain. My main interest in collecting is in the historical aspect. I'm not sure that the hunt is my primary focus, but it is quite invigorating.