Collector Coins: A Hobby Of History

There are many different hobbies with which one can find enjoyment

, but one of the most popular is coin collecting. People have collected and hoarded coins for as long as mankind has been using them. It was not until the modern age, however, that collector coins become common enough for the hobby to reach its current levels of popularity.

In past eras collector coins were most likely held for the value of the bullion itself rather than any aesthetic value. There were certainly some people who collected and exchanged coins from far-off places, but unlike today's money, which is largely symbolic with little or no inherent value, early ones were made with actual gold, silver and other precious metals. Coins, and money in general, were much more scarce and more valuable in past centuries than they are today. Coin collecting was once known as "The Hobby of Kings" during the Renaissance and earlier, because the endeavor was mostly limited to noblemen: people with enough disposable wealth to own money and not have to spend it all.

Nowadays, coin collecting is so widespread that it has become known as the "King of Hobbies." It has a very broad appeal and its proponents collect for all sorts of reasons. Coin fans know no age boundaries. Collectors range from the ten-year-old kid with a jar full of loose change to history buffs with a collection of ancient and rare coins. Just about every nation in the world has pieces in circulation and out, so it is a hobby that can easily cross cultural and language barriers.

Many collectors simply collect for the fun of it while others take it quite seriously. Some even manage to make a successful living doing it. Most cities of decent size will often have at least a couple of coin dealers who are usually quite knowledgeable in the field of numismatics, the systematic study of currency. Numismatists are not always collectors, but some level of numismatic knowledge is helpful for owners of potentially valuable collections. The field also includes an extensive grading system that is used to rate the condition and value of collector currency.

Of course, the exact makeup of a coin collection can vary widely. Many hobbyists have very generalized collections from all sorts of eras, nations, or commemorative events. Others might specialize in a particular area. For example, one collector might try to acquire every year of the Wheat Penny while another's collection features every national version of the Euro coin. For some, only the rarest specimens will do; these can get quite

by: Christine Harrell

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