Start Coin Collecting At Any Age

Old coins that is.  Try looking under that old dresser, or up the attic where grandma or grandpa’s things may be stashed away patiently waiting for you to discover them.  Who knows, you might find a coin there, an old coin that – at today’s rate – may be worth a few dollars; probably three or four or five, even ten times what the coin was worth back then. 

A penny a day, is worth okay

Fortunately or unfortunately, there was a shortage of copper during the year 1943 and all pennies made at that time were minted using steel. There were however, some Lincoln pennies that were incorrectly minted on bronze that turned out to be blanks.  A few years – or decades later -these bronze pennies became a rarity and are valuable.  The steel ones though, because of their commonality, are worth only between one to three dollars each. 

Be aware and be wary as there are schemes where gullible coin collectors are sold coins that are copper plated in an attempt to make these pennies appear to be bronze.  Also, keep your guard up anytime someone offers you a circa 1943 penny made out of a metallic white alloy.

Old coins are good coins

Coins, specifically the silver dollars made and circulated between the years 1878 and 1935, are worth between twelve dollars and twenty five dollars for the circulated coins.  The coins that were not in circulation are worth considerably more.

Meantime, those quarters, dimes, or half  dollar coins made and circulated prior to 1965, are usually made out of ninety percent silver and therefore worth as much as today’s silver (with an additional premium, albeit small, put on the coin’s face value).

Wrong pennies are right

There is a Lincoln penny issued in 1972 on which the date and the letters on it appear to have been doubled.  This rare coin is currently worth about sixty dollars, assuming the pennies are in standard condition. The Philadelphia Mint during that time period accidentally misaligned the die used in minting the coins causing the portrait of Lincoln to look like it was doubled.  Fortunately or unfortunately, eighty thousand of these were circulated before the error was discovered.

In summary, coin collecting is similar to collecting bits of history and trivia from the past.  In addition to the face value its worth as a treasure – pennies, dimes and coins – often are worth more in the long run.

The Instant Coin Collector (Paperback)

Quick and clear answers to basic coin questions such as how coins are made, which coins are best to collect and why, and the best way to organize a collection, are delivered in this innovative and simply savvy guide. Written in a friendly, supportive tone using 300 color photos to clearly illustrate and instruct, this book also offers a primer on properly handling coins and a historical overview of recommended series of coins for beginning collectors.

About the Author
Arlyn S (more…)

Coin Collecting For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)) (Paperback)

Can’t make heads or tails out of coin collecting? You need Coin Collecting For Dummies, 2nd Edition, the treasure trove on information on numismatics. This hands-on guide escorts you through the world’s oldest hobby, helping you decide which type of coins you want to collect, keep your collection in mint condition, buy and sell coins on the Internet, find interesting coin shows to attend, and assemble and diversify a great collection. The purpose of this fun, easy-to-acc (more…)

U.S. Presidential Dollars (U.S. Presidential Dollars Delux Coin Collector’s Album) (Hardcover)

To honor those who have served as President of the United States, the US. Mint began issuing four gold-colored $1 coins a year, from 2007 until 2016, featuring classic images of the presidents. Many of the portraits are taken, from presidential medals based on busts, sculpted, in most cases, from life.

The coins will be minted in the order of the presidents’ service, with Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison coins appearing in the inaugural year, 2007.
The flip side of every (more…)

The Coin Collector’s Survival Manual, 6th Edition (Coin Collectors Survival Manual) (Paperback)

Revised and UpdatedFrom one of the world’s most knowledgeable coin dealers–a former consultant to the Federal Trade Commission who is often quoted by the Wall Street Journal–comes a thorough update of the most-trusted consumer protection handbook to buying and selling rare and valuable coins. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs and a full-color insert, The Coin Collector’s Survival Manual is indispensable for seasoned collectors and novices alike. This substantiall (more…)

Coin World Almanac (5th Edition) (Hardcover)

Buy Coin World Almanac (5th Edition) (Hardcover) at Amazon

The One-Minute Coin Expert, 4th Edition (One Minute Coin Expert) (Mass Market Paperback)

Buy The One-Minute Coin Expert, 4th Edition (One Minute Coin Expert) (Mass Market Paperback) at Amazon