Do You Actively Collect Foreign Coins?

I do collect U.S. coins but haven't bought one in more than a year. I'm focusing completely on foreign now because the remaining U.S. coins I need are simply too expensive. But I like world coins because of the history and all the great designs. I was a history major in school and I like to see pieces from the former colonies and empires and kingdoms that don't exist anymore. I think about what was happening in the world when that was made, and just how many different places there are that money comes from. Probably most exciting is seeing a coin from a place I never would have thought of looking for one from. (i.e. Azores, Ionian Islands, Sumatra). And besides all that, it just appeals to me.

 

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I traded something (forget what) to a Cointalk member for a 1904 cent and a 1944 dime in AU/low MS. The last one I actually bought was in 2007, an 1824/"various dates" half dollar.

 

what a load of xenophobic twaddle, U.S coins in general are poorly designed and minted, give me UK or french coins any time much much more collectable. i think that you should take heed of your user name and stuff yourself...................

 

Well, considering Taxidermist in his profile lists himself of a collector of many countries, I think he was pulling your leg.........

 

To answer your question, I collect items from all over the world (& even a few meteorites that came from someplace else).

There is a book that the ANA used to offer as mandatory reading in their numismatic diploma correspondence course. I believe it is called "Money Talks" and it was published by the ANA. It is about a 200 page collection of short stories describing a very wide variety of collecting interests. Initially I thought that all those "other" collecting areas were boring. When I read about them & actually learned something about them, I became fascinated with each one. I think I learned to respect everyone’s collecting interests. I loaned my copy away many years ago & don't have it today. If you are an ANA member, then you can borrow the book from their library. I highly recommend that you get a copy. If you end up purchasing a copy, I would be VERY glad to purchase the used book from you when you are finished with it.

Here is a coin from Romania. Stay thirsty my friend.

 

Hello again lonegunlawyer,

I just noticed that you are in Las Vegas. If you become interested in coins from Mexico, Central & South America then there is a good dealer of those items based in Las Vegas. The Coin dealer is Weiss Collectables.

Coins were initially minted by the United States government in something like 1792 (Birch cent or Washington's disme?). Coins were minted during colonial times about 100 years earlier than that. They were minted in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central & South America a little earlier than that. I personally find it all fascinating.

 

I collect mainly World Coins. The USA is part of the world, so yes, I collect coins from the US and the rest of the world. My "non-US" collection represents over 150 different countries. Best way to get started is to buy them by the pound and decide which countries intrigue you the most. I like silver crowns, both circulated and collector issues. Haven't got bored yet.

 

I have started to gain interest in coins generally because if a coin has a design I like, I figure, why not buy it?

That goes for any country or region. If I had a preference, it would probably be older Chinese coins, however, as I have looked through some old auction catalogs, I have found myself liking some of the Mexican coinage from the last 100-150 years.

Thanks for the info.

Also, all answers have been diverse, making the question, at least for me, worthwhile.

 

Yes! I was thinking about purchasing a 10 pound bag.

 

Yes Uk Vicky's 1838-1909 maundy
But need. 4pence Au/Bu to finish my set
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Why didn't you tell me earlier! I just bought a british token a few minutes ago for $480.

(Rare token, has only come up for sale twice in the last fifteen years. I bought the last one too eight years ago, but somewhere between the lot viewing and when it was delivered to me someone swapped it out for a more common variety.)

 

My understanding is that a lot of Chinese coins are faked, so that turns me off from them, along with the language barrier. Otherwise it is neat to have a big old piece of bronze like some of the bigger Chinese cash coins.

 

They are learnable though. Just like many aspects of numismatics, you can get educated and learn to tell the difference. Many people are afraid of cash coins for this reason, but I believe just through the shen I can spot well over 90% of the fakes.

I bet not many mexican fakes could get past you.

 

if a coin has a design I like......

I know exactly what you mean. Recently, I have found I like coin designs of Italy from Victor Emanuel's reign. Here are five coins:

 

Those are nice. I really like the "walking liberty" type and the chariot ones.

 

Are many of these fake coins cast instead of stamped?

 

100% of the GENUINE coins are cast. Only a single issue of cash were produced by striking, under the Guangxu emperor in the 1880's. In reality, authenticating most Chinese cash is quit simple. This article, though written about Chinese coins, is a good guide to follow when beginning to collect any area: http://coincoin.com/I054.htm

 

i don't solely collect foreign, but it has become 95% of what i collect. i like history, and owning a coin minted b.c. is just awesome, imo.

 

Does hoarding count as collecting?

 

A bit late, but I collect almost exclusively foreign. Reason is that there is so much more of a variety than US coins. Also, many types are still undervalued, whereas many US coin types have already peaked in the past. Should note that I'm of the mindset that a collection is also an investment. We've had some pretty heated threads on that issue. =)