| When you approach the fascinating hobby of coin | | | | available today and how relatively easily obtained |
| collecting for the first time, it can be very | | | | they are. Even going back to several centuries |
| daunting to look at the many possible options | | | | before the birth of Christ, coins are readily |
| available to you. There are many specialist areas | | | | available that fall easily within the average |
| in which you can invest your time and money, or | | | | collector's budget. Gold coins are the most |
| of course you can always remain as a general | | | | expensive, followed by silver and then bronze. It |
| coin collector, never deciding to specialize. | | | | is possible to obtain a coin from before the birth |
| Often the best way to start collecting coins is | | | | of Christ for only £5 ($10) to £10 |
| just to start with the coins in circulation in your | | | | ($20). |
| own country. This is a risk free option, as you can | | | | Another breed apart are the collectors of tokens. |
| always decide to sell the coins if you decide the | | | | In Great Britain, for example, tokens were often |
| hobby is not for you. While you are doing this, | | | | privately produced in response to the |
| you can obtain a good reference book on the | | | | Government's failure to produce the necessary |
| hobby and begin to think of a specialist area you | | | | low-denomination currency to allow many forms |
| might want to pursue. | | | | of trade to take place. These privately produced |
| You could, of course, decide to specialize in the | | | | tokens were used in place of official government |
| coins of one particular country. This is a very | | | | issue coinage and the Government was largely |
| common way for collectors to start. Others go to | | | | unsuccessful in preventing their use. This |
| the opposite extreme and try to collect coins | | | | happened in three different centuries, in the |
| from as many different countries as possible. | | | | middle of the seventeenth century, towards the |
| Many collectors will only collect coins from a | | | | end of the eighteenth century and at the start of |
| certain period in history, such as collectors of | | | | the nineteenth century. |
| ancient coins. | | | | Even after government legislation was passed |
| There are many different types of specialization | | | | outlawing these unofficial tokens, their use still |
| available within each of these broad categories. | | | | continued. They were used in place of the |
| Many collectors are series collectors. They will try | | | | farthing, the quarter of a penny coin, until the end |
| to obtain one example of every possible date and | | | | of the nineteenth century. After this, when |
| mint mark that was produced, including any major | | | | inflation had eliminated the need for these tokens, |
| differences in the design of the coin. | | | | other forms of artificial money were still used. |
| Type collectors go beyond this, by collecting | | | | It can be a fascinating part of the hobby just |
| many different series, even trying to obtain all | | | | deciding which among the many options you are |
| possible series within a certain type. They will | | | | going to choose. Please make sure that you avail |
| usually concentrate on the coins of one country, | | | | yourself of an excellent reference book so you |
| at least at that particular time. | | | | can make an informed choice. I wish you many |
| Collectors of ancient coins are a "breed apart". It | | | | happy hours. |
| is surprising how many of these coins remain | | | | |