Jackpot. Hit the local bank on the way home from work and found 11 rolls of Kennedy Half Dollars. Brought them home and went throught them with my wife on the kitchen table for about an hour. We found some nice coins but nothing spectacular. Some were just plain bad, but we found enough to fill an album from 1968-present, both mints where applicable. Now I have to reroll them and start checking some more banks.
Is there anything else I could or should look for when going to a bank? Is buying mint rolls of state quarters a good idea?
I'd buy a copy of the "Red Book" (a.k.a. A Guide Book of United States Coins) and start reading it though. Once you have found some interesting items, you can name them here in a post and get the titles of more books.
Beyond reading you might buy a coin album for something modern and start with pocket change. If you are to be a real collector, you will probably have a burning desire to fill all of the holes. If you not, you might be in the wrong series, or you might not have the interest that you thought you did. At any rate you won't have that much invested.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
If you are thinking about buying something that has you really interested and it has a picture or an online link available (like on Ebay), put it up here with a "what do you think" post. You'll get an earful and an education!
CAPSTICK---for a few bucks---get it. probably an old edition but still worth it. Forget about the one that says "how to make money"---just follow russ on that topic
Travers Coin Collectors Survival/How To Make Money Item number: 3970667175
Everyone is correct with the suggestion of the Red Book. If you want to save a little, look for a old edition since your not worried about the latest prices a few years old edition would work. If you want something to do with the kids in coins and since most kids like pennies, you may want to try is to go the bank and buy a $50 bag of pennies. Get a copy of coppercoins book on Lincoln Cents, a few good magnifing glasses and start looking through the pennies with the kids. At first you'll find lots that you may want to keep as a start of a collection and then try to improve the quality little by little. You can usually take the unwated coins back to the same or different bank, turn them in for cash and go to another bank and do it again. Each kid can have their own collection or just one master set but kids being kids they usually want their own of anytning. This is a economical way to really get started if you want to have something to do with the kids rather than a computer game. Later you can do the same with Nickels, Dimes, etc. When in doubt just ask the forum. Teach the kids to do the same. There is always room for new faces here and glad your here.
I started collecting a little over a year ago. I decided to start with a 20th Century type set, with all of the coins PCGS/NGC graded. I figured this would give me good exposure to many different series, would be interesting to look at because each coin would be different, and would somewhat protect me from being ripped off.
How you collect will depend on what your budget is. I have about $100 a month to spend, so that also fit well with my type set and I am collecting only uncirculated coins. If I had more to spend, it could be higher grade uncirculated... If less, then it would mean some of the coins would be circulated.
Capstcik, I have collected nearly everything over the last 20 years. Sports cards, coins, matchbooks, marbles, art, you name it. I always seem to gravitate back to my first hobby love.....coins. In fact, I started out on the Soprts Collectibles forum here and now spend most of my time in the US Coin forum. I will echo what others have said. Spend some time reading what the experts have to say here. You will learn allot. Go to some local coin shows and buy some books. Something will eventually catch your fancy. Don't be afraid to spend a little more than you planned on a nice coin. You won't regret it.
And lets be serious, your wife doesn't have to know about every little itsy bitsy teeny weenie dollar you spend. Explain to her that coin collecting is a safe hobby. Tell her allot of women have to deal with husbands who blow thier money on gambling, drinking and smoking weed.
Going for moderns is fine because they are easily available. In the long run you will probably find a niche that really turns you on. It will take you time to know which series fits you the best but when you do the hobby will really open up to you.
All the advice is good..........especially take your time.
Most importantly is to HAVE A BUDGET and a PLAN that fits the budget..... but it is OK to stretch for something that is really special because that is the ultimate.... to own something you understand and have pride in.
Comments
Is there anything else I could or should look for when going to a bank? Is buying mint rolls of state quarters a good idea?
Thanks again for the input and information.
Beyond reading you might buy a coin album for something modern and start with pocket change. If you are to be a real collector, you will probably have a burning desire to fill all of the holes. If you not, you might be in the wrong series, or you might not have the interest that you thought you did. At any rate you won't have that much invested.
If you are thinking about buying something that has you really interested and it has a picture or an online link available (like on Ebay), put it up here with a "what do you think" post. You'll get an earful and an education!
...and welcome!
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
Travers Coin Collectors Survival/How To Make Money Item number: 3970667175
How you collect will depend on what your budget is. I have about $100 a month to spend, so that also fit well with my type set and I am collecting only uncirculated coins. If I had more to spend, it could be higher grade uncirculated... If less, then it would mean some of the coins would be circulated.
I have collected nearly everything over the last 20 years. Sports cards, coins, matchbooks, marbles, art, you name it. I always seem to gravitate back to my first hobby love.....coins. In fact, I started out on the Soprts Collectibles forum here and now spend most of my time in the US Coin forum. I will echo what others have said. Spend some time reading what the experts have to say here. You will learn allot. Go to some local coin shows and buy some books. Something will eventually catch your fancy. Don't be afraid to spend a little more than you planned on a nice coin. You won't regret it.
And lets be serious, your wife doesn't have to know about every little itsy bitsy teeny weenie dollar you spend. Explain to her that coin collecting is a safe hobby. Tell her allot of women have to deal with husbands who blow thier money on gambling, drinking and smoking weed.
They call me "Pack the Ripper"
coinfacts.com
You will learn a lot on these sites.
Going for moderns is fine because they are easily available. In the long run you will probably find a niche that really turns you on. It will take you time to know which series fits you the best but when you do the hobby will really open up to you.
All the advice is good..........especially take your time.
Most importantly is to HAVE A BUDGET and a PLAN that fits the budget..... but it is OK to stretch for something that is really special because that is the ultimate.... to own something you understand and have pride in.
<< <i>Capstick,
Here's the perfect buying list:
Toned and prooflike morgans, cameo proof franklins, dark and crusty capped bust half dollars, and toned proof jeffersons.
Russ, NCNE >>
I think you should add early date cameo Kennedys and the ones with accented hair to the top of the list there!
Semper ubi sub ubi