New collector

[JRNASH]

Another important point is how are you storing your coins.   There is quite a bit of discussion here somewhere about storing coins

I visited the RAM on my honeymoon last year and the tour guide said to get PVC free sheet to store them in.

[Goldseeker]

Good info their.   Guide must have been a brother of "Fulvio" who is always going on about correct storage etc.   (No offence meant Fulvio).

[Fulvio]

Good info their.   Guide must have been a brother of "Fulvio" who is always going on about correct storage etc.   (No offence meant Fulvio).

ROFL! None taken, mate.

Yeah, PVC is the big enemy. The plasticisers that make it soft (PVC is a hard plastic used to make pipes and such) leach out over time, and literally eat your coins, banknotes, stamps, photos, etc. Avoid it at all costs.

Oddly enough, the standard issue LDPE ziplock bags you get for free from the bank (ask nicely for a pack of new ones.. I've even been given an entire unopened box of a thousand of them) are really good for storage. The only problem is the little airholes punched in them. But you can either heat-seal the bag, or roll it tightly to stop air getting in. I tend to leave UNC coins in the original bags, just move them around inside to form them into a roll (thus excluding more air, and stopping more bagmarks from happening).

Oh, and goldy is wrong about one thing... I guarantee any quantity of coins from the bank will contain some errors... maybe not super significant ones, but errors nonetheless.

[Goldseeker]

Oh, and goldy is wrong about one thing... I guarantee any quantity of coins from the bank will contain some errors... maybe not super significant ones, but errors nonetheless.

If I may add:-   Only if on e has a x10 magnifier in hand.   Hahaha

[Sapyx]

Some advice for a beginner.

Collect what you like, not what other people tell you you should be collecting. This is really important; coin collecting is supposed to be a hobby, and therefore enjoyable. If you're doing something because you've been told you have to do it, not because you'd like to and want to, there's another word for it: "work". Nothing kills interest and enthusiasm in a hobby like turning that hobby into something resembling work. And if other people ask you, "those things are useless junk, why are you collecting those", your answer is simple: "I like them and I enjoy collecting them". There are no rules about what you can and can't do.

Stay connected with other collectors. Joining this Internet forum is a good start. You might want to consider joining a local coin club. Make friends with your local coin dealers. It has been scientifically proven that coin collecting is not a hereditary disease; this means it can be a lonely pursuit at times, with perhaps nobody else in your family or circle of friends understanding your passion. It helps if you have reminders now and then that you're not the only crazy coin collector on the planet.

Learn whatever you can about the coins that interest you. Again, Internet forums like this one are a great place to learn. Other websites are good, too (let Google be your friend). Buy or borrow coin books, and actually read them; the old guys at the coin club always say "first the book, then the coin" - meaning, spend money on books before spending money on coins, otherwise you're more than likely going to be wasting your money. Take every opportunity to examine and study coins, even coins that don't belong to you (here's where "making friends" and "joining a coin club" mentioned above can assist you).

Beware of eBay; there are plenty of sharks in that ocean. In particular, beware of things that sound "too good to be true", because they probably are. Beware of clueless sellers selling valuable "mint errors" that are really just worthless damaged coins. Beware of coin sellers from China; that's where most of the modern fakes are coming form these days. If there's something on eBay you might be interested in buying but you have worries or concerns, post a link to it here on the forum and ask questions.

[Fulvio]

Some advice for a beginner.

Great advice. Warrants a Wiki page, IMO.

[purplepennyhunter]

Some advice for a beginner.

Great advice. Warrants a Wiki page, IMO.

Wiki it is...

Tips for the New Coin Collector

(Sap are you happy with what I copy and pasted?)

[Sapyx]

No worries, chief. :good:

[oh my florin]

Welcome JRNASH