Coin Collecting

Coin Collecting Events

Just like with any hobby, the coin collecting world has a vocabulary all its own. The many terms, organizations and grading standards used in coin collecting can be confusing at first. If you're interested in getting involved, you'll have to know what all the initials mean to carry on a coherent conversation! Below you'll find a few coin-collecting terms and initials you should know. Continue below.

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Coins shows are the best way to buy or sell coins. Well before the show, you should take some time to get organized. Know what you've got, what you need and what you'd like to sell. This is something that a surprising number of collectors don't do.

The best way to always be prepared is to keep a running inventory list. Do your homework beforehand, so you know what you want to purchase and have a good understanding of its fair market value. Of course, always leave room in your budget for that spur of the moment purchase, but don't let yourself be overwhelmed by all the choices available.

Before you go, be sure to pack comfortable clothing and good walking shoes. Most coin show floors are huge, and you'll soon lose your steam if you are overheating or have aching feet.

Once you get to the show, try to stay focused on the series you're most interested in. Many shows are so large that if you allow yourself to become distracted you will spend the whole day wandering and accomplish nothing. If a show offers a brochure listing the dealers, take it with you and check off each one as you visit him to avoid just wandering around in circles.

Visit and get to know as many dealers as you can and compare their offerings. Try not to rush into any sales until you've had the opportunity to comparison shop. And don't be afraid to ask a dealer if he's got a specific coin but just isn't displaying it.

Since coin collecting is a life-long hobby, don't skimp on your purchases. Buy the best grade coin you can manage within your budget. You won't regret it. Coin shows are a great place to sell duplicates and collections you no longer want, so bring them along and see if you can drum up some funds to make new purchases. Remember that coin collecting is a hobby and, as such, should be fun.

Some of the premier shows in North America included:

ANA's World's Fair of Money and the National Money Show are billed as the largest coin shows in the States. Sponsored by the American Numismatic Association (ANA), the show features a wide range of certified coin dealers, representatives from US and international mints, and a number of other vendors. These are held twice yearly at locations around the country. For current info, visit the ANA site at www.money.org.

The Las Vegas Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Show, also sponsored by the ANA, includes a series of educational seminars. You can find more information about this event, as well as links on where to stay when attending, at the ANA website at www.money.org.

Chicago International Coin Fair is sponsored by Collect.com and Krasue Publications. Generally held each year in the spring, the event is hugely popular with collectors and dealers from around the world. Find more info at www.money.org.

To find shows near you, check out these online directories of upcoming events:

www.coinshows.com - includes a director of coin shows organized by state. Event sponsors can submit information on their own events; many smaller, local events can be found here.

www.coinworld.com - features paid advertisements of show, which can be searched by location. Fairly comprehensive listing of most of the mid-size shows.

www.coinshowdates.com - offers lots of local and regional event information organized by state. Readers are welcome to submit their own information on events as well.

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