Three Levels of Coin Collecting

2006-08-24T22:26:00.000-07:00

Three Levels of Coin Collecting

Coin collecting has been a fascinating and popular hobby for many generations. Its popularity seems to be connected with the appreciation of money and the hopes of finding that coin or collection that may prove to be valuable. However, such hopes are not often realized, and yet the sheer benefit of this hobby is the pride one takes in the collection and preserving of coins.
Coin collecting enthusiasts can be categorized into three levels of coin collecting. Those three levels are the ones that take up coin collecting as a hobby, the ones who are serious, and the ones who are investors.
Hobby

The first level of coin collecting is conducted by the hobbyist who simply enjoys the entertainment value. This level of coin collecting is known as the hobby level, and both adults and children can comprise this category. These coin collections are characterized by a limited number of coins that are gathered through an arbitrary process of selection. Generally, their collection contains coins minted in years that are meaningful to them. These minted coins could reflect a special year such as an anniversary, graduation, or other significant event.
In addition, this level of enthusiast may collect commemorative pieces. Such coins could include the bicentennial quarter, the recent state quarters, or the anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase commemorated through the minting of nickels.
Curious

The next level of coin collecting is defined as the curious. This level of coin collecting can be best described as that individual who will purchase coins to add to their collections. These coins are not rare, and are generally not expensive. They can be found by shopping online or in antique shops.

They are simply added to the collection based on the uniqueness of their appearance. There is no particular rationale or focus in mind with their being added to the coin collection. However, this level of coin collecting is important as the collector often moves to the next level of coin collecting. This advancement continues because of the growth of their collection, their investment of time and resources, their knowledge of coin collecting, and interaction with other coin collectors.

InvestmentThe ultimate coin collection process takes the collector to the level of investor. At this level coin collecting becomes an investment with the term investment being defined as expecting a return on the asset. This is a very serious level for the coin collector and involves meticulous research. The investor also is aware of the value of the coin and the influences that come to bear on its worth. Those influences are the coin’s condition and uniqueness.
The coins are handled with great care and often within a secure environment. Any possible return on the investment may be realized only when the coin is exchanged for something of greater value. For a wealth of coin collecting information Click Here!

Three Levels of Coin Collecting

Collecting American Coins

2006-08-18T20:42:00.000-07:00

Collecting American Coins

Coin collecting is fascinating, and collecting American coins is an easy and entertaining hobby if you live in the United States. There are some really interesting coins of most denominations.
Pennies
The Lincoln head penny is probably the most collected American coin. They have been minted since 1909. During WWII some Lincoln head pennies were made out of zinc instead of copper. A very few were made of copper in 1943, and these are rare and valuable American coins.
Before the Lincoln penny was minted, pennies had an Indian head on them. Indian head pennies are another rare American coin.
Nickels
From 1883 to 1913, nickels had a picture of the goddess Liberty on them. Interestingly, the 1913 liberty nickel is an extremely rare American coin. Only five copies were made, and a mint employee made them illegally after hours.
The most classic American coin is the buffalo nickel. It has a buffalo on one side and an Indian head on the other.
Since 1938, the nickel has had President Jefferson’s portrait on it. In 2004, the mint started a “Westward Journey” series of nickels to commemorate Lewis and Clark’s journey. They’ve tweaked Jefferson’s portrait and the coins have different historical themes on the reverse, so the Westward Journey nickels are destined to be collectible coins.
Dimes
Dimes are probably the most boring American coin. The design of dimes hasn’t changed since 1945, the year after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died. He suffered from polio and supported the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes helps people with birth defects now, but in Roosevelt’s time it also helped children who had polio. Franklin’s portrait has remained on our dimes since his death to memorialize his support of the March of Dimes. Dimes are a boring coin, but that is a great American coin story.
Quarters
Our favorite American coin, the quarter, had the Statue of Liberty on it until 1930. She was replaced by George Washington. Since 1999, the mint has been releasing the very collectible US State quarters, an American coin series that will be completed in 2008.
Half Dollars and Dollars
Half dollars used to be common, and until 1964 they had Ben Franklin on one side and the Liberty Bell on the other. In 1964, President Kennedy’s portrait went on the half dollar. People hoarded them and they became a treasured American coin, both because Kennedy was beloved, and because the 1964 silver dollar was to be the last “real” silver dollar. Because so many people collected 1964 Kennedy half-dollars, the mint released more of them than any other half dollar. Congress even froze the date, and 1964 half dollars were minted in 1965, too.
Silver dollars are rare now, but the Susan B. Anthony silver dollar is an interesting American coin. Minted from 1979-1981, it is the only American coin with a woman’s portrait on it.

http://coincollectingsite.com/american_coin.html

Collecting American Coins