What Coins to Collect

This one would seem easy at first glance. However, many new collectors seem stumped in getting started. Many start collecting what they know or what they did for a job and relate it to their collecting. For some though they like to collect something they dream about, perhaps a C-130 Gunship collection. Getting your taste to match your collection can be one of the biggest hurdles out there. Some collectors go for Police coins, Firefighting coins, EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) coins, or anything else…but it’s not always a big area with new coins always coming out.

The first step into finding what’s right with you is to find an open community that share in the hobby you love. The collectors involved in that community can offer you guidance in beginning a collection that you can certainly be proud of. Once you have settled in on an area or two then dive in and get some coins!

Where to Get Coins

Knowing what you are going to collect can be a big enough hurdle, but knowing where to get the good ones can be just as hard. Sure eBay is a great kick start for any new collector and even times an old collector can find some new goodies. Searching for a good source through the web is a little trickier because there aren’t as many good outlets, but once you find a couple make sure you bookmark them for future reference.

Knowing your vendor can be one of the most important and overlooked aspects of finding coins. Just because you got a great deal doesn’t mean it’s a good coin. Anyone can sell a challenge coin, but it’s the true professionals that continue to seek out new and exciting coins that eBay and other sites don’t carry. These gems can be everything in keeping people coming back for more. I highly suggest some great research into your area before you jump right in.

A Coins Worth

Valuating a coins worth seems to be the hardest part of the hobby. Truly the only value is what a collector is will to pay for an item. You should always be thinking what special features the coin has, where it came from, how many are in the world, and will it enhance your collection? These questions can be a keepsake in the back of your mind when you are about to make a purchase. Knowing what the worth of each coin will help you know what the whole collection is worth and the value it may grow over time.

Many coins are massed produced to put out for sale through shops and those are the ones that will help you get started. You don’t want to continue to only by the “beginning” coins if you plan to have a collection that someone else doesn’t already have. Where is the fun of having an easy to build collection? I personally love to show off my collection when I know it’s rare enough that not many people can match me coin for coin. Live outside the PX/BX and get some goodies.

How Are You Going to Display Your Coins

So now you have figured out what you want, and where to start looking, but you are not sure how to display your coins. You should always think about where you are going to show off your collection. Is it in an office or privately in your home? Well buying or building a display can make or break a collection in terms of showing it off. Your display should be just as unique or beautiful as your collection. Find a beautiful handmade display or something that is more than a step with slots.

A rich display can easily show the kind of collector you are and how proud you are of what you have. Find a carpenter if you can’t do it yourself and have them build you something unique and complimenting. A display is a ticket that will encourage you to fill it up and move on to a bigger display or multiple displays.