Coin Collection - A Summary

Anyone can start collection coins and it will probably turn into a great hobby for you. Some coin collectors focus on all different types of coin collections while some collect coins from all over the world. Collecting old coins or ones from a particular country is also popular. There are some collectors out there who focus on coins that are not being circulated any more. These coins are have no wear and are in mint condition. You will start collecting particular types of coins when you figure out what your specific interest is.

You should check out some reference books from your local library on collecting coins if you are wanting start this hobby. Find out if there are any clubs near where you live that you can join to help you start learning about coin collecting. You'll be amazed at the different places you might find coins for your collection. You are able to buy coins from coin dealers through your local coin shops and coin shows. This also gives you a chance to see a huge amount of different coins at one time.

You'll find coins for your collection in all types of different places. Coin shops and coin shows offer the opportunity to purchase coins from coin dealers. Coin dealers can be an excellent resource for information on coins. They also provide the opportunity to view a large selection of collectible coins.

Common Collection Themes:

Country Collection
Year Collection
Type Collection
Subject Collection
Composition Collection
Period Collection
Error Collection
Mint Mark Collections
Variety Collections

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• Country Collections

Country collection is one of the favorite coin collecting themes. Coin collectors who collect coins from different countries do their best to get their hands on current or past coins from as many countries as possible. This type of coin collecting would most likely be never ending since many countries keep on changing their currencies.

• Year Collections

 Year collections focus more on a specific coin and denomination. Under year collection theme, a coin collector will collect his coins by year. Many enthusiastic coin collectors who collect coins by year will be able to complete several sets of coins during their lifetime.

• Type Collections

Sometimes coin collectors collect coins which are designed in a particular way. For instance, a coin collector may collect certain coins which have a hole in the center. There are some countries which create coins with a hole in the center. This collector will collect coins from different countries but with holes in the center.

• Subject Collections

Subject collections are the collections where collectors collect coins which have a specific subject like a ship or animals marked on the coin. To expand the subject collection, the collector would have to do a lot of research to find out which countries have coins with the subject of his collection.

• Composition Collections

Even the coin composition can be a coin collection theme. Some coins are created with a combination of 2 or more metals. There are international coins which are composed of different kinds of metals. Some countries make their coins bi-metal and some may use more than two combinations of metal for their coins.

• Period Collections

Period collections are collections based on the period from which the coins were created. Some collections consist of coins from the Victorian era. Other collectors may go as far down history as the Byzantine or Greek period for their collections. There are several periods which can be the bases for period collection. Initially, coin collectors might have started collecting coins because of having extra coins after a holiday trip overseas or because they like the design of a certain coin. As the collectors' interest increase, so will his appetite for more variety or more specific coins. Although there are different kinds of coin collecting themes, most coin collectors are generalists and they simply prefer to have a little bit of everything. In reality, coin collecting preference is all up to the collector and does not have to depend on a certain theme. Whatever a collector fancies in a coin can be the basis for the collection. Many collectors strive to surpass each other by procuring the most sought after coins available. Coin collecting has now become a sort of competition for the collectors. Most collectors wish to outwit and outshine others with their collection of coins. However, there are also coin collectors who are just proud of having a unique set of coins not found in any other collector's collection. 

•  Error Collection

Error collections are coin collections that are more focused on coins with mistakes on them. The mistakes on these coins may be either be very obvious or not at all. Older coins will usually have more mistakes because coins were minted by hand before the 19th century. Common errors are found on coins are double dies, over dates, double strikes, re punched mint marks, off metal coins, displace coins and clipped coins. Another very interesting error is mule. These coins are very interesting because each side of the coin has a different denomination. Coin collectors usually desire coins with errors because they are very unusual. These kind of coins can seldom be found them nowadays as minting has become fully automated.

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