Coins Mint Proof Sets

Here are a few interesting facts about the US Mint.

1. The first Director of the Mint was David Rittenhouse who was appointed by George Washington.
2. The first Mint building was the first Federal building erected by the U.S. Government under the Constitution.
3. Past Mints have included Dahlonega, GA; Charlotte, NC; New Orleans, LA; and Carson City, NV.
4. The first Philadelphia Mint used harnessed horses to drive the machinery that produced coinage.
5. A two-cent coin was minted between 1864 and 1873 and was the first coin to bear the motto "In God We Trust".
6. Legend holds that George Washington donated some of his personal silver to the Mint for manufacturing early coinage.
7. The Mint’s first delivery of coins occurred in 1793 and consisted of 11,178 copper cents.
8. Mint marks, "S", "D", "P", or "W" designate the Mint facility,which produced the coin.
9. Thomas Jefferson first proposed the decimal currency system,which we use today.
10. The first U.S. commemorative coin was produced in 1892 and featured Christopher Columbus.
11. The Mint’s original coins were made of gold, silver, and copper.
12. By provision of the Coinage Act of 1965, Mint marks were not carried on coins made in 1965, 1966, or 1967.
13. In 1943, the content of the cent coins was changed to zinc-coated steel due to copper shortage during World War II.
14. According to the artist, the Indian head on the buffalo nickel (1913-1938) is a composite picture.
15. The Philadelphia Mint mark appears on each of its coins except the Lincoln cent.
16. Sacagawea, Susan B. Anthony, and Helen Keller are the only women honored on a circulating coin. Sacagawea appeared on the obverse of the golden Dollar, Susan B. Anthony appeared on the obverse of the dollar coin, and Helen Keller appeared on the reverse of the Alabama quarter.
17. The Philadelphia Mint covers five acres of land.
18. The first coin to feature an African-American was the Booker T. Washington Memorial Half Dollar.
19. Calvin Coolidge was the first President to have his portrait appear on a coin struck during his lifetime.
20. In 1893, Queen Isabella of Spain became the first woman to be featured on a U.S. commemorative coin.
21. George Washington first appeared on a commemorative dollar, with the Marquis de Lafayette, in 1899.
22. All commemorative coins legislated by the U.S. Mint are legal tender.
23. Original gold coinage included $10, $5, and $2.50 denominations.
24. The Act of April 2, 1792, which created the Mint, required coins to have "…an impression emblematic of liberty."
25. The Roosevelt dime torch, olive branch, and oak branch portray liberty, peace, and strength and independence.
26. The donation of $508,316 in gold to create the Smithsonian Institution was assayed in the [Philadelphia] U.S. Mint.
27. The first Lincoln cent was produced in 1909 and carried wheat ears patterns on the reverse side.
28. From 1799 to 1873, the Mint was an independent agency reporting directly to the President.
29. The Lincoln cent is the only circulating coin currently produced in which the portrait faces to the right.
30. The United States has two mottos that appear on each circulating coin, "In God We Trust" and "E Pluribus Unum."
31. Designers’ initials can be found on each circulating coin.
32. The design on the back of the Kennedy Half Dollar is the presidential coat of arms.
33. The San Francisco Mint, established in 1854, survived the great earthquake of April 18, 1906.
34. Before creation of a national Mint, "currency" included foreign and colonial currency, livestock, produce, and wampum.
35. The Denver Mint opened in 1863 as a U.S. Assay Office.
36. The present Philadelphia Mint opened in 1969 and is the fourth facility which has been located in that city.
37. Currently, none of the coins produced for circulation contain precious metals.  However, the continued use of reeded edges on current circulating coinage of larger denominations is useful to the visually impaired.  For example, the ten-cent and one-cent coins are similar in size; the reeding of the ten-cent coin makes it easily identifiable by touch.
38. The US Mint in Washington DC is located at 801 9th Street NW.

 US Mint unveils new Lincoln penny

Lincoln City – Nearly 3000 people gathered at a southern Indiana park today for the U.S. Mint’s release of a new penny that pays homage to Abraham Lincoln’s years as a Hoosier.

U.S. Mint To Press Fewer Coins

The U.S. Mint will make 3 billion coins in 2009 — a 70 percent decline from the 10 billion produced in 2008. It will be the smallest run in 50 years, and the retail economy is to blame. 

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First Spouse Gold Coins – Higher Prices Impacting Sales

And you thought only the Presidents had a commemorative set of coins.  The first lady get herself in the mint as well.

The U.S. Mint recently released pricing for the next coin in the First Spouse Gold Coin Series. Once again the prices have been raised over the prior issue. The continuing increase in prices are clearly having an impact on sales

The U.S. Mint recently released pricing for the next coin in the First Spouse Gold Coin Series. The Elizabeth Monroe coins will be priced at $619.95 and $599.95 for proof and uncirculated coins, respectively. This represents a large price increase in pricing over the previous coin that will likely impact sales.

The First Spouse Gold Series was met with strong popularity when the initial two coins were released. The coins honoring Martha Washington and Abigail Adams sold out at the U.S. Mint within less than one day. The following coin honoring Thomas Jefferson’s Liberty similarly sold out within less than one day, even though the Mint had set strict ordering limits of one coin per product per customer. Each of these coins had been offered at a price of $429.95 and $410.95 for proof and uncirculated coins, respectively.

The fourth coin honoring Dolley Madison was met with a more tepid response. Due to the increasing price of gold, the prices were raised to $529.95 and $509.95 for proof and uncirculated coins, respectively. This higher offering price served to temper demand for the coins. Even after several months of sales, the coins have not reached sell out levels.

Since each coin contains one half ounce of gold, the Mint must increase offering prices on the coins as the price of gold rises. Every time this happens, more and more collectors of the series are effectively priced out of the market. Perhaps more than any other recent series, the popularity is linked to the rise and fall of gold.

Michael Zielinski is an internet entrepreneur and coin collector. For further information and resources on the First Spouse Coin Program visit First Spouse Gold. For up to date news on news on First Spouse Coins, visit First Spouse Gold Blog.

Monroe First Spouse Coin Sales Figures

After two weeks of unbending sales figures, 2008 Elizabeth Monroe First Spouse Gold Coins appear to have closed down to a final tally of 12452 sold. 

2009 Margaret Taylor First Spouse Coin

Guide to 2009 Uncirculated and Proof Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coins. Complete coin information, images, mintage, and specifications.

First Spouse Gold Mintage Update

With the First Spouse Gold Coins in full swing with the seventh coin released, now is an interesting time to look at the final mintages and sales figures for each coin in the series so far.

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Make Yours A Gold Coin Collection

Gold coin collecting is an exciting and fairly secure investment. Discover what other benefits financially does gold coin collecting holds besides being such a fascinating hobby.

Luscious gold! Gold, which has the periodic table symbol of Au. Although we may not readily recall our high school chemistry and remember what the element Au stands for, when gold is one of the best known precious element on earth.

Gold in the history of mankind has always been the standard of wealth and prosperity. Back in the beginning of time, gold symbolizes affluence. Mankind has always been enthralled by this precious metal through the wearing of jewelry, of precious love through a wedding ring, or of wealth as demonstrated by stories of gold bullion hoarded or stolen.

In the present day, gold is considered by many to be a safe investment amongst the dizzying array of financial investment tools. Today’s market stocks rise and fall in response to economic forecasts, company performances, and world situations. The risks are generally high. Only gold can hold its weight on its own and can not be influenced as much as the world situations.

One way to do gold investing is to start gold coin collecting. The value of your collection are determined on the coin’s condition, the history and their uniqueness.

Plus, there are other specific financial benefits to gold coin collecting:

Inherent Value

Gold has historically been the de-facto standard that reflects wealth since the beginning of time, and this is true both for the individual, as well as the nations of the world. The value of gold is inherent in this precious metal as gold continues to play a key role as part of the reserves held by central banks, nations and supranational organizations such as the IMF.

Gold cannot be duplicated or be manufactured by man as it is a resource and often, when stocks rise and fall, the value and steadiness of gold remains constant. Besides, gold is durable and cannot be created nor can it be destroyed; therefore, collecting gold coins is an exciting and fairly secure investment.

Gold coins in mint proof sets will have an even higher value that just freshly minted coins.

Portfolio

So how should you determine your portfolio? Gold coin collecting is financially characterized as being a safe and steady investment. The best part is that it is easily transferable into immediate cash based on its being legal tender.

Again do note that as with any other investment there are risks based on market fluctuations. However, gold coins have traditionally been strong performers and have provided good returns on the investment. Thus through gold coin collecting, you allow some diversity in your investments portfolio and it also adds a safety net through the historical and consistent value placed on gold.

Tax Benefits

Well what do you know! Gold coin collecting actually is a legal way to defer taxation on your investment. What this means is that as your return on this investment increases, your investment is not subject to taxes until those coins are liquidated or sold. Only then when those profits realized are then subject to capital gains taxes. In addition, there are no taxes imposed if you choose to take your gold coin collecting to the level of exchanging or trading your collection for an equal or higher valued coin collection.

Gold coin collecting is not only a fun and interesting hobby but it is also a rewarding one that can bring you handsome returns. However, you must do your research before you embark on any investment.

Visit the website http://www.coin-collecting-resource.com today to discover interesting facts and tips in all aspects regarding this fascinating hobby of coin collecting.

Rating Gold Coins

Comprehension of the grading and evaluation process for gold coins is essential and helpful if you are planning on acquiring coins for investment. This will then help you to better understand the scarce coin market.

Gold Bullion

There are many reasons to consider investing in gold coins. Gold investments have always been the best choice in a bear market. Fiat money has no real basis,

How to Grade Your Coins

Almost all of US gold coins had been dipped or cleaned, therefore not anymore displaying their original color. As coin collectors become knowledgeable, most of them are attracted and fascinated to coins having their natural color.

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Interesting Way to Learn – Coin Collecting for Kids

Most U.S. coins like the quarter could be a great source of learning for kids armed quarters from any parent’s pocket and a magnifying glass. A quarter is worth of a US dollar or 25 cents to be exact. In 1999 the United States Mint circulated coins with the 50 states as part of its design.

It is a great tool in teaching a kid about geography not just counting money. Then in 2007 the House of Representative passed a bill to include its territories as well. This year, 2008 the United States House of Representatives introduced the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Act if this passes an 11 year series of quarters with all the national parks in the United States will be part of its design. If ever this gets passed imagine the curiosity of a child with this kind of quarter in hand, this series will greatly help a child with learning more about his country and the beautiful places that needs to be treasured and protected.. But learning from coins isn’t limited to quarters kids can also collect dimes 10 cents, pennies 1 cent, and nickels 5 cents as these coins prominently display historical figures on the obverse. Starting coin collecting for kids is a fun way to educate and spike interest on things, places, and people.

Coin collecting for kids could is a way to teach appreciation, patience, and the value of money just among the virtues. The best way to start a kid in coin collecting is getting a book about coin collection and bringing a kid to a museum like the Smithsonian. This part would be educational as books would describe and outline historical facts that accompany a coin’s reason for being designed so or for being distributed and museums also would provide trivia on coins in display. When a kid’s interest has been spiked a bit of help on where to focus would be valuable. Like for example just collecting dimes for the birth year or maybe collecting a newly released dime on a child’s birthday would be a nice thing to start on that focus. Another focus could be coins from different countries this type of collection could widen the learning to be not just national geography but to world geography.

To encourage further learning from coin collecting is to encourage a kid to research what is included in a coin’s design for example a place or person he isn’t familiar is prominently displayed in a coin. Researching that place or person with him would be very ideal in learning some new fact and instilling the value of reading as well. The best way to start since coin collecting will be for kids is to start with coins in circulation since as they get older they will decide whether they will become serious coin collectors or not. To prepare a kid for his collection providing a container or coin holder for his collection is one way of encouraging an interest.

Learn where to find gold coins for sale by visiting http://www.sellgoldcoinsinfo.com – a popular coin collecting website that teaches you how to make money in buying and selling coins without taking unnecessary risks.

Once kids get started collecting coins, they may move up to collecting coins in mint proof sets as the value of these coins goes up expontentially.

Coin Collecting For Kids

Coin collecting for kids is more exciting than ever with new series of statehood quarters, westward journey nickels, presidential dollars, and bicentennial pennies.

Coin Collecting For Children

Coin collecting for kids provides a great opportunity to learn about other countries and about the country they live in.

Coin Collecting

The hobby of coin collecting can give pleasure and fun to an individual of any age. Many coin collectors began their collection when they were young children, collecting dimes or pennies and many of them have made coin collection a business.

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Coin Collection Value – How Much is Yours Worth?

Coin collecting is the act of collecting and trading coins or any form of legally minted currency from any country. Coin collectors frequently focus on coins which were circulated for a brief period, commemorative coins of historical dates or places or landmarks, and coins minted with errors.

Modern Coin collecting is believed to have started in the 14th century with the Italian poet and scholar poet, Petrach. It started as hoarding and later developed into an art that we know of with experts and people making it their lifelong career. The most famous coin collection has to be the Berlin Coin Cabinet part of a larger museum complex in the Museuminsel (Island of Museums) in Berlin. Like most coin cabinets the Berlin Coin Cabinet’s roots can be traced to a monarch Joachim II Brandenburg of (1535-1571). Other great coin collectors were Pope Boniface VIII, Emperor Maximillian of the Holy Roman Empire, Louis XIV of France, and Henry IV of France. Coin Collection Values are always determined by its condition just like any other type of collection.

Since coin collection values are so deeply rooted on the condition of a coin, a scale was developed and primarily used by the American Numistmatic Association. This scale primarily focuses on the physical details of the coin. It uses 1-70 scale that determines descriptions and grades. Here is the Sheldon Scale:

• Mint State (MS) 60 – 70: Uncirculated
• About/Almost Uncirculated (AU) 50, 53, 55, 58
• Extremely Fine (XF or EF) 40, 45
• Very Fine (VF) 20, 25, 30, 35
• Fine (F) 12, 15
• Very Good (VG) 8, 10
• Good (G) 4, 6
• About Good (AG) 3
• Fair (FA, FR) 2
• Poor (PR, PO) 1

The most known and respected coin grading service is Numismatic Guaranty Corporation and the Professional Coin Grading Services. For a fee this coin grading service will encapsulate and grade a coin but their service doesn’t come without certain controversy. Although there is a standard scale one coin can be graded and appraised at a certain value differently depending on the coin grading service to be used by a coin collector or coin dealer. A coin collection value can differ over slight variations and slight matters. A small bump or dent in a coin can matter when time comes for it to be graded. The good thing about professional grading services is its ability to get rid of the counterfeit coins that are being passed of as the real thing especially with websites like eBay where bidding from anything and everything is possible. These grading services apart from being useful from determining the real thing from fake ones also help a collector determine which among the collection of coins is the most valuable. These services are needed since coin collecting has become another form of investment apart from the traditional forms of investment. Collectors, whether inheritors, investors, or hoarders can determine which ones to hold on to the most among the coins their collection.

Learn how to safely make money investing in a coin collection album by visiting http://www.sellgoldcoinsinfo.com – a popular coin collecting website that teaches you how to make money in buying and selling coins without taking unnecessary risks.

Silver Coin Values

While a wide range of coins are available to collectors, silver coins make a great starting point because of their affordable silver coin values. While gold coins may be more popular, the cost of gold is quite high, which makes it very expensive.

Silver Coins

While a wide range of coins are available to collectors, silver coins make a great starting point because of their affordable silver coin values.

New silver coins issued in Lithuania

The Bank of Lithuania has announced the issue of silver commemorative coins of 50-litas nominal value, and one-litas circulation coin being dedicated to Vilnius – the European Capital of Culture 2009, informs LETA.

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Put More Money In Your Pocket – Collect Coins!

Coin collecting is a very profitable pasttime. It’s also a lot of fun! So what should you collect and why? Find out how to collect and profit…

Coin Collecting

People have been collecting coins almost ever since the first coin was put into circulation. Coin collections come in a wide variety of types and in a huge range of value, from less than circulation value to priceless. Not surprisingly, collectors range from the casual collector – the one who glances at his or her handful of change to see if there are any special quarters – to serious collectors who will spend thousands of dollars to buy a specific coin in order to complete their collection.

Coin collecting as history

One of the great things about coin collecting is that the history of most civilizations can be traced through their coinage. Modern states especially have the habit of depicting important cultural or political events on their coins. Older coins show the progress of technology, as the first crude coins made from gold, silver and bronze have developed into today’s refined pieces of art.

Coin collecting as a hobby, as opposed to just a means to collect wealth, first developed during the Renaissance. One of the greatest figures in the Renaissance, Petrach, was known to have included coins in his art collection, recognizing the beauty they possessed. Coin collecting as a hobby soon spread to the wealthy and church leaders, which is why it is often known as the ‘Hobby of Kings’.

Various types of coin collecting

Most coin collections start when a prospective collector comes across a unique or interesting coin in the course of receiving change. For that reason, the most common collections are those that focus on the domestic coinage of the collector. A collection that focuses on the coins of one specific country is just one type of coin collection. Some collections focus on specific trends or styles. Some more focused collections will even just focus on a specific type of coin or series within a country’s coins. For instance, a coin collector could try to collect every state quarter that the US mint produces, or a penny from every year in the history of the United States.

Another variation in coin collecting is the value of the collection. Coin collecting can be quite inexpensive, or outrageously expensive. For some collectors, the hobby is simply a matter of collecting the coins that they come across through standard circulation. This is would definitely be on the inexpensive side of the scale. However, other collectors will seek out rare and hard-to-find coins. As a result, they can end up spending very large sums of money. In the end, what this means for a prospective hobbyist is that coin collecting is a varied hobby with options and methods available to collectors on a variety of budgets.

How much is a coin worth?

The value of a coin in any collection will be influenced by a range of factors, such as the country of origin, the production date, the length of time the coin was in circulation (or if it was even in circulation), and most importantly, the condition of the coin. Obviously, the better the condition of the coin, the more valuable the coin will be. Within this laundry list of factors, collectors will come across coins worth anything from less than a cent to rare coins that are valued at over a million dollars!

If you have a coin that you think might be valuable, the best thing you can do is to get a price guide. These guides will be readily available at any large bookstore or hobby store. A number of websites also keep updated directories of coin values. If you do not trust your judgment in appraising the condition of your coin, most coin collection stores will offer appraisal services, for free or a nominal cost, that will give you an expert opinion on the value of your coin.

Grading a coin

As discussed above, the most important factor in evaluating the value of a coin is its condition, or "grade." New collectors can be overwhelmed by the number of different grading systems in use around the coin collecting world. The best way to learn how to grade coins is to try it yourself and then talk to professional appraisers at your local coin collecting store or hobby group to see what they think.

Coin collecting resources

Since it is one of the most popular collection hobbies, there are endless resources for individuals interested in coin collecting. Coin collectors have huge conventions in major cities. These are great events to attend for new collectors, as you will be exposed to more experienced collectors, who can help show you the ropes. It will also give you the opportunity to view rare and beautiful coins that at this point you could only dream of having in your collection. It is also a good idea to join coin collecting groups on the Internet, to keep you busy between conventions.

Steve Dolan is an avid collector of rare coins and has been collecting for many years. Find out more about coins at Rare Coins and Gold Coins and if you have other collections take a look at Collections and Collectibles

Budget Coin Collecting

Indian Head pennies were made from 1859 to 1909. Be sure you look for uncleaned pieces that are not corroded (…but don’t clean them!). These are plentiful and make a pleasing, inexpensive addition to any U.S. coin collection.

Aggressive Coin Buying Trends

Collectively, dealers probably have want lists for millions of specific coins from hundreds of thousands of individual collectors. But coins on want lists don’t necessarily coincide with major buying trends.

Lincoln Cents Driving Coin Collecting

The Lincoln Cents market is driving the coin market right now. There is no coin series more in the spot light right now among coin collectors.

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If you are collecting coins, especially coins in mint proof sets, it is important to understand how to determine a coins value if you are going to buy or sell your coins.

How Do You Determine a Coins Value?

Coin Collecting can help one’s patience, one’s inquisitiveness, and one’s value for money. A coins value goes beyond the grading that comes with how much an antique could cost. Reading about the actual history of the coins would yield information that is so closely connected and intertwined with historical events and historical sidelines.

Coin Collecting can help one’s patience, one’s inquisitiveness, and one’s value for money. A coins value goes beyond the grading that comes with how much an antique could cost. Reading about the actual history of the coins would yield information that is so closely connected and intertwined with historical events and historical sidelines. Famous coin collectors like past popes and monarchs could lead to reading their biographies that also links with our history. A coin’s design could invoke an inquiry that could lead to research on a person or place or object prominently displayed on a coin’s design. The amount of information one can derive from coins is another value apart from the obvious monetary value that is associated with coin collecting which after all is more valuable as it gets stored in the brain; memory and can never be stolen or lost unlike its monetary value, although there is nothing wrong in deriving monetarily in coin collecting.

Coin collectors see their collection as a type of investment as certain coins like the 1804 silver dollar has ended up being auctioned for millions of dollars. The most valuable coins without being graded are the coins that are inherited. The sentiment that comes with inheriting coin collection from parents or grand parents is immeasurable by any value of money. It is also then considered as something to be passed on as well to the next generation as heirlooms. The value of a coin is measured by its rarity, its antiquity, its mint, and its physical condition. The best way to identify a coin’s value is to have it graded in respectable grading service like the PCGS and the NGC.

Trying to decipher the grading standard would mean a long process of learning advisable to a collector but also needs a great time undertaking. Learning the standards and codes in the long run should be part of a collector’s agenda but for determining value professional grading is the way to go. Knowing its value a collector can then decide how to store or maybe to trade a certain coin depending on the need to benefit from it or not. Coin collecting can be rewarding personally and monetarily. Personally achieving goals in gaining something to add to the coin collection gives that air of satisfaction. Monetarily gaining gives off a certain security to the collector. A lot of collectors have made their hobby a career by either by trading and selling coins or by becoming experts in numismatics and coin price guide experts. A coin collector who may not be as well versed with standards in coin collecting would do well in getting grading services to determine a coins value. Determining its value by having it graded could eliminate the possibility of possessing a fake as it has been proliferating. Fakes have been made for as long as collection of any form of anything becomes valuable. With the advent of internet valuable coins have been faked as selling and trading online is fast becoming a norm.

Learn where to Sell Silver Coins by visiting http://www.sellgoldcoinsinfo.com – A popular coin collecting website that teaches you how to make money in buying and selling coins without taking unnecessary risks.

World Coin Collection

With a coin collecting price guide, you can find the value of a world coin that you want to purchase. If you are collecting coins as an investment that you can pass down through generations, finding coins in mint condition might be the best value.

Austrian Philharmonic Gold Coins

From the exquisite craftsmanship on the obverse and reverse sides of the coin to its continued value and reputation, this Austrian gold coin will continue to be a favorite among both investors and collectors for some time to come.

Information About Gold Coins

Gold bullion coins are dealt only for the quantity of gold contained within them. The value of scarce and collectible coins fluctuates quite often, so when placing a value on them, several facets need to be taken into consideration.

Antique Coin Values

While the types of coins that are available to collectors are as varied as each coins price, one of the most important is antique coin values. Antique coins are some of the most popular coins to collectors and investors alike.

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7 Most Common Coin Collecting Themes

Coin collecting has been the hobby of many people for many years. If you refer to history, the first coin collectors were kings and emperors of different kingdoms all over the world. Some of the first known coin collectors are the Roman Emperors and King Farouk of Egypt.

Nowadays, instead of simply collecting coins, modern coin collectors collect coins according to a theme. Some of these themes are:

1) Country Collection
2) Year Collection
3) Error Collection
4) Subject Collection
5) Type Collection
6) Composition Collection
7) Period Collection

Country Collection

Country collection is one of the favorite coin collecting themes. Coin collectors who collect coins from different countries do their best to get their hands on current or past coins from as many countries as possible. This type of coin collecting would most likely be never ending since many countries keep on changing their currencies.

Year Collection

Year collections focus more on a specific coin and denomination. Under year collection theme, a coin collector will collect his coins by year. For example, an enthusiastic collector of the Lincoln cent may collect all Lincoln coins from the date it was first created in 1909 up to the present.

The challenge in year collection is to complete the collection in terms of year. Once a collector has completed the set of Lincoln cents, he will move on to another type of coin and start over again. Many enthusiastic coin collectors who collect coins by year will be able to complete several sets of coins during their lifetime.

Error Collection

Error collections are coin collections that are more focused on coins with mistakes on them. The mistakes on these coins may be either be very obvious or not at all. Older coins will usually have more mistakes because coins were minted by hand before the 19th century.

Common errors are found on coins are double dies, overdates, double strikes, repunched mint marks, off metal coins, displace coins and clipped coins.

Another very interesting error is mule. These coins are very interesting because each side of the coin has a different denomination. Coin collectors usually desire coins with errors because they are very unusual. These kind of coins can seldom be found them nowadays as minting has become fully automated.

Subject Collection

Subject collections are the collections where collectors collect coins which have a specific subject like a ship or animals marked on the coin. To expand the subject collection, the collector would have to do a lot of research to find out which countries have coins with the subject of his collection.

Type Collection

Sometimes coin collectors collect coins which are designed in a particular way. For instance, a coin collector may collect certain coins which have a hole in the center. There are some countries which create coins with a hole in the center. This collector will collect coins from different countries but with holes in the center.

Composition Collection

Even the coin composition can be a coin collection theme. Some coins are created with a combination of 2 or more metals. There are international coins which are composed of different kinds of metals. Some countries make their coins bimetal and some may use more than two combinations of metal for their coins.

Period Collection

Period collections are collections based on the period from which the coins were created. Some collections consist of coins from the Victorian era. Other collectors may go as far down history as the Byzantine or Greek period for their collections. There are several periods which can be the bases for period collection.

Initially, coin collectors might have started collecting coins because of having extra coins after a holiday trip overseas or because they like the design of a certain coin. As the collectors’ interest increase, so will his appetite for more variety or more specific coins.

Although there are different kinds of coin collecting themes, most coin collectors are generalists and they simply prefer to have a little bit of everything.

In reality, coin collecting preference is all up to the collector and does not have to depend on a certain theme. Whatever a collector fancies in a coin can be the basis for the collection.

Many collectors strive to surpass each other by procuring the most sought after coins available. Coin collecting has now become a sort of competition for the collectors. Most collectors wish to outwit and outshine others with their collection of coins. However, there are also coin collectors who are just proud of having a unique set of coins not found in any other collector’s collection.

By: Cindy Heller

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit rare coin values to learn more about famous coin collections such as disney coin.

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Coin Collecting

Anyone can start collection coins and it will probably turn into a great hobby for you. Some coin collectors focus on all different types of coin collections while some collect coins from all over the world. Collecting old coins or ones from a particular country is also popular. There are some collectors out there who focus on coins that are not being circulated anymore. These coins are have no wear and are in mint condition. You will start collecting particular types of coins when you figure out what your specific interest is.

You should check out some reference books from your local library on collecting coins if you are wanting start this hobby. Find out if there are any clubs near where you live that you can join to help you start learning about coin collecting.

You’ll be amazed at the different places you might find coins for your collection. You are able to buy coins from coin dealers through your local coin shops and coin shows. This also gives you a chance to see a huge amount of different coins at one time.

Online websites are a great place for you to buy coins for your collection. Mail order is also an option to adding new coins to your collection. When buying coins online you should be very careful. Check out the dealers return policy and look over the coins carefully when you receive them to make sure it is what you ordered and in good condition. Check out the seller’s feedback rating if you buy coins through an online auction site. This will give you a good indication if other buyers have been happy with their items. It is very unusual for coins to be bid above their actual value so be careful when buying coins through an online auction.

There are other resources out there that are great for find coins at wonderful prices. Check out flea markets, craft fairs and antique shows because you never know what treasures you might find.

To prevent causing wear on the coins be very careful when handling them. Hold uncirculated or proof coins by the edges only. A coins value can be lessened if fingerprints are present. Start a good habit now of picking up your coins by the edges only. Make sure you always do this when handling someone else’s collectable coins.

A grade is given to collectable coins depending on their condition. The value will be affected by the grading of a coin. Objective criteria for grading can be found in different publishing but you can also pick up this skill yourself. You will need time, exposure to experienced collectors and deals and lots of practice.

Many great books have been published on coin collecting. Check out these resources at your bookstore to help you with grading, pricing guidelines and an introduction to collecting coins.

Coin Collecting Terms

Like any industry, coin collecting has its own terms and jargons. If you are a novice coin collector, it is best if you can understand the most commonly used coin collecting terms.

History of Coin Collecting

Numismatics, or coin collecting as it is more popularly known, originated from the Greek word “nomisma,” which means legal currency or coin. If today we use checks, paper notes, and quite more often, plastic cards, the ancient societies used coins.

Coin Values

You can find a free coin collecting price guide on some websites to help you out with your cost considerations. Another good idea is to shop carefully and compare prices of a world coin offered by different sellers to get an idea of the value.

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Louis Braille to be Honored on Commemorative Coin

If you are a serious coin collector, adding this new commemorative coin will add value to your collection.

Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille system of reading and writing for the blind, will be honored on a commemorative coin. The coin will be release in 2009 to coincide with the 200th anniversary of his birth.

In 2009 Louis Braille will be honored with a commemorative coin released by the United States Mint. The release of the coin will coincide with the 200th anniversary of his birth and honor his invention of the Braille system.

Braille is a system of reading and writing used by the blind and visually impaired. Braille is composed of characters created through the unique arrangement of one to six embossed points. The system has been adapted to nearly all known languages and is used worldwide.

The commemorative coins will first become available to the public on January 1, 2009. Each coin will have a diameter of 1.5 inches, a weight of 26.73 grams, and a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. Coins will bear a face value of one dollar and will be considered legal tender numismatic items.

The design of the coin is emblematic of the life and legacy of Louis Braille. The obverse of the coin features an image of Louis Braille. The reverse of the coin features a young child reading Braille, in front of a bookcase filled with Braille books.

Notably, the reverse design also includes Braille characters "BRL," the short form of the word "Braille." This is the first time in history that a United States coin has included readable Braille characters. Braille has been used on prior coins such as the 2003 Alabama State Quarter, but the characters were too small to be considered readable.

This commemorative coin program was authorized under H.R. 2872, the Louis Braille Bicentennial Literacy Commemorative Coin Act. A surcharge from the sale of each coin will be distributed to the National Federation of the Blind to further promote Braille literacy.

Michael Zielinski is an internet entrepreneur and coin collector. Learn more about the upcoming Louis Braille Coins or get the latest coin collecting news.

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