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Getting Started in Coin Collecting

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For many coin collectors, getting started is the easy part; it’s stopping that is the problem. It may be addictive, but it need not be expensive; you can start coin collecting with a minimal amount of time and money.

Perhaps the first major coin collecting decision you will need to make, however, is what coins you want to collect. While you can make a general collection of unusual coins, many collectors recommend collecting with a specific list of coins in mind. This specific goal structures your collection and keeps you focused on where to spend your time and money. There are simply too many unusual coins out there for you to try and get all of them.

For example, you could begin a collection of coins from a specific country and/or a specific time period. You might also want to restrict yourself to circulation, non-circulation, commemorative, or proof coins. Many collectors also suggest searching for a specific set of coins, such as Lincoln pennies, in which you work to obtain one coin from each year and/or each mint.

It’s also a good idea to do some research before you jump into collecting. Find out if there will be a coin show in your area and attend the show just to browse and ask questions. Search online to find out the approximate price range of coins or simply to get detailed information about certain types of coins.

Above all, start small. If you’ve never collected coins before, don’t spend hundreds of dollars up front. Before you spend all that time and money, buy a few coins, do some research and see if the project appeals to you. Otherwise, you’ll just end up with a shoebox of old coins shoved in a corner of the attic.

Next Page: Caring for your Coin Collection

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