Brand new to collecting

As other posters have said, I'd definitely get some cheap Whitman folders and start with circulating coinage. Finding coins in your pockets or even from bank rolls that'll plug a few of those holes in your folders is more fun that buying coins at shops I feel. But, the longer you collect, the more you'll want the higher grade and lower mintage coins. So, starting out is kind of the most fun in the hobby.

 

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Sometimes when I buy coins they come in a sealed plastic wrapper, is it OK if I open this?

 

Hello John Clark,

I just now saw your post.

#1
Welcome to the CT forum.

#2
Sometimes the plastic wrapping is best left alone to protect the coin(s). However, some soft plastic is not good for long term archival storage of coins. We can offer advice on your coins & plastic wrapping if you tell us where you got the coins (us mint, mailorder, etc) and also let us know what kind of coins you are working with (proof coins, uncirculated coins, average circulated coins, etc).

#3
You might want to change your handle at CT from John Clark to something more anonomous like "Clarkster" or "JohnnyC" so that bad guys that monitor the Web cannot easily track you & your coins to your home.

Very best regards,
collect89

 

As you can tell for the all over the spectrum answers to your basic question, no 2 collectors will agree on where to start or what to collect. Everyone is into their own thing.

With kids, however I would start with the state quarters. Get an ablbum and a couple rolls of quarters at the bank and have fun. They are easy to pull from circulation. They are educational as each quarter design is specific to that state and they were issued in the order that they entered the union so you have a ton to explore together.

While doing that read the redbook. You can get one on the cheap book table at books a million for $1.99 sometimes. Maybe even visit a coin store or coin show to look around. Don't bring any money with you to avaid temptation. You might let the dealers know you are just getting into the hobby but they are also in this for the money. Many dealers look at newbies as if they were sharks circling a tuna. DINNER. SO never buy anything that you don't know what it is or what it should be worth.


In this hobby knowledge is power so never talk to a dealer unless you know as much as he does or you might end up paying to much for things you got talked into buying.

Enjoy

 

A lot of coin dealers and flea markets will have bins or bowls full of really cheap world coins. The flea market near me usually has 5 coins for $1. You probably won't get anything particularly valuable out of those (the best I've gotten have been a couple of decent good luck tokens worth a few bucks and an Australian dollar coin), but it's a cheap and fun way to explore the coins of the world, and I figure that an 8 year old would get a kick out of it. Also, you might want to ask any nearby dealers if they have any junky ancient coins. Believe it or not, you can get some ancient coins for a couple of bucks, and I know that at that age, I would have thought it was awesome to have anything that old, regardless of condition.

 

I found some 1987 P D and S JFK's and a 1970D JFK that I got from a dealer , Redbook says that these were only issued in mint sets coinshop.com