Remember the number one rule in numismatics, Quality not quantity! Think; 1) Which coin is most likely to maintain its value with little effort, (in case you need to sell in future), note i said maintain its value, not appreciate in value, getting your money back is the key not a profit. A profit is a bonus. 2) Which coin will maintain popularity in future? 3) Which do you prefer? My method of collecting differs from Oli's, Oli's approach is to buy coins that are managebly within his budget with a view to completing a series. My view is to collect a small amount of the highest quality coins i can afford that i find eye appealing, whether they fit in or not. So a Queen Mary Groat does not fit in with my sixpence collection but i like the coin, i like it's history, i find it eye appealing, it is in a decent grade and thus i bought it, even if it might look out of place. Numismatics is all about approach, i find the best approach is your own approach, and the more experience you get the more you adapt it and wisen up about what's the right thing to do, you never know until you try, but it can be fun. I don't collect copper coins and they'd look totally out of place in my collection but if i saw a full lustred extremely high grade Victoria Farthing that caught my attention enough, i may just buy it. I nearly bought a high grade Vicky Shield reverse sovereign the other day, just as an example of one (cos i love em!), that wouldn't fit either but so what? (And to be honest if i had stuck to collecting shield reverse sovereigns i would have had half a collection by now! and it would have been cheaper than these EM sixpences!)