Across many generations, coin collecting has been a favorite hobby and pastime. It has had more meaning to these people than just what the coins are worth. It is the joy you get from trading coins and collecting them that draws so many to the hobby. Coins of value are usually those that were only in circulation for a short time. Coins that were made with errors, or coins that were a larger part of history are often considered valuable as well. Numismatics, on the other hand, is the study of currency in general, and is not just limited to collecting coins.
Coins that are already in circulation are the easiest to start with. Collecting circulated coins are pretty much risk free - you can just spend the coins you collected if you need to. However, there is still a lot to gain. But, coins that are circulated are much more likely to be damaged, and they are usually only worth money if they are kept for a very long time. Once you decide that you want to continue with the hobby, you can start looking out for coins from other sources. To make sure that you obtain uncirculated coins, you can get them directly from the US Mint. Collectors can find many great coins to add to their collections at coin shows, at coin shops, at an auction, from other collectors, and even at some flea markets.
Like many other collectibles, a coin's real value will depend on its condition. However, you will still be able to find a market for it as long as it is rare. Any type of dented edge, holes, or gouges will affect the final value of a coin. Just cleaning the coin can affect how much it will be worth. The way a coin is handled play a very important role. Try and make sure that you handle a coin carefully to avoid causing wear, spots or color changes. Serious collectors make sure that they do not touch any un-circulated coins or proof coins anywhere else but on the edges. The coin's grade and value can be reduced by fingerprints. A velvet surface is usually used to place a coin when it is outside of its holder.
There are a number of themes that can be used in building a coin collection. Some coin collectors will try to collect coins from every country. Other collectors will collect coins only from their own country. There are also books available to make it easy for collectors to collect coins from every year. Coins minted during some historical period are of particular interest to some collectors. Their collections normally consist of coins issued from the 18th or 19th century, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Greek, Indian, Celtic, Merovingian, Ostrogothic, Parthian, or Israelite origin. Events happening in a particular time period are often represented in the coins from that era. Collections based on this method can vary greatly. They can contain coins minted while a particular emperor ruled, or during a particular presidency, or during a war.
Coin collecting can be thought of as a type of investment. Depending on the demand, coins can and do fluctuate in prices. Just like many other types of collections, coin collections do not make any money until you actually sell it.
