I want to have a hobby and was thinking of collecting coins. I want to wait until January to start buying coins, but until then what can I do. Is it possible for me to find any coins that are out in circulation that are worth anything. I don't know what I would need to look for,or if there are any valuable coins out there. Thanks for any tips or suggestions. I am waiting until January because I will have money to spend, and I don't have any rite now to spend.
Get some informstion, read posts here, get a Red Book($10 OR so) and find a series you would like to collect. Welcome to CT
Howdy chetrog - Welcome to the Forum !! You got the right idea, you just need to extend your time frame. For if you wish to collect coins with the idea of profit somewhere down the road - you need to learn a lot first. You see, collecting coins and making a profit is not an easy thing to do. In fact, it is a very hard thing to do. But if you choose to collect coins because you like them and enjoy the hobby - that is easy And it's a whole lot of fun !
Welcome to CT . Get the Redbook and the ANA Grading Standards , 6th Edition , also Coin collecting for Dummies is a good primer for not getting ripped off . rzage
I agree with Mr. Brooklyn......collect. If you got to worry about the bottom line then you ain't collectin'.
Welcome! Like the others said, pick up the Red Book and read through it. I wouldn't take the prices listed in the book to heart, but it does have a lot of good general information about all the different types of US coins. Find one you like and have at it. Here is the amazon.com link for Red Book so you know what you're looking for: http://www.amazon.com/Official-Red-...bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228188890&sr=8-1 As far as collecting out of circulation...there are some out there with value, although probably not that many. I started collecting coins like most, just picking them out of circulation and trying to put together a set. It is a cheap way to start and a fun thing to do. You won't find anything "really" valuable that way (probably...you never know), but it is fun. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. There are many people here who love to collection coins and who love to share their knowledge. We can help you avoid the beginner's mistakes that many of us made. Also, what part of Oregon are you from?
Welcome to the forum. As others have said. Get a Red Book first and don't be afraid to read it. It is a 'rough' price guide to use throughout the year for most coins, but also has a multitude of information and great pictures of over-dates, errors and different date/lettering sizes to look for as well as all the mintage numbers for everything. The beginning of it is also very interesting as it goes into the history of U.S. coinage. BTW, the Red Book is always one year ahead. So 09 was 08's. And 10, will be 09's, and so on. The ANA 6th edition is also a very good guide for grading. This was the last revision and I believe it came out in 06. I have this as well. Next, be weary of everything and every grade proclaimed of coins listed on ebay or anywhere else. I just got one in today that the seller graded an AU. I thought it was an Extra fine. In reality, it's more like a Very Fine 30, cleaned, worth about one-third or less, of what I paid for it. Now I have to go through the hassle of sending it back. Don't get too anxious to buy anything because there's all kinds of sellers out there with good intentions,but in reality are looking to burn you and me big time. Which they can easily accomplish if you're satisfied with anything you get. I also just got my first grey sheet in today. Also known as "the Coin Dealer newsletter". It's a weekly, wholesale price guide that dealers around the country use to sell wholesale, dealer to dealer. Maybe buy one of these before you buy anything else or start looking. If you want a real eye opener.
OK, if I'm not mistaken...that's east of Oregon City. I'm from Eugene...but I'm currently living in Portland because of school.
Yep not to far from Oregon City. Did you get a chance to go to the Civil War game. It was great to watch on tv. To anyone= Does the red book that people have mentioned list all the major coins even if they arnt rare or valuable? For example with the 1999 quarter I have in my pocket be in the book, even though its only worth 25 cents. Thanks again guys.
The Red Book list all coins ever minted for circulation by the US. It list most Proofs, and a lot of other coins like patterns, bullion coins etc. And yes, it list that '99 quarter too Try this link - http://www.coinfacts.com - the Red Book has even more.
I didn't get to go unfortunately...I'm not a student at the U of O anymore and I looked in the paper and tickets were WAY out of my price range. So, I watched it on TV. It was awesome though! I went to 3 Oregon home games this year though. I was at the Washington, Utah State, and Stanford games.
You could get collect nickels for right now. You can change $100 into $100 in nickels. You'll probably find 10+ nickels worth keeping. After that just roll them back up and return them.
INteresting . I would never think to buy from the bank or where ever and then return it. That would be a good way to find some. How do I go about finding out what nickles to keep. I will be buying the red book in a few days, but want to get started asap. I am off to do some google searching also. Thanks again guys.
My suggestion -- get a Dansco and start collecting and learning to grade Jefferson Nickels. A great series with no stoppers (i.e. super expensive coins) you can put together very cheaply and right from circulation almost in its entirety.
Yes, the Red Book has all the mintage figures for every U.S. coin made, if available. Even the commons. There will be coins in there you probably never even knew they made. BTW, whenever there's a number in parenthesis next to the mintage number, the number in parenthesis is the number of proofs minted for that type. (In case you don't know, proofs are the special coins with the mirror finish you will occasionally see. These are minted specially for collectors using, special, highly polished planchets to produce the coins. Some mints sets are proofs, most modern commemoratives have proofs and they even made some proofs in the old days, as well as bullion coins.) The normal mintage figure, without parenthesis are the business strikes, which are regular planchets made for circulation. Like you get in pocket change. If they're in very good condition, these are referred to as MS (mint state). If it's a normal business strike that hasn't circulated, they can be called BU or brilliantly uncirculated. Just realize MS, mint state, and PF, proof is two different types of coin based on the planchet used. That was half the mystery for me when I was starting. For some reason it took a long time for all that to dawn on me when I was just getting going.
The way to learn is to try an absorb all the basic information first here on coin talk. i would suggest the best coins to start wuth are the statehood quarter series they are a short series and are reasonable priced you can get most of them in circulation the ones minted in Philly and denver mint. the S mint you have to obtain from a dealer or else were. I advice you to ask as many questions here we love to help newbies. I hope you enjoy the hobby because it's the best one to be interested in, and fun. Jazzcoins joe:hail::hail:
I agree. The first coin related book I ever read was Coin collecting for dummies, and it taught me a lot. As for what you can do, you could get some coin folders for pennies, nickels etc. and work on filling those up. Its a fun and fairly easy way to begin the hobby.
personally i would keep pre 1970. most people collect pre 1960 but in a decade 60's will be a bit harder to find. i bought $50 in nickels a week ago and found about 11 pre 1960 includin' a few 40's.
