Ideas for Starting a Coin Collection

Here are a few ideas for starting a coin collection that beginner collectors can use. Most coin collectors get their start with a random assortment of old or unique coins found in pocket change. New coins such as the state quarters and the Westward Journey nickels can also spark an interest in coin collecting. Beyond these coins that are commonly found circulating there are other coin areas for collectors to concentrate their efforts.

One Year

Collecting a coin set from a specific year, the year of the collectors birth for example, is an easy collection to complete and a popular one with many beginning collectors. To make the collection even more challenging the collector could collect only uncirculated coins as well as the commemorative coins made that year.

One Coin

Though collecting a specific coin may seem boring and easy, coins that have been in circulation for many years come in many varieties. For example, a collector of Lincoln pennies would have to collect pennies from each year and from each mint. Collecting common error coins and coins in mint condition would further add to the challenge of completing a set.

Countries

Collecting coins from another country is also an interesting collection to start. Many countries have a long history and collecting examples of coins from the country's founding to the modern day would be an interesting and educational endeavor.

Gold or Silver

Collecting gold and silver coins is probably too expensive for most beginning collectors but is an option.

Historic Periods

Collecting coins from some historic periods is not as expensive as one might imagine. For instance there are many affordable coins from Ancient Greece and Rome as well as more recent historic periods such as Nazi Germany, the USSR, as well as European coins replaced by the Euro.

Errors

Error coins are generally rare and valuable but there are some more commonly found error coins that are not too expensive. These mistake coins from national mints are an interesting collection and even the less valuable ones can be challenging to find.

Unique Shape

Coins have been made in many unique shapes and sizes. These coins that differ greatly from coins that most people are used to seeing are another interesting collection idea.