Thursday, March 11, 2010

Taking Care Of Collectible Coins

How to Take Care of Collectible Coins

There are collectors that specifically find classic editions of coins that existed during the period from 1892 to 1954. These coins have marked events or may signify the work of royalty during that period. There are those collectors that prefer the modern series that are very distinct as well. One modern collection is that of the quarter dollars that represent the 50 states of the US. Minting and circulation started in 1999 and will continue until 2008. These are specially made editions available for collectors.

Many collectible coins are made of copper and a collector may encounter problems in maintaining their features and appearance. A person collecting this type of coin should learn how to maintain and take proper care of these expensive collections. Copper coins should be cleaned correctly and must be preserved the same way professional collectors treat their coins.

Professional collectors clean their coins by the process of placing the coins in a container that is airtight. This is a safe way to preserve the features of the coins. Because of the coins’ years of circulation, there is the possibility of a coin accumulating encrustations, coatings, dirt, and other problems on a coin’s face. These accumulations may cause pitting and corrosion to the surface of the copper coin. The corroded portions should be removed properly without making any scratches.

There are products available that are made especially for coin cleaning. Coin suppliers have these products that are specifically made for coin maintenance and cleaning in stock. One product made for this purpose is MS70 which removes corrosion and other surface dirt. It is advisable to use rubber gloves for the protection of your hands, as MS70 can dry the skin but this should be of little concern because it is not that harsh on the skin. A soft toothbrush may help with cleaning and removing any dirt that is in the surface of the coin. Improvement in the appearance of the coin will be seen after it has been soaked and cleaned. If satisfaction is not met on the cleanliness and appearance of the coin, he may add baking soda to neutralize the MS70 and soak it in warm water.

After he is through with the soaking, he may dry the coin using a Blue Ribbon coin cleaner and preservative; he may apply a coat and dry it for a couple of days then wipe the damp parts with soft cotton balls and place it on a small cardboard with a space on the center.

If he finds discoloring on the coin, he may use Dellars Darkener after he has soaked it in MS70. He may use this product before he applies the Blue Ribbon cleaner and preservative until he is satisfied with the cleanliness of his coin. Once satisfied with the new appearance of the coin, he may again return it to its set or collection
.
The next step would be maintenance and preservation the collection. Here are some tips on how to take care of coin collections:

1. The coin should be protected from exposure to any kind of elements. It is also important not to scratch the coins; they should be handled with care to avoid scratches on the surface of the coins.

2. It is safe to store the coins in plastic cases or pockets that are made specifically for coin collections and sets. These cases and pockets can protect the coins from dirt and scratches.

3. Coins should be cleaned properly using vinegar, lemon juice, ammonia or rubbing alcohol.

4. If there is unwanted dirt that is hard to remove on the surface, chemical products for cleaning like Tarnex may be used. This option may be used if vinegar and lemon juice were not able to remove the dirt.

5. It is very important to remember that the value of the coin may depreciate if the coin has been cleaned. It is recommended to seek the advice of an expert on other ways of preserving a coin

Many coin collectors believe that a person should never ever clean their collection because they believe that any product that is applied to the coin will affect the surface. A person should know how to preserve their collection and avoid dirt from touching the coins.




Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Starting A Coin Collecting Hobby

Wanna Start On Collecting Coins? A Worthwhile and Educational Hobby

There are many reasons why one collects coins. There are collectors who collect on the basis
of the coin’s future perceived value, some collect coins coming from just one particular
period, some on metal type and some for a coins historical value.

There are also those who enjoy collecting everyday common coins, gaining pleasure from
inspecting mint marks and dates on their everyday change. Others have a collection of
coins coming from different countries. Some coin collectors spend thousands on rare gold
and silver coins from the period of the 1800's until the early 1900's.

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 lifetime hobby.

The hobby of collecting coins involves spending money from the very start so it is good to
join a coin collectors group to get ideas and help from knowledgeable and experienced
collectors.

You need somebody to buy your coins from, and it may be hard to find a coin dealer of good
repute when your are new to the hobby, so having someone that has been in this hobby for
years can be of great help to guide you on choosing an honest and knowledgeable coin dealer.

Begin by acquiring a big magnifying glass and examine coins in a bright area so you can spot mintmarks, errors and to clearly read dates on worn or damaged coins.

Decide on what coins to collect and buy a “bookshelf folder” for that series.

You must also have storage, such as clear tubes made of plastic or coin tubes having top
screws to keep your coins in until you are ready to put them in a coin album; storage can
also be good for keeping duplicate coins.

You must learn about different coin values. Follow what types of coins are sold, and how
they are priced, based on dealer pricing. You also will need someone or some references
that will show you how to evaluate the accurate value of a certain coin based on mint mark, age, color, surface and condition.

"A Guide Book of United States Coins" or universally known as “the red book”, which is
published yearly, provides a good outline of the U.S. coins history, information on basic
coin grading, coin descriptions from past to present including a list of errors to watch
for, average U.S. coins retail cost, and an explanation of errors which occurred in the
“minting process”.

Monthly publications from “Coinage” (coin collecting magazine) contain many useful facts
and information as well articles about your new found hobby plus a lot of great photos.

The newspaper, particularly in the numismatic world section, will be of great interest to
you especially when you become more and more involved and interested in your hobby and want
to remain up to date with the present happenings in the world of numismatics.

As you grow more experienced in coin collecting, your "eye for coins" will improve and
develop maturely so that you now will be scrutinizing more carefully the features and
details such as coin lettering, making certain that the letters are not blemished or
blurred, but are still distinguishable.

You will be spending so much interest and concentration on the coin’s general state that
eventually you can walk away from certain coins that show evidence of abrasion, and will
then be experiencing the fun side of coin collecting.

Spend ample time reading, looking at photos, learning from experienced collectors and
asking as many questions as needed from not only other collectors, but dealers as well.
The hobby of coin collecting is a continuing process that will last for as long as you are
continuing the hobby.

Your knowledge and training will save you a lot of money as well as make you money when the
time comes, but more importantly, have fun while learning. Take pleasure in what they call
the "Hobby of kings" that has turned to be the "King”of hobbies.

Keep on studying and learning, because the better you understand, the more that you will
enjoy your new found hobby.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

The Coinage History Of U.K. Coin Collecting

The Coinage History of U.K. Coin Collecting

Money was never been quite so valuable until coin collecting entered the world of the
hobbyists.

Since its inception, coin collecting has continuously represented the ancient way of
preserving the history of the human race. Coin collecting allows people to protect and
conserve their nation’s history. Through this kind of activity, coin collectors allow other people to touch and examine the kinds of coins that ancient people used.

In the United Kingdom, coins are considered one of the most precious relics that the
nation has ever produced because most of their coins are considered to be a true
representation of the royalty. For instance, U.K. coin collectors would be happy to own
the 50-cent coins that were manufactured by the Royal Canadian Mint for the “Golden
Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.”

Facts about UK Coin Collecting

Unlike in the U.S., coin collecting in U.K. uses different terms in categorizing the
kinds of coins that are collected. For instance, in the UK coins that were circulated
from 1971 to 1981, the term “new pence” was used to differentiate them from the so
called “ancient pre-decimal pennies”.

By the year 1982, experts felt the need to change the word “new” into a more concrete
characteristic that would denote the value of the coin as well. Therefore, the terms
“two” or “thirty” were used as well as other terminologies that would indicate the coins
worth.

After a year, the “two pence” or the “2p” coins were so common that the coin collectors
had very little demand for them so the Royal Mint continued to issue the “2p” coins but
only in sets that were exclusively distributed to coin collectors. There are only 20
“2p” coins that still bear the “new pence” wording on the reverse side in circulation and
new coin collectors who wish to collect these coins will have difficulty in finding them.

In line with UK history, the UK coin collecting has undergone many changes. The very
first change was the “decimalisation” of the coins. With the inception of the “decimal
coinage,” the English coinage system was established on relationships that indicate the
new value of the ancient coins. For example, the coin that used to be known as 2 halfpence

is now converted into 1 penny, while 20 shillings is equal to 1 pound or £1.