subject: How To Begin Your Own Coin Collection [print this page] While I was working at a frozen yogurt joint some years ago, I occasionally received exotic coins from my customers while I was acting as their cashier.
Many of them, as you might guess, were simply from Canada or Mexico, but I recall receiving a five-cent piece from Barbados, along with a few other bits of currency from far off countries.
Through my mistaken encounters with foreign coins, I learned the appeal of coin collecting. This age-old fascination has come so far and caught the fancy of so many people because, unlike some types of collecting, it is neither time-consuming nor too costly.
First, you should make some kind of decision regarding what types of coins you wish to focus on. There are special albums that aide in the display of cents, nickels, dimes, quarters, half-dollar, and dollar pieces.
If you think you may be interested in multiple categories, then you can easily purchase coin collecting supplies like albums, folders, and archives for several types of currency at a local hobby store or online through a specialty shop.
To begin your infant assortment of coins, you may want to check out local live auctions, pawn shops, or, naturally, search web-based auctions.
When you go into stores--grocery stores or eating establishments--ask them if they have received any foreign coins. Whenever we had them at work, we felt clueless as to what we should do with them.
Keep in close contact with friends and family, letting them know about your collecting endeavors. Whenever you get wind of one of them taking a trip abroad, ask them to bring you back some of the native currency. Of course, you should probably offer to pay for it.
The same obviously applies whenever you go overseas yourself. Make sure to stow a coin or two safely in your luggage or somewhere you won't be tempted to spend it.
Approach your older relatives to ask them if they have any coins from their childhood or their country of origin that they would be willing to part with. Oftentimes, as people age, they try to scale back their possessions, so that means you can reap the benefits that result.
Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming coin shows in your area. You don't necessarily have to go to buy anything, but it can give you a better idea of what appeals to you and will help you to become acquainted with dealers and fellow collectors that will point you in the right direction.
Coin collecting is a fascinating hobby that gives you a valuable peek into the past. It doesn't cost much to get started--just pull the change from your pocket and take a good look!
