Coin Collecting

Coin Collecting can be a fun and profitable past time, some people take coin collecting very seriously indeed, others just look at coin collecting simply as a part time hobby, but either way, coin collecting can be very enjoyable.

It does not matter what country you come from, coin collecting can be an interesting hobby. Some people call the term coin collecting as numismatics, but for me that is a cumbersome name, so I prefer the term coin collecting.

Some people like to collect coins of their own currency through the ages, keeping a precise spreadsheet of all the individual coins and dates, others like to show them in their homes, presented really nicely in prestige glass cabinets.

Others seek out faulty coins and even banknotes over the ages, misprints, or omissions to the official version of the coin, for example, where a particular coin was issued in error from the mint with the date missing.

This sort of coin colleting can be very profitable indeed. Coin collecting of this nature is slightly harder to source, but once you find a particular misprint coin it can be very profitable indeed.

World wide coin collecting has become even easier for collectors with the birth of the internet. Most coin collectors source coins through internet sites such as ebay. Ebay can be a very useful source of coins both rare and current, but remember that you probably will not stumble upon a rare valuable coin via this route as the seller will undoubtedly know its current value.

In my opinion the best way to source rare, valuable and bargain coins is through boot sales, brick a brack, market stalls and local fairs. Many people have clear outs all the time and rather than just throw old stuff away, they try to make a little from selling their old tat.

I have visited many stalls in the past where people have had clearouts and they have had an old box full of mixed coins for just a few quid, this is what a good coin collector should be looking for. The other week I was at a boot fair and I came across a stall which had an old cigar box which was full of old British coins.

After sparking up a conversation with the stall holder, he told me that he had cleared out his attic and was just trying to get rid of all his stuff and maybe raise a few bob. I recognised the cigar box as the type of cigars I used to purchase when I was in the Armed Forces serving in Germany.

He explained that his Grandfather was in the Army and served in Germany for many years. This confirmed to me that he was a genuine guy who just wanted to clear out his stuff, I purchased the box of mixed coins for three quid.

Once I got home I realised that I had made a very good purchase. Over 200 old coins of the English currency including some very old coins. There were some worth at least four pounds each and one very rare farthing worth a minimum of ten pounds.

However, to me it was a great addition to my ever expanding collection.

Coin Collecting Handbook....................

Taking Care of Collectible Coins..........