subject: How To Start Your Coin Collection: Coin Storage, Coin Collections, Coin Holders [print this page] A coin collection is more than fun and excitement, it can also become a worthy investment. There are different avenues you can take to begin your collection. Depending on how much money you have you can collect accordingly. Here's how to get started.
1. Low budget collecting: If you don't want to invest heavily, or maybe you just want to collect on the side, all you need to do is find coins that you like. They can be shiny, or old or weird. Look through change. If you sort through change you can quickly find a coin from each year, and if you go to banks and exchange for coins, you may even find an older or rarer coin in a batch. Ask relatives, or go through boxes of your own to find coins. Beginning with circulation coins is a great way to amass a large collection and it's easy.
2. Storage: To store them you can use coin folders or coin holders, a state quarter map, or a coin album. You can also use individual sleeves and envelopes, but it's more fun to be able to easily look at them in coin holders. Plus you won't wear them with touch when they're in coin folders. Cardboard coin folders are a great way to keep your coins safe and in good condition. Coin holders are usually designed for a series of coins, like pennies, or nickels or quarters. If you don't care about their condition, throw them in a box (though I don't recommend this).
3. Middle budget: A price book is a good idea and a magnifying glass can be helpful. Learning about the history of the coins will keep you interested. Find a reputable coin seller to keep your coin collection growing.
4. Higher Budget: If you have a job, and are more interested in coins, you can narrow your collection by country, time period, or type. To find better deals on coins you can search shops, coin shows and even eBay, but beware to check the seller's feedback rating to see if he is reliable. At coin shows you don't have that option, but you at least get to meet the person face to face. Don't buy coins off of the television.
5. Exonumia: Oddly shaped souvenirs, tokens, military money or whatever other kinds of coins you see are also collectible, if you're interested.
6. Now What? Coin grading is where the real money is. Fine means that the coin was in circulation but has remained in good condition. Mint means that the coin has never been in circulation, and proof means that the coin was sold in plastic for collectors. It's fun to build your coin collection out of a different range of coin quality.
If you decide you want to get out of the numismatics game, you should research the prices for your coins and sell them accordingly, or keep them for future generations, when they'll be worth much, much more.
