As a Beginning Collector, What Coins Do You Recommend?

True, but if we consider only those pieces to be "collector coins" that were/are made specifically for collectors and carry a surcharge, we would probably look at relatively modern issues. Late 19th/early 20th century maybe; a little earlier if we include special surcharged varieties of regular issues (e.g. proof coins) ...

And yes, we may learn about history from coins. And I am willing to believe that many collectors do. But of course there are also quite a few who simply want to have that nazi coin because of the "cool" oder "shudder" effect. If that helps them learn about nazism and the Holocaust, good. (I don't even expect them to learn anything about German history before the mid-1930s and after the mid-1940s.) But coins are basically government "propaganda", and how much time are we willing to invest in terms of reading or researching?

Christian

 

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There is a major difference between a coin being of a special type and being issued for collecting. For the most part it is the matter of surcharge. At $1, Columbian halves are not coins to my strict definition but when they released the remainders into circulation at 50 cents, the coin became a full fledged coin. I believe this also happened with the Washington/Carver halves. When I was a kid they were regularly found in circulation where I lived.

I would love to know the status of the Trajan Restorations, Anonymous Pagans and Festival of Isis coins but I could never assume they did not circulate in some way without more evidence. If Trajan called in all the Republican denarii and traded them one for one for REST coins, these special things were coins. He would have profited by the change of metal. If however, he sold sets of ten denarii for an aureus, I'd have to credit him with inventing the monster. Emperors regularly had special asses made for New Year's distribution. These were coins. Just because we do not understand the denomination system does not guarantee AP or Isis items being medals rather than coins. We are not likely to understand this anytime soon. Just last week I saw an Anonymous Pagan being offered as an Isis. Since most coin books don't list them, they must not be coins - right?

 

that's the beauty of coin collecting. there's something for everyone to collect. I understand your views towards proofs. having collected coins for 16+ years I find myself wanting older coins. 18th, and 19th century coins are now on my want lists.

 

I like modern circulating coins in Unc a great deal.

They are collectible in lower grades but they can be quite scarce in Unc and very little more expensive. Indian moderns, for instance, are on a tear and if you have access to any Uncs at low prices they are a steal. Some are quite common so don't buy rolls but most are uncommon or tough.

Have fun and try to stay away from hot areas as much as you can. When something goes way up trade it off for something that's cold as ice.

 

If it comes in a fancy box, you don't want to own it. The bigger box, the bigger the rip-off. Get a Krause catalog and see what you like, then go out and find it.

 

great coin and is it gold and which country is it from ? gonna look it up. thanks.

 

Your avatar is a must have and great start to a world coin collection

 

Danish West Indies, --or what is today the US Virgin Islands.

 

not in my Krause catalog ? what country name specifically ?

 

found this 1 on Ebay under Danish west indies going for $1982.00 link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Danish-West...3403913?pt=US_World_Coins&hash=item5d47040389 is this coin you have and or are selling now ? is yours worth this much ? wow sweet.

 

answered my own question. nope they have scratches in different places.

 

Take a pill.. Coins only show the politic of that time don't get to hung up on it

 

you post made me think of people burning books...just wrong. which related to the other guys... throws "coins in the garbage" post (just wrong).

 

If you collect coins, you collect history.

 

here ya go.. others can explain........

 

Should I toss my 1967 Israeli 10 Lirot victory coin because everybody seems to hate it in that neck of the woods, and yes "currently hated" worse than the Hakenkruz, someone can explain it to you, no I'm not Jewish, I'm german, But it's a beautiful coin. .900 .754 asw oz.

 

Sure, but that applies to other objects too. More importantly, you don't learn anything by "merely" collecting. The point is that many collectors (and I am always willing to hope that it's most collectors ) use their coins as starting points for further research.

Christian