Entries Tagged 'Getting Started' ↓
November 18th, 2011 — Coins, Getting Started, Novelty Coins, Rare Coins
The reason for each person to start a coin collection varies greatly. Some people start collecting coins because they want to invest in something which has the potential to increase in value. Others collect coins as a way to connect with past eras in history which fascinate them. Still others decode to collect coins because they simple have a personal fondness for a particular type of coin. There is no one reason which is better than the others for wanting to start your own coin collection.
If you are some who is looking to collect coins and tokens which were never intended to be legal tender then here are some tips to get you started. Keep in mind that there are only a few types of non legal tender coins and token which yield high financial returns. If you are starting a coin collection of this nature be sure it is because you are doing it to have fun and not to get rich quick.
Deciding What to Collect
There are several different types of amusement coins which can be used to create a coin collection. The forest step in creating a collection is deciding which type or types of coins you are most interested in collecting. You may decide that there is a specific type of amusement coin you want to collect such as those used at movie houses or arcades over the years or even something as specific as various casino chips. You may even decide that you want to collect the amusement tokens and coins from a specific span of time.
Take time to do some research on the internet in regards to the types of coins and tokens you are looking to collect. The level of difficulty in finding them or the average price per coin or token can have a big impact on your decision as to which ones you finally decide upon collecting.
Look in Unusual Places
If you are looking for specific coins related to a particular industry try to find others who do not collect coins from that industry but other related items. Very often someone who is collecting memorabilia from a specific era or that of a specific industry may stumble across the coins or tokens you are looking for. They may be willing to sell them for a cheaper price than someone who has them and is passionate about their coin collection.
Although the internet has become the hot spot these days for locating most anything, there are still other places where you can find items you are in search of. Try attending any conventions related to the subject you are collecting coins for. A great example is of a man who was collecting tokens used in bar and cocktail lounges. He attended a liquor convention is Las Vegas and found some selling beer and liquor memorabilia. The memorabilia vendor had come across several of the coins the man had been in search of and sold then to him well under market value so he could simple be rid of them.
Photo Credits: the justified sinner
Originally posted 2010-08-18 08:28:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
November 16th, 2011 — Coins, For Beginners, Getting Started, Paper Money
If you are thinking about starting a collection of your own you are going to need to think about your theme – coin collecting or paper money collecting? While some will choose both, most are going to try to stay within one specific theme. There are some positives and negatives to sticking with each of these themes.
Take the time to look into the good and bad of collecting both types of currency. You may find that a coin collection is perfect for your needs, or may find that paper currency is perfect for what you want to do. The more thought you put into it, the more you can be sure that you have chosen the right form of collecting.
Coins
One of the most interesting things about coins comes from the amount of times that they are changed. The design for coins will change much more rapidly than the design for paper money. The coins are easier to produce and are easier to change. Some forms of US currency have multiple styles per year. The $.25 pieces changed multiple times per year, with each piece representing a different state with a different design. The $1 Presidential coins feature a different face for every president, changing multiple times per year.
Coins are also easier to find, simply because they are known to last longer than paper money. Individuals can easily dig up old coins that they find in the ground, something that rarely, if ever, happens with paper money. Paper money is going to biodegrade, making older pieces of paper money harder to find.
There are both inexpensive coins to collect and rare, expensive coins to collect. Know that you have a wide variety of options in each country if you are going to collect coins.
Paper Money
While some enjoy coin collecting, others enjoy the thrill that comes from collecting paper money. Individuals find that paper money has more interesting designs, making for a more colorful and vibrant collection than your average coin collection. Paper money has more design interest on it, giving individuals more insight into national moods and time periods when they look into the design.
With that being said, paper money is much harder to find and is often more expensive than regular coins. Paper money collecting will be more time consuming and more expensive than coin collecting. This is the type of collecting that is for more serious collectors. Much like coin collecting, there is enough diversity in the market for there to be both inexpensive and expensive pieces of paper money to collect.
Do you like the idea of collecting smaller pieces of currency? Work on collecting coins. Do you like the idea of colorful money with interesting art pieces? Collect paper money. While you may need to do some research and some inner searching, you will be able to highlight the perfect form of collecting for your personal needs.
Photo Credits: Genista
Originally posted 2011-01-28 03:15:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
October 3rd, 2011 — For Beginners, Getting Started, Paper Money
While there are plenty of resources that exist for those who are interested in collecting coins, there is little out there for those collecting paper money. Paper money collections are far more intricate than coin collections, offering more difficult finds and more interesting pieces.
There are a couple of facets of paper money collection to cover before you jump into this type of collecting. These few tips and tricks will help you to easily work your way into the world of paper money collection.
Start with Current Money
One of the best ways for you to get started on collecting paper money is to start to collect the money that is currently in circulation. This money should be a part of your paper money collection because of both current and future importance. It can be a great start, giving you a basis for a collection that spans from far into the past to the present. It gives a great basis for comparison as well, giving you something to compare old money to. Every great paper money collection will include the current money along with the old money.
Select a Starting Theme
It is important for beginners to start a theme when they start to collect paper money. This theme can help to give focus and purpose to the infancy stages of the collection. Many turn to foreign currency when looking for a theme for their collection. Foreign currency is known for its bright colors and interesting designs. It is visually appealing and, simply put, fun to collect. Start by choosing a country or a foreign region and collecting currency from that area. If you want an even stronger focus, choose a country and choose a time period for that country.
Expand Your Collection
Eventually, you are going to want to expand your paper money collection beyond the original theme that you had created. Take the time to think about all of the different paper money that you want and take the time to go out and find it. Open up your collection to different countries, different time periods, and different rarities. The more variety you have in your collection, the more interesting the overall collection is going to be. Expand your collection to truly enjoy your paper money collecting experience.
You may be surprised to find all of the different options that are available to you through paper money collection. There are plenty of countries that offer incredibly interesting pieces of artwork for their paper currency, making your collections colorful and interesting. There are plenty of rare pieces for serious collectors to hunt after, and plenty of reasonably priced pieces, both old and new, that will help you to beef up your collection. As long as you have a plan and know exactly what you are getting yourself into, you will be able to be a successful paper money collector.
Photo Credits: seriykotik1970
Originally posted 2011-01-24 03:02:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
September 25th, 2011 — Coins, For Beginners, Getting Started, Paper Money
Money is something which has been collected almost as soon as it was first brought into existence. While the only people who could afford to collect money in the past were the wealthy, these days it seems that there are more people collecting money than ever before. The reasons for collecting the money are different. No matter what, collecting money is something to do which is fun and can be a bit of an adventure. You will be able to learn a lot as well as having something which can be worth a lot.
Whenever you are thinking about collecting money, you are likely to have one of three goals in mind. Many try to make a profit off of the things that they buy and sell. Others will collect so that they will be able to learn about the history. Others collect simply as a hobby that interests them. No matter what your reasons are, there is a whole world of collecting out there available to you. You will be able to find interesting pieces in both paper currency and coin currency which will make great additions to your collection.
Collecting for Profit
There is a lot of money to be made in collecting money. There are many different notes which when properly stored will only increase in value over the years. The reason for the increase in value is because of the fact that currency is destroyed or damaged all of the time. The pieces which remain intact and in good condition will steadily increase in value. It offers many, the opportunity to make a living out of the pieces that they come across. Whenever you are looking to trade in this manner, it is a good idea to make connections with other collectors. You will be able to buy and sell with greater success.
Collecting to Learn
There are many history buffs who enjoy collecting money. This is because every coin and paper currency has a story to it. The way that it was created, the reason for the person on the coin as well as the artwork has a purpose. Additionally, the reason for why something becomes valuable is very interesting. A story can be told about the country where currency came from as well as the path that each piece took to get to the location it is now. Often the history buffs do less purchasing and more reading about the pieces that they will purchase.
Collecting for Fun
Others are not worried about making money or exploring all there is to know about the different pieces. They enjoy collecting money as a hobby. This is a great way to spend time with a son or daughter. You can learn about the different things in your collection as well as what will make a good addition. Some might even have the currency holders which come from the mint which are not intended to be extremely valuable. They are only intended to be fun.
Photo Credits: woody1778a
Originally posted 2011-06-10 07:04:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
September 14th, 2011 — For Beginners, Getting Started, Old Coins, Old Paper Money
There are many different things that you are likely to enjoy doing in your life. If you enjoy collecting coins and currency, there are many different ways that you will be able to get the kinds of pieces that you can add to your collection. Among the best ways that you will be able to add everything that you want to your collection is to make sure that you know what you are doing. The good news is that there are many different ways that you will be able to find out everything that you will need to know when you are collecting old money.
When most people think about the best way to find out about collecting old money, they think about the different kinds of books out there. You can also talk to the many different collectors out there who are also fans of collecting this kind of currency. Additionally, you will be able to look up a lot of different kinds of internet sites which have been created to give you the latest information about the different pieces that you might have your eye on. This will help you to be as informed as possible so that you can make the best decisions about the different purchases you are looking to make.
Read All of the Books
There are many different books which exist out there which will allow you to be able to get the basic information regarding collecting old money. This will tell you everything that you need to know about the different kinds of history regarding the pieces as well as identifying characteristics which will help you to spot a forgery. These different books will give you the base information in a static format. It always wise to branch out from this source to the other ways you can get information.
Talk to Other Collectors
Most collectors enjoy talking about their collection as well as the different pieces of information that they have collected over the years. If you are interested in collecting old money, you will be able to get the most from talking to these collectors. They will be able to tell you more intimate details about the different pieces you might be interested in with a more passionate twist than you are likely to find in any book. Best of all, they might be able to tell you about pieces that they have which you might be able to purchase.
Visit Different Internet Sites
If you are looking to get the latest possible information about collecting old money, you might want to look online. This is because there are many different sites which have been created by those who are authorities on currency collecting. They can tell you about how the value of the different pieces have changed over the years as a result of the different changes which have plagued the currencies. This will help you to know about which piece that you might have which will allow you to turn a higher profit.
Photo Credits: nikoretro
September 12th, 2011 — Buying and Selling Coins, For Beginners, Getting Started, Paper Money
Collecting money is something that a lot of different people enjoy for a lot of different kinds of reasons. These different reasons might be that you enjoy the challenge of finding the different things that you add to your collection. It might also be that you enjoy learning about the different kinds of pieces that you add to your collection. This is why so many people enjoy collecting money from around the world. If you are thinking about collecting these kinds of money, there are a few things that you will need to know.
Among the most important things that you will need to know include all of the different kinds of things that you will need to know about the history of the currency for that particular country. You will also need to know about the reason why some pieces are more valuable than others. Additionally, you should learn about the different ways that you can make certain pieces more valuable. This will help you to be able to have the kind of collection you are looking for. The money from around the world that you will be able to collect will allow you to have the collection you are looking for.
Learn the History of the Currency
Every currency has a history that you should know. The different kinds of money from around the world all have a different kind of history which will add to the reason why it is even collectible in the first place. If there was some kind of turmoil or a change which will make one form of currency obsolete in the country, this will make the surviving currency even that much more collectible. Knowing this history will also give you a great story that you can tell your buyers whenever you are looking to sell.
Learn the Value of Money
Another thing that you will need to know whenever you sell money from around the world is that you will need to know all of the different ways that you will be able to evaluate the value of the money that you have. This includes getting to know that different grades that the money you have will fall into. Additionally, it is important to understand the rarity of the pieces that you have. This will allow you to be able to set a price on the pieces you are looking to sell which others cannot haggle with.
Increase the Value of What You Have
In order to increase the value of the money from around the world, you will need to make sure that you are getting the piece graded. This is important because whenever this is done, it is protected so that it will remain at the grade that it is at. This process will allow the piece to be worth well more than just what you paid to have it graded. This is because most will honor the fact that you took this extra step.
Photo Credits: Pacdog
August 16th, 2011 — Coins, Getting Started, US Bills, US Coins
When people think of coin collecting, they think about all types of currency, including US currency. Most will attempt to collect coins and other forms of money from a wide variety of countries and eras, building a vast collection that spans the globe. With that being said, there are some people who will like to focus in on one specific form of currency.
There are plenty of benefits to be had by those who have decided to start collecting US Currency. Many who start these themed and focuses collections get more out of their collections than those who do not. While there are many different reasons to start collecting US currency, there are a few reasons that stand out among the rest.
Getting Started is Simple
Those who are looking to get started in coin collecting will find that US currency is an easy way to start. Individuals can start by collecting the different coins and paper money that they find on the street every day. Individuals will get started on their collection with this money and then will feel compelled to move on to the older pieces of money that are generally not circulated today. US currency is an easy collection to start, making it a great form of coin collecting in general.
More Available
Once an individual start to move to more historical US currency pieces they will realize that it is simply easier to collect older US money than it is to collect older foreign pieces. This goes for any country out there – it is easier to find the “rare” coins and paper money pieces when you are in the country that the pieces originated from. The coins were circulated in the United States and are generally found in shops in the United States. This simply makes the different coins that you are interested in more available.
More Interest
There is something to be said about the connection that someone has with their home country. We are inherently more interested in the history of our own country than we are with the history of other countries. Collecting US currency is simply more interesting to those who are interested in the history of the United States. We can connect the coins that we see to the time periods that our ancestors lived through. The coins that we collect will be tied to the important aspects of our history.
It is possible for individuals to focus on various types of coins for their collections. If you start to collect US currency you can still collect other forms of currency. You simply need to think about everything that is available to you and the benefits of collecting each. These various benefits of collecting US Currency will show you why this form of money should be a part of a coin collecting theme or part of an overall collection.
Photo Credits: kevindooley
Originally posted 2011-01-03 03:59:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
July 24th, 2011 — Coins, For Beginners, Getting Started, Storage and Supplies
There are coin collectors of all ages. There are also coin collectors of all degrees. A lot of what kind of a collector you are will depend on how much money you have to invest in such things. Another factor will depend on how long you have been collecting for. This is because many of the coins which are not valuable now might be worth a decent amount in about ten years. The amount the coins will be worth depend on how you store them. This is why many choose not to use a coin album to store coins in.
If you are looking to get started with or expend your coin collection you will have to make choices regarding where you will store your coins. Most of the industry will advise against using a coin album. They will advise you to use a coin slab instead. There are a few different reasons for this. First, the coin will be handled less. Second the coin will incur less wear. Last, you will be able to see all sides of the coin without having to pry it out of the album.
Handling the coin less
One big no-no in coin collecting is touching coins with your bare hands. This is something which is just about unavoidable when you have a coin album. This is because there is no protection stopping your hands from touching the coins. This means the oils from your hands will instantly turn what could have been a mint state coin into an almost uncirculated coin even though it never actually saw any circulation through the hands of the public. Your hands alone are enough to cause this kind of damage.
Causing less wear
When coins are is a coin album, the coin can spin on its axis which will wear down the obverse and the reverse. The obverse will be worn down if the opposite flap touched the face of the coins as it is likely to do. Additionally, if you have an album which is at all loose for the coins they will spin at best and pop out completely if you are unlucky. In a coin slab, there is no way for the coin to spin as they are locked into place. The only time the coin will move is if you open the coin slab and take it out.
Having access to inspect the coin
If you ever plan to sell the coins in the coin album you will be in trouble. This is because of the amount of work you will have to go through to get the coins out of the album. When your coins are in a coin slab, you will have great protection for your coins without having to take them out so they can be looked at closer. They will simply look right through the plastic to the coin inside and they will be the judge of whether it is worth your asking price or not.
Photo Credits: aresauburn™
Originally posted 2010-09-14 03:20:20. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
June 30th, 2011 — Coins, For Beginners, Getting Started
There are a lot of ways which you can learn about coin collecting. You can just go out there and buy every coin you see. This is a method which will allow you to learn by trial and error though it is not very recommended. You are much better off learning as much as you can before you make purchases. The more you know before you make your first purchase, the better your chances are that you will be able to get a good buy for your money. One of the great ways in which you will be able to learn about coins is through purchasing the right coin books.
Whether you are just getting started with coin collecting or you have been collecting for a long time, there are a few different kinds of coin books you should always have on hand. This is because whether you know the information or not, they make for handy reference guides when you are unsure about a piece of information. You should have the 6th edition of the ANA Grading Standards
so that you know how to grade coins. You should have Counterfeit, Mis-Struck, & Unofficial U.S. Coins
by Don Taxay. You should also have Standard Catalog of Counterfeit and Altered United States Coins
by V. Hancock and Larry Spanbauer.
ANA Grading Standards
This is one of the coin books which will detail out exactly what you are looking for when you are looking to grade a coin. It will detail out what kinds of marks will degrade a coin a level and what will completely knock a coin out of the Mint Status categories and into the Almost Uncirculated categories. You will also be able to discover the details which will separate a MS65 from a MS66. This way you will know what you are talking about when you go to get a coin graded, certified or you are just looking to sell it. It also helps to save you the cost of paying someone else to grade your coins just so you know their worth.
Counterfeit, Mis-Struck, & Unofficial U.S. Coins
This is one of the coin books which spans between coins that are of value because of errors when they were being created and coins which were never even supposed to be created. You will find out whether the coins you have increased in value because of their errors. You will also get to know some of the counterfeited coins which are on the market so that you can keep your eye out for them.
Standard Catalog of Counterfeit and Altered United States Coins
This is one of the coin books which will detail out exactly what to look for when you are concerned that you are about to purchase a counterfeit coin. This way you will be able to make sure that the coins you purchase are genuine and that you are not losing money. You may find that with this book that you will spot counterfeits in a collection at a coin shop. Based on the reaction of the store owner when you point it out, you will be able to find out is the shop has ethics or not.
Photo Credits: Mark Sardella
Originally posted 2010-08-15 02:30:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
June 20th, 2011 — Buying and Selling Coins, Coin Certification, Coins, For Beginners, Getting Started, Rare Coins
When it comes to collecting coins, collecting rare coins is the best way that you can turn a hobby into a profession. This is because you will be able to track down and purchase some of the most sought after coins available. You will also be able to turn around and sell the coins you purchase at a very good price. In order to get started as a rare coin collector, there are just a few things which you should keep in mind.
The first thing you will need to know as a rare coin collector is to always hunt down the best prices by searching in all of the right places. Once you have the coins, you will need to make sure that they have been graded correctly as well as making sure that they have been put into slabs. You will then need to watch the market in order to find the right time to approach a buyer about taking the coin off of your hands so that you will be able to make a good profit. The best coins will allow you to make thousands of dollars off of a single investment.
Buying Coins in the Right Places
There are many different locations which offer to sell you the coins that you want at the best prices. For many, you will be able to find the best prices by going to an auction. These auctions are held every year at many times during the year for the avid rare coin collector. Coin auctions are also held online, just be sure to read carefully the description of what you’re bidding on. You can also find great deals at shows and at many of the different shops and store which sell the coins to the public.
Grading, Slab and Certification
One of the best ways to find out how much a coin is worth is to know what the grade of the coin is. The best way to grade your coins is to bring them to a third party grading service. You should also ask that they put it into a slab and that they certify that the coin is the right grade. This will allow the rare coin collector to know how much the coin is worth simply by paying attention to how much other similar coins have been selling for recently. You will also be able to start to plot about when you will sell your coin.
Selling at the Right Time
The most difficult thing a rare coin collector faces is the right time to sell a coin. If you wait too long in an upward trend, the price could slip back down. If you do not wait long enough, you will not be able to get the best price for the coin that you are selling. The best idea is to decide upon a number you want to sell the coin at and then wait until the coin is starting to head towards that mark to get ready to sell the coin so that you get the price you want.
Photo Credits: HamdunnZakaria
Originally posted 2010-08-23 04:56:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter