The Joy of Coin Collecting
By Jill Kane
Children are ‘collectors’. Whether it’s books, stamps, feathers, shells, match labels, baseball cards, hello kitty products or Pokemon cards, children make a hobby of whatever is the ‘rage’ at the time. Collecting coins is a passion with many.
The interest could start because everybody else is collecting coins - perhaps a chance acquaintance gives you a few coins from a foreign land that kindled your interest. There is nothing more enthralling to a prospective coin collector than handling currencies of places he’s never been to. It fires the imagination and often starts a life long pastime – numismatics.
Children find methods to enhance their collection. The easiest way is in school where they swap coins with fellow collectors. The more countries he has coins from, the greater the pride of a child. Numismatics is an interesting way to learn about other countries. It doesn’t always end at school, however. Many years later the collection invokes a host of pleasant memories associated with school and it seems almost unbelievable that you could have collected so many coins at that young an age.
As children it may be fun, (a few lose interest after a while), but coin collecting can be a serious business among adults. Searching for a particular coin can mean traveling halfway round the world. Coins that are no longer in circulation are treasured. Coin collectors ‘hunt down’ special coins. For instance, ones that were minted to remember a historical event or to commemorate a red-letter day for that country would be a prize to the keen collector. Sometimes coins come out of the mint flawed. Such coins are much sought after. They are valued for these very defects.
The 1943 vintage steel penny with zinc plating is worth much more than its face value. When the number of coins minted is restricted, the value goes up. These become collectors’ items. Collectors also search for coins that have long gone out of use. When evaluating coins, consideration is given to the state the coin is in and whether it is the ‘genuine article’.
Some collect coins as a hobby while others are keen professionals. The latter invest in coins as others would in works of art or vintage wines. With these avid collectors, coins made of precious metals are an attraction. Of course, they have to pay exorbitantly high prices for them. They frequent auction houses and are in touch with other coin collectors with whom they strike bargains to get a desired coin.
If it’s the jingling of coins that gives you satisfaction; if like Silas Marner you enjoy the feel of metal as the coins fall through your fingers, or if on looking at a country’s currency you are filled with enchantment, numismatics is the hobby you’re looking for. Whether you wish to make just a hobby of it or pursue it is as an investment, is entirely up to you.
About the Author
For more helpful information on coin collecting and how to grade coins visit http://www.coin-collecting-info-guide.com