Did you know there are an estimated 10 million coin-collecting Americans in the U.S. today? Even famous comedian, Jack Black, is a coin collecting aficionado.

If you’re looking to join the party with your own coin collection, look no further. We’ve put together a list of 4 helpful coin collecting tips to help pros and newbies alike improve your coin collecting game. 

1. Treat Your Coins Gently

Sure, coins are made of metal. But did you know that the designs on coins can be easily scratched or rubbed down? This kind of wear can diminish the value of your coins.

Because of this, it’s important to store your coins carefully. 

When handling your coins, wear gloves to avoid smudging them or getting them dirty. Whatever you do, do not clean or wash your coins. 

This is an especially important tip for new coin collectors to be aware of as cleaning your coins can actually harm them. Even if you have a hard time seeing the surface of a coin because of dirt or grime, leave it as is.

Coin dealers can tell when a coin has been rubbed or cleaned and it will lose value. It may even render your coin totally worthless.

2. Do Your Research

Part of the fun of coin collecting is researching different coins and their history. One of the best ways to begin your research is by buying a guidebook. 

Guidebooks exist on just about every different kind of coin. If you’re planning to start a collection of historic American coins, get an American coin guidebook.

You may also find coin collecting software useful to help you document your coins and keep them organized.

It helps to have an idea of where your coins came from before researching their history. Books, coin collecting software, scholarly articles, and more exist to help you learn more about your coins and how to organize them well. 

3. Personalize Your Collection

Every coin collection is different from the next. Your collection says a lot about you. Are you interested in rare coins? Discontinued coins? Coins from a specific era or country?

There are as many different ways to compile a collection as there are individuals who collect them. You can even create one that includes coins you’ve designed yourself!

4. Find a Coin Collection Club

Did you know there are coin collecting clubs in almost major U.S. city? The American Numismatic Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping coin collectors find a local club near them.

Coin collecting clubs are great for individuals starting a coin collection and looking to learn more about how to get started. Clubs are fun ways to keep your hobby alive and meet others with similar interests.

Coin clubs are wide and varied. You can often find clubs dedicated to collecting almost any kind of coin you can think of. Not to mention, just about any hobby is more fun when you can share it with friends.

More Tips for Coin Collecting

Coin collecting is a surprisingly robust hobby throughout the U.S. if you’re still looking for tips on how to start a coin collection, look up your local coin collection club and ask a pro.

For interesting finance-related articles, browse the Financial Freedom portion of our blog. Happy collecting!

Jane