As most of you know, i've only been in coins 3-4 months. Love frankies, walkers and kennedy's. Here is the question- I would enjoy some world coins but do not know anything about them. What would be some of these that are popular {but not ridiculously high} and ones that might generally hold theie value? Also, any pix? Thanks a bunch!
baileyl - I moved your post over here to the World Forum - thought it might get a better response here. Here's one you could think about - the French franc. Even in high grades it won't break the bank
Here's where "buy the book before the coin" comes in. There are literally hundreds of countries that have minted coins over the last few thousand years, ranging from the beautiful to the grotesque; and very many of them quite popular with collectors. What do you mean by "ridiculously high"? When I was a teenager, earning 35¢ per hour at a summer job; or even as an Army private earning $21 a month; spending $5 on a coin would certainly have met that standard. Today I routinely spend large multiples of that amount. (If I had Bill Gates resources, I don't think I wouldn't consider it ridiculous to pay $100,000 for a coin I really liked and wanted.) In other words, the Hobby of Kings can be enjoyed on any size budget. European coins (Great Britain, Euros, France, Germany, etc.) are probably more "popular" with U.S. collectors than those from other areas of the world (China, Japan, Zimbabwe, Paraguay, etc.); but in the final analysis you have to decide what trips your trigger. For me its Japanese coinage of the Meiji/Taisho eras; for GDJMSP its medieval gold ducats; for other forum members its other times and places. Before you start spending money on the darkside, I suggest that you randomly cruise EBay, not to buy but to look at the variety that's out there visit your local public library and leaf through the Standard Catalog of World Coins read every post in the World & Ancient Forum here read the posts in other W&A forums; and generally educate yourself on what's out there in various price ranges. After you've done that for several months, you'll probably know what you want to collect, and how it will fit your budget. If there are any coin stores where you live, or if any coin shows are held within driving distance, you could also spend some time browsing. Most dealers have "junk box" coins - common issues in circulated condition that they sell for anywhere from 5 or 10 for a buck to a few dollars each. No "rarities", no gold, not much silver, but plenty of interesting pieces to whet your appetite.
A Proposal To New American Collector If you have only few dollars to each coin: Start buying the little silver coins of the 20th century, Worldwide: Most coins are not expensive. Some of them have low starting prices, such as USA silver dimes and silver quarters, British commonwealth 3 pence and 6 pence, including Australia Canada New Zealand, malaya 5 and 10 silver cents, 1926 - 1943 , India 2 Silver Annas , and also Netherlands 1/10 Guilder and Netherlands East indies 1/10 Guilder / Rupiah and 1/4 rupiahs 1903 + until 1945... Also like in upper message France 1 , 2 , Silver Francs and some 5 Francs of 1960's. Egypt 2 Qirshan 1916. If you have more money , start looking for Puerto Rico: 5 centavos 1896 PGV is very advisable: it's price starts by 15 $ and end by 185 $. I have it. Another coin of Puerto Rico is new 2004 Silver Quarter: Its prices in Ebay are between 5.99 $ and 17.99 $ and I look for it. Puerto Rico is a "Hard to get its coins" out of the USA. Beware of Chinese and Japanese Silver coins. China is a "kingdom of forgery" and its coins are not for beginners.
