Top 5 Mistakes New Coin Collectors Make

Hello Lembafc,
The opening about NOT cleaning coins cannot be said often enough. The example of the sale price of a cleaned vs. non-cleaned coin is especially revealing. If that doesn't drive home the point the "look through a loop" will.
old vs. new -- new collectors need to be told of this.
BUY THE BOOK! And READ IT!! !
Slow and steady - here I would add "Go slow at first, STUDY the coin and learn about it, then proceed carefully." That will prevent making the same mistake over and over.
The last point - the CCF gets that question 15-20 times a day:
"How much is it worth?"
OH that a new collector would ask, "What can you tell me about this coin?" That would release a ton of information and often the price as well.

My only complaint is that you talk way too fast, at least for my ears! All in all an instructive video.

My biggest pet peeve on anything is not learning about what you are doing. Before I started coins, I read books, websites and then I planned my purchases. Doesn't mean I didn't buy things I didn't plan, but I made sure I knew what I was buying. The posts on here (Hey I found this coin in a parking lot, that I ran over a few times, since I have never seen a coin like this it must be a mint error and worth billions?)

Now as to cleaning coins, correct ones shouldn't clean coins, but nothing to stop you from buying cleaned coins. I have picked up beautiful cleaned coins in excellent condition without hairlines, that were much cheaper than others. As these coins were going into albums, I had no issue getting them. In the end its a hobby. Buy what you want not what people tell you buy.

Great video and can not agree more, love your Korean note dispaly (I was there in 2002/03 teaching English, before they released the 50k won note and wondered why their biggest was only worth $10 or so).

I was on a facebook group about coins, mostly amateurs who find things and I identified a grimy 1830s half crown for one person who said thanks "I have cleaned it now" and I replied back - And you have ruined it - NEVER EVER CLEAN Coins, I got warned for "e shouting" and "harrassive posts".

Now that is so true. It's a hobby, not an investment. So do what you want.

Some good advice there.

I do clean some of my modern coins, especially coppers that have slight oxidation (e.g fingerprint) on flat surfaces using a cloth with a touch of polish residue and acetone as it brings out the shine. Given that I probably just threw 15 similar coins back in the recycle bin for bulk sale on E-Bay I think I can live with the possible devaluation of the coin by a few cents. I do have some queen vic pennies that have relatively good detail and a lovely green patina that I leave as is. If I was to ever buy any expensive coins then I'd leave them uncleaned. At the end of the day, I enjoy collecting coins and looking at my coins and don't give a rats about selling them for profit on ebay or Scumtree but that's my choice.