Coins Collection

Coin collecting, or numismatics is a hobby as old as time. As a hobby, it has been around for more than 2,500 years. This is surprising since the use of coins has been around for pretty much that same amount of time too. Man has always had a fixation for small, round, shiny things. And throughout the ages, coin collectors have always been on the prowl for the oldest, rarest, most attractive coins around.

Numismatics comes from the Greek word nomisma, meaning ‘currency,’ or coin. It is also related to the study of banknotes, tokens, and other early forms of money.

Coins and other forms of money are issued by governments and other monetary agencies. Billions of these flood the market yearly. But as time goes by, the number of these coins go down. Some get lost and some are damaged beyond recognition.

This goes to show that the older the coin, the rarer it must be. And for coin collectors, this is prime stuff.

Coin collectors and hobbyists number millions around the world. This hobby is taken so seriously that there are even professional dealers and investors who ply their trade in this fashion.

The lure of coins lies in its power to draw people into the era it belonged to. These coins show many aspects of everyday life during those times. By examining a coin, one comes to know the geography, philosophy, sociology, artistry and other aspects of the culture they existed in.

Ancient kings (and even today’s leaders) had a telling habit of having their faces imprinted on their currency. Some historians have been able to put together clues regarding the ancient civilizations using these coins. Sometimes, coins would tell of a leader or prominent figure that would have been forgotten by time if it were not for these coins.

Hobbyists usually start collecting coins from their own locality. This makes sense because they are the easiest to collect. These hobbyists then expand their collection to coins from increasingly farther and earlier origins.

Coin collectors regard every single coin as a unique specimen. They take note of the date, the mint marks, and even the abnormalities in its design. Ironically, some of the most expensive coins are those with the strangest abnormalities. This is because this type of coin is hard to come by.

For example, there could be a coin in existence that differs from other coins in its batch. For some unknown reason, it lacks some of the required markings. Such coins are deemed more valuable than the normal coins of its type.

A good number of coin collectors collect coins according to themes. The coins they collect all have a common topic. Some collect coins related to kings and queens. Some collect those related to plants and animals.

The price for a coin is determined by the demand for this coin. Many factors affect this demand. If a coin is rare, chances are, it is in great demand. However, there are some coins that are rare, or exotic, yet the demand for them remains low. If this is the case, then its market value will remain in the low end.

Before purchasing coins, one must do much research about that coin. He must assess its current market value and make sure that the coin is genuine. He should also consider how much he could earn if he resells the coin.

The American Numismatic Association is the largest numismatic organization in the world. It was founded in 1891 and was chartered by the Congress of the United States 21 years later. This group has the largest library of coins available. Collectors would love to visit their headquarters, the World Money Museum, which is one of the largest coin museums in the world.

Another organization, the American Numismatic Society, is the most active and respected nonprofit numismatic publisher in the world. They maintain a museum that contains more than a million objects. They also have a library that has one of the most comprehensive in coin collecting knowledge.

Whether you are a hobbyist or a serious collector, coin collecting will always bring a sense of fulfillment and history to your life. It is never too late to start collecting today. You can’t lose! Your collection can only grow in value as the time passes by!

For more great coin collecting info and advice check out: http://www.just-coins.com

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Introduction

This is a very interesting and unfortunately, a very difficult question to answer.

Unlike other numismatic areas, ancient numismatics has a diverse range of coins from a diverse range of cultures spanning over a thousand years.

This figure is unfathomable when you compare it to a “modern” collecting interest such as Australian pre-decimal coins which only span a little over fifty years.

This article is not intended to provide a comprehensive answer to the question posed, but outline a quick sketch of the options available to you as well as their respective advantages and disadvantages.

Initial Questions

One of the first things you must ask yourself before making any purchases, is what area of ancient coins interests you? As a new collector, you are prone to giving into temptation and purchasing every “pretty” coin that passes your way. This is a quick way to run out of much-needed funds and only leads to regret later on down the track.

Regarding ancient numismatics, the first question I would recommend asking yourself is what empire you’d like to collect from. There are several advantages and disadvantages of each but it all depends on your individual taste. I will run through these advantages and adisadvantages individually.

Roman Empire

i) Advantages

There are many advantages in collecting Roman coins. First of all they are cheaper. Don’t misinterpret this statement though, there are many Roman coins that will be out of your price range, but as a general assumption this holds true. Compared to Greek coins, uncleaned Roman coins are always cheaper, third to 5th century coins are always cheaper than the “typical” greek coin, and even silver roman coins are cheaper than greek silver coins.

Also, Roman coins are easier to attribute and to follow generally. Roman Imperial coins have the emperor on the obverse 99% of the time and thus you almost always know at which part of the Roman Empire you are, chronologically-speaking. Also, later roman coins were minted during a period where there was an elaborate mint-mark system. This means that not only can you attribute the coin much easier, you can even attribute it right down to the mint itself (and even further!!!)

Another advantage is that Roman coins are generally found in higher grades than Greek coins. A quick search on your favourite coin sites, or even indeed eBay will readily confirm this.

Another advatange, though this is a moot point, is that it is easier to determine whether a Roman coin is authentic or not. This is because generally-speaking, Roman coins feature a known and familiar styles, thus easily identifiable to the collector. Regarding later issues, the design becomes so simplistic that any deviations from the original style are pretty evident to the average collector.

ii) Disadvantages

Compared to Greek coins, Roman coins are not as diverse in styles and types. Also, arguably speaking, Greek coins on average exhibit greater artistic style. Certainly the classical period features coins that near perfection.

Another disadvantage is that many emperors are simply beyond the collectors reach, if not for their incredible expense, then for their immense rarity. For some emperors/empresses, a collector may have to wait years before one becomes available.

Greek Empire

i) Advantages

An immediate advantage to the collector is that he/she has much scope for collecting as there is a more diverse range of coin types availalble.

Also Greek coins come in the most fascinating variety of shapes and forms. A collector on a tight budge may survive by purchasing common coins such as obols fromcommon areas and/or mints. However, unlike with Roman coins, that does not mean that the collector will never come accross coins with exquisite designs. In fact, most greek coins contain amazing depictions of mythological scenes and/or gods, goddessess, kings and queens. This is quite different from the standard Emperor Obverse and standard (for common coins anyway) reverses for the coins of the Roman Empire.

ii) Disadvantages

The extraordinary range of coin types availabe makes it extremely difficult for the collector to frame his collection.

Also, Greek coins tend to get expensive quite quickly. If you are collecting bronze coins, you will delight in the sheer number of coins available to you for only a few dollars. However, if you progress to silver coins, you will quickly find that some coins will never be in your price range.

Byzantine Empire

i) Advantages

Like Roman Coins, Byzantine coins are cheaper than greek coins. In particular, Byzantine cup coins in VF condition can be foundeBay for as little as $US 2.00 each. Gold and silver coins are also generally cheaper than the average Roman Solidus or Aureus.

ii) Disadvantages

To the untrained eye, Byzantine coins of the same type are virtually indistinguishable from one another. This makes attribution an extremely difficult process.

Also, the style is cruder, and do not match the celatorship found in the Greek and Roman Empires.

Uncleaned Coins

i) Advantages

The main advantage is that at face value, they are cheaper. This should not be the main consideration of the collector, unless he/she is working with an extremely limited budget, because it is an often misleading point. The statement does not take into accound the opportunity cost of cleaning coins. Cleaning coins takes time and patience and in those many hours, the collector may have instead chosen to work a few extra hours to increase his/her wages. However, there are collectors who manage to efficiently refine their cleaning techniques and thus decrease this opportunity cost.

Another advantage though, is that by cleaning and attributing the coins, the collector finds that he/she is able to learn a great deal about ancient numismatics and history in and fun and enoyable way.

A fundamental advantage to collecting uncleaned coins however, is that there is a chance that the collector may stumble across rare and even unique types. It is not uncommon for a collector to find an unpublished coin type in a large uncleaned lot.

ii) Disadvantages

Contrary to any claims by dealers, uncleaned coins are “cherry-picked” 100% of the time. The coins have passed through several hands usually, before they land in the collector’s.

Also, larger uncleaned coins are almost never in great condition.

Well, that’s it, hopefully this article helps you get on your way and forming your collection.

Greek & Roman Antiquities: http://www.greekandromancoins.com

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Getting Started with the Hobby of Numismatics and Collecting Coins

What is Numismatics?

Numismatics - the very name sounds mysterious and evocative. In simple terms, numismatics covers the science and study of coins, cash, and other legal tender, as well as medals, tokens, and medallions. The collection of ancient, commemorative, and rare coins is a fun and exacting hobby, and opens up a realm of history that most people never get to see. A numismatist holds an ancient coin that has passed through dozens or hundreds of hands throughout the millennia. In medieval times, the collection of ancient coins was already popular, but it was known as a hobby for kings. Today, building a fascinating collection of coins does not have to be expensive, and everyone can participate in this exciting pastime.

How do I Start Collecting Coins and Legal Tender?

When deciding which coins to collect, you should consider your interests, your budget, and your return on investment.

The first step when building a collection of coins is to decide what category of legal tender interests you most. Some people like to focus their collections on specific precious metals, such as gold, silver, copper, or bronze coins. Others like to concentrate on a specific time or region, like ancient Roman coins. Commemorative coins are a popular form of collection, as are rare minted coins like those which had an error in their stamping. If a certain set of coins doesn’t interest you, it won’t be any fun at all to become a collector.

Another interesting choice for numismatists is a token collection. Tokens were historically used in place of legal tender, if coins of the right value were not available, or were not convenient. In the modern day, tokens are still used at gaming arcades and some vending machines. Tokens may not be as valuable as true moolah, but they are an interesting look at local history, and can be fun to collect.

The price of a rare coin depends on supply and demand. If only a few coins were made but there are tons of collectors, it will be very expensive to start that kind of collection. Ironically, ancient coins are some of the most inexpensive and most interesting coins to collect. Because of the large number of coins in circulation between 650 BC, when stamping coins became popular, to the fall of the Roman Empire in 450 AD, tons of coins were created, and more are being uncovered every day. Common bronze coins that were being used in the time of Archimedes can be bought for about $10 apiece.

The third, and probably least important thing to consider when starting your collection is the likelihood that your coins will increase in value. Coin collecting for investment purposes can be a tricky endeavor. There is always the possibility that the coins you buy will include counterfeits, and the coin market can fluctuate even more wildly than other kinds of investment. For these reasons, it is probably wiser for you to focus on building a collection of coins, tokens, or legal tender that you enjoy than to build your collection with an eye on getting a large return on investment. However, high-grade ancient coins, gold coins, Morgan dollars and Walking Liberty half dollars are among the kinds of collections that are most likely to increase in value over time.

Coins and Coin Collecting, http://www.coinsandcoincollecting.com

Your guide to getting the very best from your coin collection.

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