Are you looking to meet other coin enthusiasts to share ideas and compare collections? Or maybe you are seeking information on reputable suppliers, brokers and appraisers.

Or, maybe you just want to spend some time learning from experienced coin collectors and sharing their stories.

Whatever your reason for wanting to spend time with like-minded hobbyists, a coin collecting club is a great way to get out there, improve your knowledge, and have some fun.

Clubs for coin collectors

Most large cities have clubs for coin collectors; ask around at the coin or hobby shop, or do a quick online search for clubs in your local area.

The Coin Gallery On-Line (www.coin-gallery.com) lists dozens of national, state and local numismatic clubs by their websites, along with a brief history of each club.

They also provide links to these clubs, so you can make contact with the local members. The Yahoo! directory also has an extensive list of numismatic clubs, and you might be able to find one near you.

Like any other hobby, coin collections come with its own vocabulary, its own group of experts and specialists, and its need for unique supplies and accoutrements.

Here are a few supplies you’ll need when you begin coin collection:

The first supply you’ll want to get, as a coin collector, is a thick resource book that will cover coin basics, specifics and fair market values.

The next thing you’ll want to pick up is a coin album. These vary widely from very specific coin collections, like the state quarters to a host of other coin collections and mixed coins holders.

You may need one or more for your starter coin collections, depending what types of coins you choose to collect.

A reputable dealer will often sell coins in individual coin cases for their protection. These are fine for short-term storage, but eventually you’ll either want an 11-ring binder to house your coin collections or a display box to present your coin collections.

Another thing to consider when you start purchasing rare coins is buying a coin safe. Such safes can protects you coins from the elements as well as theft.

Coin collection is a fascinating hobby for young and old alike, and a perfect activity for any member of the family.

Some basic information will help you get started on this fun, educational and rewarding pastime of coin collection.

When starting a coin collection, your budget will largely determine how and where you begin. For a youngster, this can be a simple as asking friends and relatives to set aside any unwanted or interesting coins.

There is no need for fancy albums or expensive cases at this stage of the game. But you will want to make sure your budding collector has some small coin envelopes or cardboard coin holders to protect those coins from scratches and damage.

You can find these in local coin and hobby shops, or at one of the many online coin suppliers. Expect to pay between $2-5 for 100 cardboard holders or envelopes.

You’ll also want a sturdy box to store your growing coin collection. Nothing fancy needed here…an old shoe box will do just fine! Make sure you store it in a safe, dry place.

If you want your coin collection to retain its value, you must know how to properly care for, handle and store your coins.

Many budding collectors make the mistake of mishandling their coins, or storing them improperly, ruining what could be a possibly lucrative investment.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind to protect your coin collection from the start:

Don’t clean your coins, unless you absolutely have to. Many times, cleaning will reduce the value of a coin.

Collectors prefer the time-stained coins to the shiny ones, but if you have to remove dirt, simply wash the coins with soap and water. Wash them one at a time; don’t put them all in the water at the same time.

Never scrub or brush the coin; you don’t want to make even tiny scratches on its surface. Use a towel to pat the coin dry. There are cleaning products on the market made specifically for coins, but use these with caution.

And you may want to consult a professional coin collection grader for an opinion before you attempt any cleaning procedure.

The American Numismatic Assoc, frequently referred to as the ANA, is the largest organization for coin collection and general education about money.

It is a nonprofit, educational organization, dedicated to help people to discover and explore money in its various forms.

Dr. George F. Heath formed the ANA in 1891. His aim was to inform people about money and the history behind it.

In fact he taught himself a good deal about American and world history by studying his own coin collection, and was determined to share his passion with the rest of the world.

History of American Numismatic Association-coin collection

Congress gave the American Numismatic Assoc a Federal Charter in 1912 for its efforts in numismatic education. The organization’s mission, according to their website, is to help encourage the study and money and coin collection.

The non-profit educational organization counts close to 33,000 paid members, including coin collection educators, professionals and the general public.

The ANA does require a membership fee, but it includes quite a bit, like the Numismatist journal of money, access to the library, coin collection insurance, educational seminars, access to reputable online dealers and a special program for coin collection.

Coin collecting is like many hobbies, in that it comes with its own vocabulary, its own nucleus of experts and specialists, and its need for unique coin collecting supplies and accoutrements.

Here are a few coin collecting supplies you’ll need when you begin:

Coin books - Especially if you’re starting out, you’ll need to read up on the coins and how to spot the real bargains.

Hundreds of books have been written about numismatics, including fascinating histories and anecdotes through the ages.

One coin seller mused how ironic it is that some people will shell out thousands of dollars for a rare coin, but won’t invest in a couple of books to even know much about what they’re buying.

Become an expert more quickly by learning to look for the right things. You can buy the books through online booksellers, at your local bookshop, or from coin collecting supplies stores and hobby stores. You can also find a world of free information at your local public library.

Coin holders - Whether you prefer a coin book, plastic flips, or coin folders, you’ll need something better than a dusty old Mason jar to hold your bounty.

The widespread interest in coin collecting demonstrates not only the intrinsic value of specific coins, but also their historical, cultural, and artistic significance. Coins represent important times in history as well as being symbols of national pride.

The field of numismatic (coin collecting) research has long been aided by books, magazines, and websites. All of these sources provide information about coins from different eras and regions throughout the world. Unfortunately, this information is often scattered and disorganized.

The newest tools for those captivated by coin collecting are a number of different coin collecting software programs.

Uses of coin collecting software program

These coin collecting software programs help the collector to create a database of coins, whether they are currently held treasures or desired finds for the future.

The coin collecting software programs offer a comprehensive database of coin information and images as well as giving the user the capability of entering his or her data and coin images.

The information provided by the coin collecting software programs usually includes statistics of individual coins such as the current value and the historical significance.

USMint.gov

Coin collecting is known as the hobby of kings, but anyone can get started as a casual collector. A natural place to begin is the United States Mint website, www.usmint.gov.

This website includes a consumer awareness page that will be helpful to the beginner, with lots of information on US Mint programs, tips for evaluating coins, FAQs on coin collecting, and other great information for any collector.

This site also includes a section on the history of US coins and the United States Mint, which has been in operation since 1792. The site also offers news about coins as well as offering coins for sale directly from the mint.

CoinCollector.org

Another comprehensive website is coincollector.org. This is a fairly comprehensive coin collecting site. In addition to the informative FAQs section, they offer an online coin gallery of unusual coins for sale, including:

Half-cent coins

Two-cent coins

Twenty-cent coins

Three dollar gold coins

This site will help collectors understand how to evaluate a coin, and offers some insight on so-called “error” coins. There are also good links on finding local coin dealers, and other coin collecting information. The site even includes instructions for achieving a merit badge in numismatics.

Are you looking to meet other coin enthusiasts to share ideas and compare collections? Or maybe you are seeking information on reputable suppliers, brokers and appraisers.

Or, maybe you just want to spend some time learning from experienced coin collectors and sharing their stories.

Whatever your reason for wanting to spend time with like-minded hobbyists, a coin collecting club is a great way to get out there, improve your knowledge, and have some fun.

Most large cities have clubs for coin collecting; ask around at the coin or hobby shop, or do a quick online search for coin collecting clubs in your local area.

Coin collecting clubs

The Coin Gallery On-Line (www.coin-gallery.com) lists dozens of national, state and local numismatic clubs by their websites, along with a brief history of each club. They also provide links to these clubs, so you can make contact with the local members.

The Yahoo! directory also has an extensive list of numismatic clubs for coin collecting, and you might be able to find one near you.

While it is impossible to identify the very beginnings of coin collecting, it is generally agreed upon that the first coins in Western civilization originated from the Greek Isles.

Coin collecting became a hobby soon after the first coins were minted around 650 B.C. Coins quickly became the newest form of payment for goods.

During the fifth century B.C., the Greeks began to commission classical artists to design the faces and figures on their coins.

They typically used the deities so prevalent in their mythology, depicting them as idealized versions of humans. Collectors of these ancient treasures claim that Greek coins are among the most beautiful, with their statuesque depictions of gods, goddesses, and mythical heroes.

History of coin collecting

Alexander the Great propagated the use of coinage in his conquered realms, and instituted the practice of using realistic designs on the coins instead of idealistic representations.

These realistic portraits stand out as some of the only true renderings of the ancient leaders of yesterday.

Indeed, coins from this point forward can often be used as an historical primer, as they typically honored the political leaders of any given time. Following the Greeks, the Persians and the Romans began minting gold, silver, and bronze coins.