What got you into collecting in the first place?

[Guest Coin Queen]

Hello. Thanks for all the advice. What got you into collecting in the first place? And where do you look for your coins? The whole coin world is a bit of a mystery to me!

[Geordie582]

Believe it or not! I found an Edward I penny in VF in the sand on the beach in - North Scotland!!! I still puzzle about it today, 50 years on!

[planz666]

Always been interested.Got a few pre and post 1947 coins from my Grandad,then picked up more from Ebay-the bug has bitten...

[Sylvester]

Well as much as i don't like them i'd have to say the small five pences. I was interested in money beforehand but it might have been a passing phase, the government's decision to shrink the 5p though made me value the old ones and the spark was there. George VI coins in circulation were the other reason.

[Peter]

My family and my families friends collected all the predecimal Victorian coins in the late 60's for me (I was a slip of a lad)

By the time I was 16 (late 70,s) I collected and bought what I could afford...mainly UK copper.

The rest is history....I've collected hard and then dropped it for Girls,Bikes,Cars,Beer,Career...BUT ...always returned.

Where do I look for coins?

Everywhere....from Car boots,flea markets,coin fairs,dealers,ebay......no hard and fast rule (my tastes are a bit more expensive nowadays).....use google initially....it is worth asking elderly reletives.

It's all good luck and part of the fun.

This site has a reasonably priced selection of mainly UK coins (where you won't get burnt by the Ebay sharks)

A good starting point methinks.

Enjoy

[Rob]

I used to collect all the bun pennies I could find before they went out of circulation, then one day I went into a shop to buy some stamps for my collection and saw an uncirculated sixpence which I liked and bought that too. I've still got it, and won't be getting rid because it has no bagmarks at x15 - didn't realise how good it was at the time. Now I look for items on dealers' lists, in auctions and on ebay, though all need to be approached with a bit of healthy scepticism as all are trying to put the best possible light on the item being sold. You can't beat looking at a coin in the flesh with a good magnifying device for a minute or two however good the picture or reputation of the seller/auction house, and don't be afraid to say no.

[Peter]

I've had more regrets than disappointments.

Keep a sensible head on....once you've developed an eye follow your instincts.

Is it me...I find the lighting at The Midland & Wakefield fairs dreadfull.

[burpalot]

i started because i wanted to collect something

BURPALOT

[Unknown]

My uncle gave me a bag of world coins and envelope full of banknotes that he had collected when he was a seaman around the world... some must have been passed down to him as they where fromt eh Spanish Civil War (1936-39).

Originally I kept them and every weekend I would take them out and play with them, look at them, short them out and put them back in the bag. When I grew and had no time for it they where left in that bag for around 10-15 years.

Eventually, around 15 or so years after they where given to me I found Chris and Predecimal and that made me start collection a little more seriously, got some albums, put some kind of order in some, etc...

Today, I have a couple of Numismatic sites in Spanish and auctionmonster.net where to buy and sell mainly coins and banknotes.

[TomGoodheart]

I have always liked collecting stuff, whether seashells, nice pebbles, stamps or coins. Dad was also a great magpie - anything nice in his change he'd pick out and keep. When he died I had to sort through all the stuff and kept the pieces I liked most. I went to the library and looked at the coin books to work out if anything was worth much (it wasn't!) and there was James Mays " The Splendid Shilling" and I was hooked!

There was a bag of £105 worth of out-of-date 50p pieces (!) in amongst the stuff which I took back to the bank and spent the money at a dealers on some shillings. I subbed myself a bit to buy more from savings.

After collecting for a while I realised I wasn't bothered about the later milled at all. And once I got a book on Charles I coins I decided to sell up the later coins (Chris was kind enough to help out there!) and concentrate on Chas I shillings.

Then my wife found out what I'd spent and we had a row! Eventually she named a figure I could have to play with and I was sensible enough to realise that it was non-negotiable and graciously accepted!

I have been very lucky. The internet (including ebay) has meant that anyone can see more coins in a day than some dealers get in a year. It could have taken decades to assemble a collection like mine if I'd only attended auctions and visited dealers in person. I was also lucky enough to be contacted by two collectors I bid against on ebay and they have pretty much taught me all I know (and helped track down a few scarcities too!)

I am on a couple of dealer's lists, receive a few auction catalogues but mostly rely on online dealers (and ebay) where I can view pics and ask questions from the comfort of my living room.

I think that if you asked me the best possible present for a new collector it would have to be a choice between a good specialist coin book on their chosen interest or the opportunity to view a really good collection. Probably the latter - there really isn't anything to beat seeing a good range of examples and being able to examine them up close, especially if you can also talk to someone with more experience at the same time.

Knowledge is power!

[Rob]

Then my wife found out what I'd spent and we had a row! Eventually she named a figure I could have to play with and I was sensible enough to realise that it was non-negotiable and graciously accepted!

I think we all have the same problem. The solution of course is to inform her that you intend spending 5 times more than you actually do/can. She informs you that you can spend to a certain limit, then you have a row and you back down so that when you only spend twice the amount you can actually afford or think wise you earn lots of brownie points for your restraint. Then she who must be obeyed may even raise her limit as a bonus.

[krasnaya_vityaz]

My father brought back a large bag of coins from Asia and Australia when he returned. I count an Aussie Sixpence from 1942 as one of my first coins in my collection. There is also a 1968 10 Dong from Viet-Nam that I know I have had for a long time.

[TomGoodheart]

I think we all have the same problem. The solution of course is to inform her that you intend spending 5 times more than you actually do/can. She informs you that you can spend to a certain limit, then you have a row and you back down so that when you only spend twice the amount you can actually afford or think wise you earn lots of brownie points for your restraint.  Then she who must be obeyed may even raise her limit as a bonus.

Yes. We split the difference between what I wanted and what she wanted to let me spend (ie I got half what Iasked for!!)

[Rob]

I think we all have the same problem. The solution of course is to inform her that you intend spending 5 times more than you actually do/can. She informs you that you can spend to a certain limit, then you have a row and you back down so that when you only spend twice the amount you can actually afford or think wise you earn lots of brownie points for your restraint.  Then she who must be obeyed may even raise her limit as a bonus.

Yes. We split the difference between what I wanted and what she wanted to let me spend (ie I got half what Iasked for!!)

I too have been informed that I will not be spending so much this year

[Jamesred]

She just watches my collection grow, she doesnt seem to mind the cost....yet!

She spent a lot on coins at christmas for me of which i managed to get some cash back as he ripped her off.

I started buying Sovereigns as an investment and she agreed, so im happy shes happy and if my coin account goes down i sell off a sovereign.

I must have a very understanding wife----either that or stupid! her dad is a collector in france and his collection is massice and very expensive. so maybe thats why she doesnt mind.