Starting a U. S. Coin Collection With New Releases

Right now coin collecting has made a comeback, primarily due to the changes in the coins we use everyday. This upward trend was largely started when the state quarters came out. They probably started more new people collecting coins than any other single thing. The thing that appeals to collectors is the number of different types released.

The quarters features all 50 states plus territories and now they are going to bring out National Park quarters. The 2004 and 2005 nickels have the Westward Journey theme and have 4 different designs. The new Lincoln cents are coming out with 4 new designs. The dollars coins that started with Susan B. Anthony have added Sacagaweas, Native Americans & now the Presidents.

There are several different paths people take to collecting. Many are collecting the interesting coins that are being minted now. A lot of people will only collect the set (such as all the state quarters) while others may collect all the new coins. Others will get bitten by the bug and go on to collecting other coins. The ones that tend to do this usually start to specialize in a certain type of coin & try to build a complete collection of them.

The newly minted coins are a good way to get children started collecting as the designs are interesting and different. Coins that only change the date tend to be somewhat boring & children are apt to lose interest. There are now enough collectible coins in circulation to keep them interested. The same can be said for adults for that
matter and the different designs coming out give them something to look forward to.

Once someone starts collecting coins they have found in their change they tend to start trying to find better specimens and eventually some of them start buying uncirculated coins or even rolls of coins from the mint. Although when you gravitate to this type of collecting you will be paying a premium for the coins the ones you collect from your change will never lose any value. If you decide you no longer want to collect then you can just start spending them. You don't even have to find someone to buy your collection like you have to with other things you collect.

Collecting the newly minted coins is like collecting artwork due to all the new & exciting designs now in circulation & new ones coming later. Just in your pocket change there are enough different designs to hold just about everyone's interest and undoubtedly more are coming out in the future.

Source: http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/