I know its good to collect stuff within your price range and the goal is to have fun. I was looking for some collecting tips from any of you. I have a list of 10 things I am looking for and it includes 1. BRITISH SILVER COINS 2. BRITISH NON SILVER COINS 3. INTERNATIONAL BANK NOTES 4. KENNEDY HALVES 5. INDIAN HEAD USA PENNIES 6. CANADA DIMES VG + OR BETTER 1959 AND EARLIER 7. CANADA 5 CENT 1925 1932 8. CANADA 1 CENT 1858, 1892, 1894, 1922, 1923 9. CANADA LARGE CENTS 10. OTHER SILVER INTERNATIONAL COINS Is it bad to focus on this many things at once? I would like to knock off the canada 1 and 5 cents so I can put them to bed. I will eventually focus on the pre 1921 canada 5 cent but want to spend some time on a few other things too. Any thoughts to help me out. I know the non silver british coins have very little value
I hear what you are saying about focusing on too many things at a time. I will tell you why the advice is so darn good. Its because if a person focuses on an area they will learn a lot more about it and start to be able to tell what is a good buy and what isn't. This is terrific advice for a young or beginning collector. Someone like me who isn't so young and has been doing this a while, I feel free to come into and out of certain collections at will. An example is I just bought 2 coins, an ancient central asian coin and a 1913 mexican peso. I would not recommend a new collector to have such varied interests, but I have been collecting central asian for 10 years and had never seen this one, and I knew I needed this mexican type. Bottom line, if you are knowledgable about the various areas I think they are fine to colelct simultaneously. If you are a beginner, I would revert back and say its best to limit your attention until you get more experience. Chris
Well said Chris! That's as good advice as you'll get from anyone coinmandan. I may be prejudiced, but I would concentrate on Indian Head cents, and possibly international banknotes. Both these series have many affordable examples that you can collect on a budget. Oh, and by the way coinmandan don't refer to yourself as a "small time collector". Every collector is as important to this hobby as the next whether you spend a dollar or a thousand dollars on a purchase. Love them and perserve them for the next generation...and most importantly, enjoy the ride. These are the most important things. Good luck to you. Bruce
Thanks. I have narrowed my main focus to Pennies. I am going to try to finish my Canadian Penny Collection. I am close to grabbing a 1858 F15 for 85.00 CDN. That will leave me only 4 dates to get. I am also focusing on British One cent back to 1900 and then further. Going to try to collect the USA pennies as well and see where that takes me. My secondary focus will be Canada Nickles pre 1920.
Why not focus on the large cents first as that's the closest year set to being finished, two of them are easy to get and the last one sounds like you already found one for a decent price. But definitely don't limit yourself to one series. Keep doing what you enjoy until one series really catches your attention, then you can pour attention on to it. But until then, what your doing seems pretty fun. Always something to buy. I think one problem with finding one series and trying to polish it off can be difficult because in the end it usually comes down to some really expensive keys left over and you lose motivation. Whereas if you have several series open you can hop around and buy whatever coins fit your budget without fretting over dropping $1,500 on a single coin. Have fun, sounds like a cool collection! Post some pictures of your large cents
Soon as I get my camera I am going to post some pictures of a few things. Thanks for all the input. As a new collector it is very appreciated and valued
i have my personal preferences inside of my main collection, they are UK, france, german states and argentina. that said when i go to a coin fair or whatever i don't exclusively look for my preferences but if i find some new additions it's a bonus.
I have decided to try to hit my pennies and nickles hard. Canada and British one cent.. or pennies. I am also going to hit the Canada 5 cent or nickle. I will also continue to pick up two pounds of international coins each week to satisfy my craving for international coins. I was just given some mint uncirculated canadian Bank notes and am going to try to finish the set of ones, twos and fives. I think that will keep me busy and happy for a while.
