coin collecting

When it comes to buying coins, buy the best example you can find. And if you get serious about coin collecting, you can call yourself a numismatist--it'll look great on your re'sume'!

Steps: 1. Look for luster--the shine on a new coin. If you're collecting old coins, however, luster is less of a concern.

2. Get a lucky strike. The strike is the impression on the coin. Look for a design that's perfectly centered on the coin.

3. Examine a coin for sharp details. One that has been in circulation for years will show a wearing down of high points on the design.

4. Avoid coins with small scratches on their surface: hairlines decrease its value. Cleaning the coin can also create hairlines, so learn the correct cleaning method from an expert.

5. Check your collection for the famed Buffalo nickel, with the profile of an American Indian chief on one side. Believe it or not, they are not hard to find. A complete date and mintmark set (one of each nickel minted between 1913 to 1938) goes for between $500 and $600. In uncirculated condition, that coin set would fetch closer to $27,000.

Overall Tips: The year 1964 marked the end of true silver coins in the United States. Coins made before that, no matter how worn, retain at least their value in silver.

The United States Mint (usmint.gov) has more information on collecting coins. What to look for: Luster High-quality strike Sharp details Absence of hairlines

The coin market is ever-changing. Use this guide to help you, the numismatist, figure out what your coins are worth. Steps:

1. Learn about the particular coins you have. The 1964 Kennedy half dollar, for instance, has an odd history: So many people stashed these coins that the U.S. Mint produced over 400 million more from 1965 to 1966 - all with the 1964 date on them.

2. Keep some general rules in mind. Silver coins are always worth more than their face value. Mint mistakes - missing letters or numbers, for example - raise a coin's value. Designer's initials and certain mint marks also increase the asking price (see Glossary).

3. Look for a dealer who belongs to the Professional Numismatists' Guild. This organization is fairly strict about its members and their practices.

4. Check out books about coin collecting at the library (the 737 call numbers in the Dewey decimal system). Even old books can give you an idea of how common your coin is.

5. Remember that coin prices are determined by demand, scarcity and condition.

6. Understand the grading system, but keep in mind that it's rather arbitrary. FDC (fleur de coin) is a term used for ancient coins that are uncirculated. Other coin grades are Mint, Uncirculated, Proof, Extremely Fine, Very Fine, Fine, Very Good, Good and About Good. There are subgroups of these grades, and some people use other grading systems. If you bought a graded coin and kept it protected, it should remain the same grade. This will help when it's time to sell.

7. Study coins similar to your own that are for sale in magazines, coin shops and auctions.

8. Learn to identify ancient coins, which can be very valuable. These coins typically are nonuniform in thickness and are off-center due to the method of minting. Weights will be the same, but sizes of the same coin may vary considerably.

9. Pick up a blue book (see Related Books) at any coin shop. This can give you a rough idea of what the wholesale value of your coin is. Wholesale value is what a dealer would pay for it.

10. Take your coin in to a coin dealer for an appraisal. Be aware that there are two kinds of appraisals: replacement value, which is used for insurance claims, and sales value, which determines how much the coin would sell for right now. Dealers charge for an appraisal, so ask first if the dealer thinks it's worth it.

Tips: Get to know a local dealer who is also a collector, if possible. This person can be an invaluable resource and will typically be happy to help an inexperienced collector avoid getting ripped off.

Warnings: Avoid cleaning coins. The patina found on ancient coins lends them authenticity, and cleaning will seriously lower their value. Be aware of the tricks that unscrupulous dealers use with unaware sellers: downgrading or listing a coin for less than its true worth; buying a group of coins for a price without identifying a particularly valuable one in the group; and showing disinterest in valuable coins, thus leading the seller into underestimating the value.

Protect your coins and you may not have to clean them at all. The question of whether of not to clean a coin collection is one that is hotly debated among collectors.

Steps: 1. Store your coins in plastic pockets made especially for this purpose. They are available individually and in sheets made to place in albums.

2. Protect your coins from exposure to the elements and try not to scratch or mar them through mishandling.

3. Know that any cleaning of your coins will potentially affect their value. When in doubt, leave your coins as is and consult a professional coin dealer for advice.

4. Clean your coins, if you feel you must, with products such as ammonia, vinegar, rubbing alcohol or lemon juice. Allow coins to soak in a container of the liquid until any dirt or encrustation has been dislodged.

5. Allow coins to air-dry or pat them dry with a soft, clean cloth. Do not rub or polish. This may scratch the surface of the coin and will remove metal from the coin's surface. Any wear will decrease the value of your coin.

6. Use chemical cleaners like Tarnex as a last resort or if you are less concerned with the potential value of your coin. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when you use such products.

7. Clean pennies and other coins not meant for a collection in a solution of vinegar and salt. Place the coins in a small bottle filled with the solution and shake. You may have to let the coins sit for a while to make sure all the dirt is removed.

Tips: Never use household soap or cleanser to clean coins. Their chemicals can corrode or tarnish the coins. Experiment with cleaning methods on coins you can afford to lose. Once you are confident that your chosen method will work, move on to more valuable coins. Stay away from cleaning products that contain sulfuric acid. This is especially important for copper coins.

Serious practitioners of numismatics (the study and collection of coins, paper money and medals) will tell you that you shouldn't clean your coin collection because collectors prefer that "natural look." But, hey, they're your coins and if you want them shiny, here's how to get them that way with minimal damage.

Steps: 1. Handle coins by the edges to avoid putting fingerprints on the flat surfaces.

2. Avoid silver and other metal polishes - even jewelry polishes. They are much too harsh and will leave tiny scratches on the coin's surfaces.

3. Soak the coins in olive oil or soapy water for a few days and then rinse them well with clean water.

4. Try non-abrasive cleaners such as denatured or isopropyl alcohol, acetone, or an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner (with water) if the soaking doesn't do the trick.

5. Blow dry or pat cleaned coins with a soft cloth, not tissues or paper towels.

6. Never rub the coin - unless it's your good luck charm.

Tips: Be extremely careful if your coins are old. If you mess up, you could seriously decrease the coins' value. Consider taking them to a professional. Tarnished coins are better left as they are. Collectors call it "toning" and it's a desirable look.

Coin Collecting Software - Can Make Things Far Easier! by Abhishek Agarwal

There are many people who enjoy the activity of coin collecting for their own personal fulfillment. Such people enjoy collecting coins as a hobby. Apart from being hobbyists, many people collect coins as an investment. These people invest their money in different coins of high value in the hope that one day these coins will turn in a profit for them.

Irrespective of the reasons coin collectors collect coins, this activity is a time consuming and endless process. There are literally million coins in circulation and different coin collectors consider collecting these. For instance, there are international coins, Statehood Quarters, limited edition coins and rare coins that are yet to be collected because they are still in circulation among consumers. Although a coin collector can collect just about any coin, most investors and hobbyists prefer to collect valuable coins.

But, as stated previously, finding these kinds of limited edition, rare and other such valuable coins takes a long time and needs a lot of patience and perseverance. Purchasing is the first factor that needs to be considered. There are a number of coin collectors who miss out on various options available to them while looking to increase their valuable coin collection. If you want to add valuable coins to your coin collection, the best way would be to meet professional coin dealers. There is also the option of using the internet and going to online auction websites.

Although it is ideal to seek help from online auction websites, coin dealers and the internet in order to increase one's valuable coin collection, many people are not sure on how to select. The coin collecting software plays an important role here. There are many different formats in which coin collecting softwares come, but all coin collecting programs have a common goal; to make it easy for all hobbyists and professional coin collectors to collect coins.

One of the most frequently asked questions regarding coin collecting software involves the price. There are many softwares that are free and these are usually sought after. Although free coin collecting programs are available for downloading, these softwares are usually limited. There are many free softwar programs that provide the user with a list of coins that any enthusiastic coin collector will want to examine. Usually, these software programs give the user the option of checking out coins once acquired and added to the collection. From these points of view, free coin collecting software may seem ideal for organizations, but it is always a good idea to spend a little money, perhaps around $100, and purchase a professional program.

Coin collecting software, as stated previously, varies, but there are a number of professional coin collectors and hobbyists who prefer to pay for the software programs they use. These professional software programs, apart from outlining the worthiness of a coin, will also allow you to check off the coins that are in your collection. All values are kept current by regularly updating using the option of automatic updates like yearly updates.

As discussed earlier, all coin collecting software and in particular the paid ones benefit professional coin collectors and coin hobbyists. Even if you are not certain about using a software program to help you collect coins, it is always worth the shot to see what it is about. A few minutes online should do the trick as any ardent coin collector will not fail to see the many benefits of using a software for collecting coins.

About the Author:

Abhishek is an avid Coin Collecting enthusiast and he has got some great Coin Collecting Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 58 Pages Ebook, "Understanding And Mastering The Art Of Coin Collecting!" from his website http://www.Fun-Galore.com/92/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Coin Collecting Software - Can Make Things Far Easier!

Coin Collection Fun - Learn About US Design Types by Abhishek Agarwal

The hobby of coin collecting is a fun and anyone having some time can do it. The most easy way to learn about the history of the coin is to start collecting them.

Between the period of 1838-1933 the United States of America used to issue the gold coins. Can you believe it? Yes its true. The design for the coin until 1907 was that of the Liberty head bust. The design was later changed to the Saint Gaudens Motif and Indian Head up till 1933,when the great Depression has started. This great Depression led the coins to be recalled which is very rare to find now-a-days.

1933 Double Eagle can be considered as the most important and valuable coin in the world. This coin was a 20 dollar coin of gold. It was made as early as 1800's after the gold rush in California. This coin was debarred from being used in the 1930's and when the same coin was put into auction in 2002 it fetched a whooping sum of 8 million dollars.

The gold coins are very rare and therefore the coin collectors prefer other coins to collect.

The unique collection of coin you can consider is that of the coins which were not minted correctly at the time of minting. The coins having flaws will also be very valuable. The coins with a wrong date, misspelled word,double-punched marks, off-center characteristics, are very precious. These mistakes can increase the worth of the coin by nearly 50 dollars to a good 1000 dollars.

The coins which were in circulation for a very short duration of time can also be worth collecting.

If the coin collection is focused on a particular type of coin then it is the best. The choice can be from dimes,dollars,nickles or pennies.

The other of focusing on coin collection is to consider the period during which the coins were made or circulated. Coins having different mint marks and if you have the collection of coins that were struck on the same area can also be very exciting. The most important thing is to complete the collection of your coins. If you are able to do so then its fantastic.

The subscription to a coin publication like that of Coinage Magazine or Coin World can be a good idea to start with. These can give you a lot of relevant information about the coins. The other source of information can be internet or for that matter the local coin shop can also be of great help to expand your search.

To have a substantial collection of coins you will have to be patient and it may take months or even many years. After all there is so much abundance of coins in USA. By deciding on the coin(s) you want to collect, the challenge to complete that collection begins.

About the Author:

Abhishek is an avid Coin Collecting enthusiast and he has got some great Coin Collecting Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 58 Pages Ebook, "Understanding And Mastering The Art Of Coin Collecting!" from his website http://www.Fun-Galore.com/92/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Coin Collection Fun - Learn About US Design Types

Facts on Coin Collecting and Collection Themes That You Can ChooseAuthor: Cindy Heller

According to history, Egyptian King Farouk and Roman emperors were among the first coin collectors. They collected a large number of coins in their palaces and castles. Over the years, the concept of coin collecting has changed and common people have become coin collectors. In fact, the competition between these collectors is quite fierce and this makes the price of rare coins always increase. A single coin can hundreds of thousand and even millions of dollar, which shows that coin collectors will do anything necessary to get the coin that they want.

Coin collecting themes

Some coin collectors are generalists, which mean that they collect bits of everything, but others are very specific and this creates coin collecting themes. The country theme is one of the common ones. The purpose of this theme usually is to collect coins from as many countries as possible. Traveling has become easier nowadays and thus it is easier to collect coins from different countries. Internet and online friend network can also be used to get foreign coins.

A year theme is fairly common as well where coin collectors used the year when the coin was minted as the basis of their collection theme. A variation of this theme is to collect a coin denomination from the first to the last model. When collectors complete all models from a coin denomination, they will continue with other denominations. This theme is closely related with period theme where the basis of the collection is the period when the coin was minted. Common period collections are collecting coins from Victorian era and Greek period.

Prior to the 19th century, coins were hand minted and it was pretty common for coins to have errors. Today, these errors have become one of coin collecting themes as well. Another coin collection theme is mintmark differences between coins. Mintmarks that are rare and difficult to produce will have higher value than the common ones.

Subject, for example like a figure of animals on the coin, can become a coin collecting theme as well. Composition or the type of metals that a coin was made from is another common theme. You will find that it is common for a coin to have two or even three metals combined.

Whatever the theme is, many coin collectors like to compete between each other because they want to outdo their compatriots. They brag when they have completed a rare set of coins that is available nowhere. This situation has made coin collecting a fascinating and an expensive hobby.

About the Author:

Cindy Heller is a professional writer. To learn more about antique silver coin locket, please visit famous coin collections.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Facts on Coin Collecting and Collection Themes That You Can Choose