Coin collecting, or numismatics is a hobby as old as time. As a

hobby, it has been around for more than 2,500 years. This is

surprising since the use of coins has been around for pretty

much that same amount of time too. Man has always had a

fixation for small, round, shiny things. And throughout the

ages, coin collectors have always been on the prowl for the

oldest, rarest, most attractive coins around.

Numismatics comes from the Greek word nomisma, meaning

‘currency,’ or coin. It is also related to the study of

banknotes, tokens, and other early forms of money.

Coins and other forms of money are issued by governments and

other monetary agencies. Billions of these flood the market

yearly. But as time goes by, the number of these coins go down.

Some get lost and some are damaged beyond recognition.

This goes to show that the older the coin, the rarer it must

be. And for coin collectors, this is prime stuff.

Coin collectors and hobbyists number millions around the world.

This hobby is taken so seriously that there are even

professional dealers and investors who ply their trade in this

fashion.

The lure of coins lies in its power to draw people into the era

it belonged to. These coins show many aspects of everyday life

during those times. By examining a coin, one comes to know the

geography, philosophy, sociology, artistry and other aspects of

the culture they existed in.

Ancient kings (and even today’s leaders) had a telling habit of

having their faces imprinted on their currency. Some historians

have been able to put together clues regarding the ancient

civilizations using these coins. Sometimes, coins would tell of

a leader or prominent figure that would have been forgotten by

time if it were not for these coins.

Hobbyists usually start collecting coins from their own

locality. This makes sense because they are the easiest to

collect. These hobbyists then expand their collection to coins

from increasingly farther and earlier origins.

Coin collectors regard every single coin as a unique specimen.

They take note of the date, the mint marks, and even the

abnormalities in its design. Ironically, some of the most

expensive coins are those with the strangest abnormalities.

This is because this type of coin is hard to come by.

For example, there could be a coin in existence that differs

from other coins in its batch. For some unknown reason, it

lacks some of the required markings. Such coins are deemed more

valuable than the normal coins of its type.

A good number of coin collectors collect coins according to

themes. The coins they collect all have a common topic. Some

collect coins related to kings and queens. Some collect those

related to plants and animals.

The price for a coin is determined by the demand for this coin.

Many factors affect this demand. If a coin is rare, chances are,

it is in great demand. However, there are some coins that are

rare, or exotic, yet the demand for them remains low. If this

is the case, then its market value will remain in the low end.

Before purchasing coins, one must do much research about that

coin. He must assess its current market value and make sure

that the coin is genuine. He should also consider how much he

could earn if he resells the coin.

The American Numismatic Association is the largest numismatic

organization in the world. It was founded in 1891 and was

chartered by the Congress of the United States 21 years later.

This group has the largest library of coins available.

Collectors would love to visit their headquarters, the World

Money Museum, which is one of the largest coin museums in the

world.

Another organization, the American Numismatic Society, is the

most active and respected nonprofit numismatic publisher in the

world. They maintain a museum that contains more than a million

objects. They also have a library that has one of the most

comprehensive in coin collecting knowledge.

Whether you are a hobbyist or a serious collector, coin

collecting will always bring a sense of fulfillment and history

to your life. It is never too late to start collecting today.

You can’t lose! Your collection can only grow in value as the

time passes by!