Basic Coin Collecting Supplies

coin values

Basic Coin Collecting Supplies

There are a few coin collecting supplies that you will need to get started with your hobby. Only a minimal investment is needed to get your coin collecting off the ground, although it is possible to also spend a substantial amount if you have some money burning a hole in your pocket. Our advice is to use those funds towards purchasing actual collectible coins, and limit your spending for coin collecting supplies to the basics.

Coin Holders

Having some way to properly store your coins is important. Storing your coins properly will protect them, keeping them safe from scratches, smudges, and other environmental elements.

The type of coin holder you choose should partially be based upon the value of the coin. Purchase higher quality folders or albums for more expensive coins, and you can probably get away with less expensive paper envelopes for storing less valuable coins.

General Reference Books

A set of good reference books are indispensable coin collecting supplies for the budding numismatist. A general reference book containing information on dates and mintmarks, grading guidelines, major varieties and prices is a must have if you want to have the necessary information about certain coins.  

Other references that deal with grading die varieties or counterfeit detections are also helpful. For the most recent pricing information and other numismatic news, periodicals are the best source.

Good references will give you the details you need to avoid making bad decisions concerning your coin collection, whether you are buying or selling. You can start building your own library now and reap the benefits as soon as you obtain your first book.

Magnifying Glass

A high-quality magnifying glass is essential so you can examine a coin’s tiny details. A magnifier to be used for grading should have 4-10 times magnification. Most coin collectors would say 7 times magnification is ideal. For those who are collecting different dyes, a magnifier with 10 times magnification is normally recommended. Some smaller coins and especially proof coins are best examined using a low power magnifier to see hairline or other tiny imperfections. Using an excessively high magnification power overemphasizes defects which can lead the grader to incorrect and inconsistent grading opinions.

Lighting

You may have the most expensive magnifying glass available, but it certainly will not work without the aid of the proper light source. For lighting purposes, an incandescent light of about 75 watts or higher is recommended. However, the actual brightness will depend also on the available ambient light. The light source should be located within half a meter of where you will examine the coins. 

Coin Collecting Software

Depending on your type of coin collection and its size, managing all data related to them may become overwhelmingly hard. You may find coin collecting software a necessary additional investment (together with a computer.) Coin collecting software is not just for creating a catalog or inventory. Many commercially available software packages do have built in coin inventories to collect modern, ancient and medieval coins and they are also capable of organizing existing web resources and coin related links with an option that includes recent coin values updated for the current year.

It does not take a lot of money or a lot of supplies to begin the hobby of coin collecting. In fact, with just a minimal investment in coin collecting supplies and the purchase of a view coins you can be up and running in no time. A good reference book, a good magnifying glass, some good lighting, and an option software program are about all it takes.

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