When I first started collecting, I really had no idea what I was doing. I tried contacting my brother who has been collecting for over 40 years to ask him for some guidance.
Boy, was that stupid. His first question was, "What are you interested in collecting?" Hell, that's why I called him in the first place!
So, being confused about why I wanted to collect coins anyway, I took a look at all the online information about numismatics. At first, I was very discouraged because I saw auctions with coins selling in the $10,000 to $20,000 range. No way could I do that, ever!
Eventually, I visited a coin shop and a very nice lady helped me search through dozens of coins. I ran across an 1833 Classic Head Half-cent. I became enthralled with the age of this simple coin and immediately wondered who had touched this bit of history. The sales lady helped me understand about half-cents, large cents, small cents, 3-cents, 20-cents, and other coins. I was hooked.
With my new (to me) half-cent, I asked how I should go about displaying it. After numerous options were discussed, I decided on buying a Danesco US Type Set book. This book would guide me in my next few selection of coins and let me see the great diversity of US Coins.
Eventually, I elected to have two Type Sets; one for the first year of issue of the coin and the second for the best example (that I could afford) of the coin. Needless to say, doing this would double my cost but would also allow me to have a very unique collection. To date, neither of the Type Sets are completed and I seriously doubt if I will ever complete both of them. But it is a blast to work these sets!
All in all, trying to complete a US Type Set is challenging, fun, and educational. I even look at what happened during the year for each new coin I get.
Since I also am interested in genealogy, I try to find a significant family event that took place in the year the coin was minted. Lots of births, deaths, marriages, and other events bring the coins and our family history together.
Boy, was that stupid. His first question was, "What are you interested in collecting?" Hell, that's why I called him in the first place!
So, being confused about why I wanted to collect coins anyway, I took a look at all the online information about numismatics. At first, I was very discouraged because I saw auctions with coins selling in the $10,000 to $20,000 range. No way could I do that, ever!
Eventually, I visited a coin shop and a very nice lady helped me search through dozens of coins. I ran across an 1833 Classic Head Half-cent. I became enthralled with the age of this simple coin and immediately wondered who had touched this bit of history. The sales lady helped me understand about half-cents, large cents, small cents, 3-cents, 20-cents, and other coins. I was hooked.
With my new (to me) half-cent, I asked how I should go about displaying it. After numerous options were discussed, I decided on buying a Danesco US Type Set book. This book would guide me in my next few selection of coins and let me see the great diversity of US Coins.
Eventually, I elected to have two Type Sets; one for the first year of issue of the coin and the second for the best example (that I could afford) of the coin. Needless to say, doing this would double my cost but would also allow me to have a very unique collection. To date, neither of the Type Sets are completed and I seriously doubt if I will ever complete both of them. But it is a blast to work these sets!
All in all, trying to complete a US Type Set is challenging, fun, and educational. I even look at what happened during the year for each new coin I get.
Since I also am interested in genealogy, I try to find a significant family event that took place in the year the coin was minted. Lots of births, deaths, marriages, and other events bring the coins and our family history together.
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