New interest

I have started looking at coins some one bought and got interested, It would be helpful if i got some tips on coin rating, buying coins ect ect.


~~Aviva:hatch:

 

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Aviva:
First, buy the Guide Book, then find a series that you like, then buy more books. On Grading, specialty series, etc.
The study and read the books.
Then buy a coin.
Go back to step one.
Frank

 

ok, i just need to head to the library--or look at that old book about coins we have--are pennies a good series? i just like to start off by getting really old coins, i like to find negitive things about the coin. example: it has a smudge or i like the way the made many layers to it-is that bad?

 

No, that is not bad.
Whenever I look at a coin, I look for the negatives first. Then review the positives.
Good luck.
Frank

 

Read the links that GDJMSP posted and I would also suggest some books that the above posters didn't...

Photograde
ANA Grading Guide---

And then read this free book online--
http://www.coingrading.com/

Grading of MintState coins is something that will only come with time and looking at hundreds of coins everyday--

Speedy

 

all 50...

Why not just get all 50 quarter 25 P 25 D it is just as hard as the pennies

 

Pennies can get very old and I like to see the condition of the very old coin - my the coin i have with the oldest date, I think is 1857 or rather

 

Hey, Aviva:

If you are serious about coins, the must have for grading is PCGS guide book for grading and counterfeiting. PCGS guide book It has the grades for every American coin from AG (about good) to AU (almost uncirculated) and how to grade MS (mint state).

The other thing to do is to buy slabbed coins so you have a visual comparison. Go to the coin store, pawn shops, flea markets, coin shows with your slabs, grade and price books and look over the coins. The best way to learn is to jump in with knowledge.

When I go to coin shows my back pack is stuffed with books, graded slabs from PCGS, and my loupe. I will spend a half-hour going over 1 coin if I am interested. The dealer knows I am interested, and by that time I have carefully scanned both sides and the rim, graded it to my satisfaction and have the knowledge to haggle on price.

Delawarejones

 

All the above, and never buy a coin until you come here first there is a lot of knowledge here and every one is here to help.

 

Ok, thanks everyone alot.

Aviva

 

This hobby could get expensive. If you are just getting started I would suggest you don't spend to much money at first. Read articles, look at coins, check thier prices right here on the internet. You can find more information right here than you could read in a life time. Also, I would suggest you type in coin shows and your state if you live in the USA that is. Then if there are any coin shows around, go to a few. Con't buy, just look around to see what you might be interested in. Same with any coin stores in your area. Naturally a great way to get started is to rob a bank for all thier loose change and spend lots of time looking for rare dates before you get caught. :mouth:
Actually to many people run out and try new hobbies and then everything just lays around if they loose interest. Best study what you may really want to collect first. Also, remember that for every new collector it becomes more difficult for me to find what I'm looking for.

 

While studying and reading about coins is very very [did I mention very] important, this can be a somewhat dull way to enter the hobby since it's too slow for many people. But there is nothing to stop you from collecting out of pocket change or from rolls of coins you can get at the bank for face value. From this, you can collect state quarters, fill holes in inexpensive coin holders available at many bookstores, collect wheat cents, look for silver half dollars, pull out the pre-1982 copper cents, etc. You can also ask family members if they have any old or foreign coins they don't want. That can be interesting too. The nice part about this approach is that you can't lose any significant amount of money because there are no collecting mistakes. So get started. The expensive and complicated collecting can start after you complete your study.

 

I thought I would loose interest too. But I keep it up and remember. I will always think coins is a great hobby and will pass it down

aviva

 

took me aloung time to get here since it was lost. None the less iw ould still like to get more tips from everyone thank you

~~aviva

 

Aviva - do you have new pictures of coins?

Ruben

 

I dont think so....?


Aviva

 

~~aviva, try Error coins. You can start right with the change in your pocket! This website might also be helpful...

http://www.collectorscorner.org/pocket.html

If you are going to give errors a try, you will need a Jewelers Loupe. I'd suggest a 10x doublet or triplet to help identify die cracks etc, and a 30x triplet to help identify RPM's (Re-Punched Mint Marks), and double die's.

You can find loupes fairly cheaply on ebaY.

 

Ack! I dont think so, ebay is "far" to complicated! when i said i like looking for errors i didnt meant to go that far, but mabey.....

Aviva

 

I think you would get a lot by looking through (and maybe reading a few articles from) one or more of the numismatic magazines. The main ones are Coins, CoinAGE and Numismatic News. Many bookstores carry one or more of these publications. In addition to articles, they have lots of display ads with nice big pictures of coins. In a way, they give you a feel for what the hobby is all about.--gunsmoke