Tips Needed Please

Welcome to CC!

* Another vote about picking a series that is of interest to you. Study that series and become an expert. Know the key and semi-key dates/mints. If you try too many series to start, you'll be confused and make mistakes with your money.
* Stay away from ebay! Until you know EXACTLY what you're doing, chances are you'll end up getting ripped-off.
* Learn to spot cleaned, damaged and altered coins in your series. This is VERY important because there's a ton of junk out there just waiting for the novice collector.
* Ask a lot of questions on this forum. You'll get a lot of help.
* Find a Guru! Visit local coin shops and make friends with the owner(s). Use them to learn! Buy a few coins from the ones you'd like to cement a relationship with. Any good owner enjoys making customers their friends so they come back. I've learned most of what I know from Guru owners! It's not uncommon for me to hang out for an hour or more shooting the breeze and learning. The best shops have comfortable seats just for that purpose. Sit down, look at some coins and talk. My favorite shop owner tosses me coins worth thousands so I can see them. He trusts me 100%, which is very important....build trust so he understands your not a thief! Any dealer HATES thieves more than anything because coins are pretty easy to steal. Make sure you keep any coins on the counter in plain sight, don't reach in your pockets while looking or do anything suspicious....this builds trust. My guys trusts me so much now he sometimes leaves me watch things for a minute while he goes to the bathroom or whatever.

Great advice from BADTHAD