Catherine Olivia

Collecting coins is a hobby that can be enjoyed by anyone of
any age. A lot of coin collectors started as children, with the
help of their parents or grandparents collecting pennies or
dimes. For some coin collecting can become a lifetime hobby.

There are various reasons to collect coins. Some people collect
coins from a specific period of time, some collect coins based
on perceived future value, some collect coins based on type of
metal, some for historical value. Some people happily collect
more common everyday coins, going through their pockets at the
end of the day for them is fun, checking dates and mintmarks on
their change. Some collectors can spend thousands of dollars on
rare silver and gold coins from the 1800's and early 1900's.
Some collect coins from different countries.

With any new hobby comes the learning. As coin collecting is a
hobby involving an outlay of money for coins from the start,
it's best to join a group to get help from experienced
collectors. You will need someone to buy the coins from, and it
can be difficult to find a reputable coin dealer. Someone who
has been coin collecting for years can help you choose a
knowledgeable and honest coin dealer. You'll need to learn
about the value of different coins. This can be done by
following what coins are being sold for, and what dealers are
paying for coins. You will need to be shown how to assess the
true value of a coin which can be based on many factors such as
age, mintmark, and condition.

The mintmark of the coin can usually be found near the date and
on newer coins the mintmarks are as follows: "P" Philadelphia,
"D" Denver, "S" San Francisco,"W" West Point New York. Older
coins may show the following mintmarks: "C" Charlotte North
Carolina, "CC" Carson City Nevada, "D" Dahlonega Georgia, "O"
New Orleans. It's interesting to note that from 1793 to 1838
the only mint in operation in the US was in Philadelphia and
coins from these years have no mintmark.

As you become a more experienced coin collector your "eye" will
mature and you'll be looking more closely at details like the
lettering on a coin, making sure the letters are still clear
and not worn down. You'll pay attention to the general
condition of a coin, and you may stray away from coins that
have a lot of obvious wear and tear. These are a part of
grading a coin. You'll learn to look for minting errors which
can make a coin quite collectible. For example a three legged
buffalo instead of a four legged one, or perhaps an
off-centered image.

As with any hobby, the more you learn about coin collecting the
more you'll be able to enjoy it.

About The Author: This article courtesy of
http://www.gold-coins-guide.net