What coins should i start collecting

They are still found in circulation and most can be purchased for a moderate price at a local coin show, coin shop or online. If your budget is a little larger, you may want to start with building a collection of Indian Head pennies or collecting a type set of United States coins.

Many people ask, "What should I collect? It may be a fascinating design on the coin, the history behind the coin or a story that is associated with the coin. Use the Internet to research the history of a coin or to learn about its origins. However, be careful if you purchase coins on the Internet. They may be overpriced or counterfeit. Regardless, if the coin piques your interest you will be more likely to learn about them and that education will help you avoid costly mistakes in your coin collecting journey.

The Lincoln penny is rich in history and has some great stories behind some of the coins. Some young collectors collect world coins that have a common theme, such as queens, fish, buildings, flowers, etc. The possibilities are endless and it can be as interesting as you make it. Finally, as you begin your coin collecting journey be careful not to fall into the trap of trying to "making a quick buck. You will soon find out that the old adage of "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" will hold true in this situation.

Stick with collecting what you like and purchase your coins from a trusted coin dealer. Although coins are made of metal and we tend to think of metal is very tough, the surface of a coin is very delicate and can be damaged easily.

Different metals will react differently with the atmosphere around them. Practicing safe coin storage and handling techniques will protect the value of your coins for generations to come. Handle your coins wearing cotton or latex gloves. If these are not available, then only handle the coin by its edge. Most importantly, never clean a coin! Coin dealers will be able to tell that has been cleaned and it will be considered a "damaged coin.

Building a solid collection of coins that will appreciate over time is not a race. In fact, most coin collectors who hurry with their purchases end up getting frustrated very quickly and losing money when it comes time to sell their coin collections. Take your time and learn about the particular coins before you purchase them. Also, don't purchase the first coin that comes along. Wait for the coin that is the quality you are seeking and is being offered at a reasonable price that you are willing to pay.

Done right, coin collecting is a hobby that can last a lifetime. Whitman Publishing, LLC www. Anthony DeFrancisci designed the Peace silver dollar , and it was first produced in December The United States Mint also produced a substantial mintage of dated Morgan silver dollars. The idea to commemorate the peace that followed the "Great War" was first proposed by Farran Zerbe, former President of the American Numismatic Association from to The idea caught on, and DeFrancisci produced a beautiful design emblematic of liberty on the obverse and peace symbolized by an American Eagle on the reverse.

The first Peace silver dollar coins minted in had a high relief but were too difficult to strike properly. The recesses of the dies were so deep that the metal could not flow into these deep recesses completely and caused a lack of detail on the coins. The mint did not begin striking these coins until December 26, This late start gave an extremely limited time for the United States Mint to produce these new dollars.

Slightly more than one million coins were struck, and the public snapped them up rapidly. Although this coin can be considered scarce, a beginning collector can acquire a circulated example at a modest cost.

Optimal Collecting Grade: MS Engraver George T. Morgan initially created this design to be used on a half dollar. It was eventually modified and adapted for the silver dollar beginning in The United States Mint was consumed entirely by producing silver dollars to fulfill the requirements of the Bland-Allison Act. Although the CC Morgan silver dollar is not a key date nor scarce with approximately two million pieces minted in the Carson City, the Nevada branch mint facility, owning one of the early coins produced at the Carson City mint added character to any coin collection.

Circulated pieces are moderately priced within the budget a beginning collector. Uncirculated pieces are also within the budget of an intermediate collector. Although not as scarce as the S VDB Lincoln cent, the D coin comes in a close second with a mintage of 1,, coins produced. What makes this coin desirable is that uncirculated specimens were not saved in the same quantities that the S VDB coins were.

Therefore, uncirculated D examples are scarcer than the more popular S V. Given the popularity of Lincoln cents among coin collectors, this coin has also maintained its value over time, especially for intermediate and expert collectors seeking a quality uncirculated coin.

However, circulated specimens are also within the coin collecting budget of beginning and intermediate coin collectors. Be careful when selecting a circulated specimen. Look for a coin that is evenly toned and does not have any problems such as scratches or dings.

The Doubled Die Lincoln cent is another coin that is extremely popular among Lincoln penny collectors. Although this is considered an error coin , many collectors still seek to add one to their collection. This coin is undoubtedly the most famous error coin ever produced by the United States Mint. The tale of this error coin began when the United States Mint used a coin die that received two impressions that were slightly offset from each other. Mint workers discovered the error after approximately 20, to 24, coins were already mixed with a batch of properly produced coins.

The mint decided that it was not worth the expense to melt the entire quantity of coins to scrap the error coins that got mixed in. When news of this error coin began appearing in local papers in the northeastern United States, many people pulled the coins out of circulation.

Local coin shops were buying them as fast as people could find them. There are many Uncirculated and About Uncirculated examples that can be obtained for your collection. Unfortunately, this is also one of the most counterfeited coins on the market. Many of these high-quality counterfeits originate from China.

Be wary of any coins that you purchase on eBay or, for that fact, any seller that is unknown to you. The best way to invest in coins is to build a relationship with a trusted coin dealer. The D Three-Legged Buffalo nickel is another error coin that became very popular with collectors.

Morgan and in production from through Many collectors spend an entire lifetime building their Morgan silver dollar collection. In part, this is because so many dates are hard to find and super expensive. But every collection of United States coinage needs at least one example of this classic American coin.

One of the most affordable dates is the Morgan dollar, representing the last year of the series. More than 86 million Morgan dollars were struck in before production shifted to the Peace silver dollar. Anthony dollar Narrow Rim variety. Few American coins were as short-lived as the Susan B. Anthony dollar, which was struck only from to It was produced once more in to fill a dollar coin shortfall before the Sacagawea dollar hit the streets in The Susan B.

Anthony dollar also represents several firsts:. Anthony dollar was the first year of these much-maligned, but historically important coins. There were many designs, but one reigns above all others. Widely held to be the most beautiful coin ever produced, the gold Saint-Gaudens double eagle was minted from through First-year issues from are among the most desirable. A handful of different issues were struck in Some bear the date in Roman numerals and, with their high-relief strike, are extremely rare and valuable.

Low-relief Saint-Gaudens double eagles sell for a little above spot value in circulated grades. Uncirculated specimens can be bought for nominal amounts over that. This makes them one of the most popular pre gold coins. Image: Early Commemorative Coins. The Columbian half dollar was authorized by the United States Congress to help pay for the Columbian Exposition celebrating the occasion. This event is better known as the Chicago World's Fair. As the first official U. Yet, along with its incredible numismatic history, it is also an affordable coin.

The United States Mint kicked off its bullion program with five different American Eagle coins of silver and gold. A one oz. The reverse features a modern heraldic eagle design by John Mercanti. While American Silver Eagles are common, they are also in high demand as the important first-year coin in the series. As a result, they normally sell at a significant numismatic value over spot. However, paying a little extra for this specific silver coin is worth it. The American Silver Eagle changed the face of silver bullion investment.

It's impossible to predict precisely which coins will increase in value. Frankly, some coins will not. The best advice in this regard is to pursue coins that are in exceptionally good condition, such as mint state also called "uncirculated". The highest-grade coins usually offer the greatest potential for price appreciation. Individual taste should also be taken into account. Perhaps you collect coins that have a design or theme that you enjoy. Maybe you search for coins from a specific year that is meaningful to you, such as the birth year of a family member.

You can never go wrong in coin collecting if you look for coins that appeal to you on a personal level. Many collectors simply love the hobby, and aren't in it to make big profits. Yet collecting coins and holding them for several years is often a viable investment strategy.