Numismatics or Coin Collection as a Hobby
History of Coin Collection
Hoarding coins due to their values goes back to the beginning of coinage, but collecting them as art pieces was a much later development. Coin collecting has a curious name. It is also called the "Hobby of Kings". Modern coin collecting is generally believed to have begun in the fourteenth century with Patriarch. Roman emperors are known to have coin collections but the purpose behind it is still unclear.
This Hobby Can Work Wonders
a) Improved reading ability
b) Improved comprehensioncoins
c) Organizational skills
d) Self-confidence
e) Pride
f) Becoming interested in history and culture Neatness
g) Ability to set and reach goals
h) Self-esteem
i) Ability to establish priorities
j) Understanding the value of money
k) Gaining specialized Knowledge
The Factors Influencing the Worth of Coins
Identification – Where is the coin from, what is the original face value etc.
Authenticity – Counterfeits do exist and experts can determine this.
Damage – Obviously if the coin has been damaged or tampered with the value will go down.
Rarity - Determining a coin's rarity can be a difficult job and is a subjective matter. In numismatics, demand has a great influence on our ideas about rarity. Scarcity is determined by the mintage per year, per mint mark, and per grade, plus any special "varieties" or "types". There are guide books that show all the mintages, dates, mint marks, and variations of coins as well as their values. These guides can help you understand how these factors work together to change a coins value.
In short, take your coins to an expert and have them checked.
How to go about it?
The old saying, "Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long you'll have good luck", might be a good motivation for one looking to adopt coin collection as a hobby. Anyone can start a coin collection. It's easy and fun to start collecting on your own. You can begin simply, with just the coins in your pocket. And from there, your hobby will grow into a lifelong hobby with a little, diligence, perseverance, discipline and patience. Coin collecting is both educational and informative.
For kids of your age, all you need is an interest in coins, a sharp eye, and a box to put them in. You can look in your pocket change, at department stores, at flea markets, in penny dishes or in the cheap bins at coin shops.
Don't worry about if it's worth anything- just start with whatever strikes your fancy.
If you want to take special care of your coins so that they don't get scratched ,you can put each one in a small paper envelope before you put it in a box.
The first thing you will need to do is to visit your local hobby shop. There you can purchase a magnifying glass, some coins, and some coin storage materials.
Once you have collected a good number of coins, you will need to decide the type of your collection and the choices can be confusing and endless. You can collect them separately or buy pre-assembled sets of Lincoln pennies, Buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes, coins from foreign lands, and so on, to start your collection with. Maybe you want to just collect coins from a certain time period that interest you. Whatever your decision, stick with it and work to completing your collection.
You can add to your collection by visiting coin shows or trading with family and friends who might shares interest with you.
The final step is to get out there, enjoy the hobby and pull together the most amazing collection of coins ever assembled.
Articles You need for Coin Collection
- You can purchase coin folders from any hobby store or book store. They make them with two styles, dated and undated. This way you can keep track of what coins you have, or just keep them organized. Coin Sleeves and plastic holders are also a nice choice for the collector. Coin dealers should carry all the coin supplies that you would need to begin your coin collecting.
- A good guide book will help you, not only help you price your coins, but it will help you, get acquainted with the coins that you are hoping to collect. There are also coin guides for World Coins as well. If you were curious on collecting foreign coins, you will definitely need a guide book for these as well.
- A magnifying glass is a valuable tool for looking at the fine details of each coin. They are used to view the coins acquired by you. They can help you aid in grading your coins, and seeing the finer details of the coins.
- One of the last coin collecting supplies that you will basically need is a nice storage box to keep your coins in.
Coin Handling
You will possibly want to buy coins that are at least in reasonably good condition and in order to keep them in their best condition possible, you will have to handle your coins and store them properly. Always avoid touching the surface of the coins, your fingers contain acid that is extremely harmful to the surface of the coin. Make it a habit to hold the coin by its edges between your thumb and forefinger. Never touch the front or back of the coin as the oil from your skin can actually make marks on the coin. You should also thoroughly wash your hands before you handle your coins, plus when viewing a coin place it on a soft surface. There are several types of coin holders available in the market today. Keep your coins in the holders out of direct sunlight and damp places. Try to store them in a dry environment.
Coin collection is an age old hobby and has become a tradition over the years. Many people pass it from one generation to another, a custom as American as the apple pie. As a collection grows old so does its value and rarity. Moreover it is a hobby which can be enjoyed by all young and old. Many parents can participate with their children and bond better with them.
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