How To Get Started

I guess it really depends on what you consider Modern. If you are talking State Quarters and Presidential dollars. Then you might try Jefferson nickels or Kennedy halves. The majority can still be found roll searching (and you will be surprised as to what can be found in rolls). If you want to start collecting an obsolete issue, then Franklin half dollars are affordable.

Slowly, unless you've got a lot of money. I guess it depends on your definition of where older starts.

For example I like nickels, I bought a complete set of 1938-1964 for cheap and have been upgrading them as I go along. Same with the Lincoln cents, minus the key dates of course. It gets you a start and you improve from there.

I have been slowly buying older coins as time and money permit. My thoughts are when I start to get enough of a series to make it worth it I will buy an album and work on completing it. I prefer MS coins so it has to be slow, as it it pricey.

Some will tell you to buy the keys first, which is good advice, but again very pricey. I have a few, but since I am trying to make a collection I have a lot of commons (nice ones but still commons). It makes me feel like I have a real start to what I am doing.

Also the advice of "buy the book before you buy the coin" is great advice. You can avoid some mistakes that way. If you are looking for keys it is a must. If you watch e-bay with almost every year of every coin somebody is calling it a key date or rare. I just saw a 2009 silver mint set listed that way. Do your research before you buy, no one wants to spend $250 on a coin you could have gotten for $75 or less at a coin shop. I have paid more for a coin than I wanted to but it was because I wanted it and not because I didn't know better. Well that's a lie, I have made a couple of dumb buys, but I learned from them.

For high dollar coins, I don't recommend e-bay. Hit coin dealers and shows.

Anyway, do your research, don't impulse buy and take your time. Also if you buy a raw coin, put it in an air-tite or something to preserve it. It is a small investment to ensure it remains in the same state you bought it in. I do that for most of my coins, even modern ones.

Those are just my thoughts...

Common date Morgans and Peace dollars are a good way to get into older stuff. You can pick up some of really nice examples for $15-$20 if you shop around.

Like said above, roll searching is a fun way to increase your collection. It's like a little treasure hunt every roll.

Thanks. I am learning so much on this site. There are items discussed on here that I have never thought of before.