The tradition of hoarding and collecting coins has been there for as long as coins have been minted. However coin collection as an artistic interest developed later over the years. The history of coin collecting can be traced back to Ancient Rome and medieval Mesopotamia where coins were collected and catalogued by scholars and state treasuries. Emperor Augustus gave them as gifts to his friends and during the Renaissance it became a fad of the wealthy, thereby becoming popular as the 'Hobby of Kings'.

So what is coin collecting and how does it differ from numismatics? How and where should you start and what kind of a collector should you be? What are the dos and don'ts of the hobby? Let's take time to address these questions first. Coin collecting is the systematic accumulation and study of coins and other forms of minted legal tender. Numismatics, on the other is a much wider field which studies currency. Though the two disciplines have often been found to be closely related, they are not the same.

The true coin enthusiast- the hobbyist- collects coins purely for the joy of it whilst others may be motivated by potential long term benefits. Coins of interest often include those that were circulated for only a brief period of time, coins with mint errors, historically significant pieces and commemorative coins (which are issued to commemorate special events or personalities). You can begin as a casual collector, collecting few notable coins like the ones you saved during an international trip or an old coin you came across by chance. As your enthusiasm for the same increases, you can start indulging more seriously, choosing to be generalist or focusing your attention on a specialised interest. Over time you may find yourself in possession of a staggering collection that includes both globally and historically significant coins from a wide range. Or you may end up as the error coin collector who is quite serious about the hobby and needs to develop the right connections to bag coins with errors related to dye, asymmetrical designs, double hits, re-punching etc.

Visit coin clubs, the local coin dealer or buy coins from other collectors and mints. 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 at this point. A big magnifying glass is a must to examine coins so you can spot mintmarks, errors and clearly read dates on worn or damaged coins. It is also important to check the provenance of the coin and buy from reputable sources to avoid buying counterfeits. Do your research and be prepared to learn from your mistakes. Keep your coins in airtight containers to prevent oxidation of the same and refrain from cleaning them if you do not know what proper cleaning agents to use. The best part about coin collecting is that you can begin doing so at any age and grow from there. There are numerous guide books available and you may even buy one if you are unsure where to start.

Hobbylancer and You

How does Hobbylancer help a coin collector like you? We endeavour to bring all coin collectors to a common platform to showcase their coins, auction the same and buy and sell from a wide range of coins amassed by the collectors. Most importantly we give you an opportunity to begin coin collecting and try our best to make the journey easier, helping you get into contact with numerous coin collectors so that you may start your own collection and profit from the same. Display those coins with pride, chase down some more and grow your collection with ease at Hobbylancer!