What Kind Of Coin Collector Are You? by Ian Dennis
Casual coin collecting
The most ordinary type of coin collector is the casual collector. Casual collectors are both kids and adults. They collect random coins because they like the fun of it. The casual coin collector does not spend as much money on buying and preserving coins as a more advanced coin collector. Casual coin collectors usually have interest in coins with a special meaning to them, like for instance a coin minted in their year of their birth. Casual collectors often get hold of more interesting pieces as gifts from friends or family members. The gift of a rare coin has transformed many casual collectors to curious collectors instead.
Curious coin collecting
When a collector goes further than just circulation finds and getting gifts. He develops more of an interest in coins and becomes more a curious collector. The curious collector will buy some inexpensive coins, maybe look around coin shops or look at coins on eBay or other related internet sites. That way a survey of potentially interesting areas of coin collecting is made, and as the curious coin collector interacts with more seasoned collectors, he is bit by bit learning the trade of buying or selling coins. Like for instance studying coin books before making any serious decisions about buying expensive coins. At a point most curious collectors learn enough to become an advanced coin collector.
Advanced coin collecting
Every advanced coin collector is a unique coin collector. Some are dedicated generalists looking for a few examples of all kinds of coins. If they do have enough resources, this can result in an astounding collection, as that of King Farouk of Egypt, who collected everything he could get his hands on.
Many coin collectors are completists who want an example of everything within a certain set. For instance Louis Eliasberg was the only coin collector thus far to assemble a complete set of known coins of the United States. Other coin collectors focus on coins of a certain nation or historic period. And some collect coins from various nations or settle on error coins or exonumia like tokens and medals. As you can see, it can vary a lot.
At the highest levels of coin collecting, it is a highly competitive sport. It can lead to astronomical prices as enthusiastic collectors struggle for the very best examples of each date and mint mark combination.
Historical coin collecting
Coin collectors of ancient and medieval coins are more interested in historical significance than other coin collectors. The coins of Byzantine, Roman, Indian, Greek, Celtic, Merovingian, Parthian, Ostrogothic and ancient Israelite origin are among the most popular ancient coins collected. Specialties tend to vary a lot, but the common approach is collecting coins minted during a particular emperor's time in power. A completist would for example strive for a representative coin from each emperor.
National coin collecting
Usually coin collectors of national coins specialize in the coins of their own country. A common way to collect national coins includes collecting one of every date and mint mark for a particular series. This is termed collecting by type. For instance a date set in Britain may include one Queen Victoria large penny for each year, 1837–1901. In another example a U.S. type set might include an example of each variety of each denomination produced. Most coin collectors of national coins create unique combinations of date, mint mark and type sets.
Error coin collecting
Collecting error coins is a modern development made doable through the automation of coin manufacturing processes. Coin collectors of ancient and medieval coins; accept coins with errors because manual coin manufacturing processes lend unique features to each coin struck.
Examples of coin errors could be repunched mint marks, doubled dies, double strikes, overdates, off metal coins, clipped coins, displaced or off center coins, and different denominations on two sides of one coin.
World coin collecting
World coins are collections of relatively recent modern coins from nations around the world. Geography is often the engine for this type of collector; he can travel around the world through his coin collection. Many collect by subject, for instance collecting coins from around the world featuring animals.
World coins are usually inexpensive and may be a good starting point for children. Most children find foreign coins by looking under change-to-cash machines, where customers throw away assorted coins found in their penny jars. It is possible to find coins from all over the world, ranging from Canada, to South Africa, to Korea.
Find much more information about Coin Collecting on this website. Check it out!
The History of the Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cent – Part 1 by Keith Scott
The Flying Eagle Cent was first produced as a pattern cent in 1856 and then officially produced for only two years; 1857 and 1858, but the idea of producing a smaller cent to replace the larger “Large Cent”, first surfaced in 1837. Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger devoted a significant amount of time attempting to convince Congress in using his own composition of copper, nickel and zinc which produced a silvery appearing coin. The coin was lightweight and durable. Congress rejected his proposal but that did not stop Feuchtwanger. He produced his own tokens with the declared value of once cent. Still no luck.
Around 1850, the price of copper rose to a point that caused concern for the Mint. The Mint experimented with a smaller sized coin with several designs and metal combinations. In 1851 the price of copper subsided and the urgency for a new cent went away. In late 1852 and early 1853, the price of copper once again rose to historic levels of 42 cents per pound. The Mint estimated that when copper was over 40 cents per pound, the Mint suffered a loss when making the Large Cent. In 1853 some patterns were created, but still no definite orders for change. In 1854 and 1855 even more pattern cents were produced. These patters were similar to other Liberty Head designs of the times. Still, no orders to change.
In 1856, the Mint’s melter and refiner, James Booth, determined that a mixture of 88 parts copper and 12 parts nickel with a weight of 72 grains would be an ideal metal for a new cent. This alloy would be known as the copper-nickel alloy. The end result would be a coin that was small but thick so as to not be confused with silver denominations at the time including silver three-cent pieces, half-dimes and regular dimes. If you have ever held a Flying Eagle, you will immediately notice the thickness as compared to a modern day Lincoln Cent as well as these other silver denominations.
Finally, on July 11, 1856, Mint Director James Ross Sweden recommended the new style. The Mint’s Chief Engraver, James B. Longrace, was tasked with preparing new patterns with the new metal and size. The new design featured an eagle flying to the left. The eagle motif was the same design used on the Gobrecht Dollar. It has been speculated that the eagle design is that of Peter the Eagle who was a mint resident during the 1830’s and is now stuffed and a permanent residence. The difference in design though was that the eagle motif on the cent is flying horizontally while on the dollar coin the eagle is flying at a slight angle upward. For the reverse of the new cent Longrace choose to reuse a design he created for the $1 and $3 gold coin. It is interesting to wonder why new designs were not created for such a monumental change. It is a fact that Longrace copied his designs and other designs for changes such as the two-cent piece and the shield nickel.
In late November of 1856, some pattern cents were struck for distribution to congressmen, newspaper editors and for anybody of influence. It still remains a mystery today as to how many were actually produced. Nearly 300 have been certified by PCGS and although they were never meant for circulation, many of the graded coins are in lower/circulated grades. During this time, it was not uncommon for the mint to re-strike coins for collectors and consequently, sometime after 1856, additional 1856 pattern cents were produced in proof format. Like the other patterns, many of these also reached circulation.
The new design was a hit and in 1857, The Coin Act of February 21, 1857, eliminated the large cent and authorized the production of the new cent. Finally, in April of 1857, production of the new cent began. They were stockpiled for several weeks until the official release date on May 25th, 1857. As was typical of the time, the public clamored for the new coin while several newspapers highly criticized its design. The public traded in old large cents and other silver coins for the new cent. Due to demand, the Mint produced over 17 million cents, which far exceeded any previous mintage of the Large Cent. With the new coin not authorized until February, the Large Cent saw a very low mintage in 1857 crating a rarity. Another 24 million Flying Eagle cents were produced in 1858. Despite the early popularity, the Flying Eagle Cent needed a change. And change it did. Please see Part 2
Keith Scott has been a collector for over 30 years and owns a small internet-based coin store at www.mountainviewcoins.com and writes articles for www.articlefree4all.com. Visit his websites for a history of US coins, metal market updates and news about your favorite coins.
Fascinating British Coin Collecting With A Feel of Nostalgia by Lesley Chew
Tremendous number of books and journals have been published since the 1800s on British Coin collecting hobby. That shows how long this hobby has been around and how highly regarded it is by many numismatists all over the world.
A few of these esteemed books are - British Silver Coins Since 1816 by Peter J. Davies - Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins 1066 to Date by R. Lobel, M. Davidson, E. Calligas and A. Hailstone - The British Bronze Coinage 1860-1869 by Michael Gouby - English Silver Coinage Since 1649 by P. Allan Rayner
Apart from these well-known books, there are also some journals / magazines that come up with sets of precious information regarding the coins of Great Britain and British coin collecting. A few of these more popular journals or magazines are Collecting Coins For Pleasure and Profit (Krause), Coins of England and United Kingdom (Spink), Collectors Coins, British Coins Market Value, and etc..
For the dedicated and specialized numismatists all over the world, the British coin collecting activity has become a craze just like the hobby of collecting American coins. There is a lot to learn about the British coin collecting hobby and the British coin itself, as it is a vast subject and should be taken very seriously. Thus the above mentioned books and journals are bound to come in handy to the dedicated collectors of British coins
Rare British coins like the two pound coin of Great Britain are of tremendous value. The two pound coin of Great Britain has become so rare that some crazy collectors were so desperate that they had spread rumors all around the United Kingdom in order to acquire all the British two pound coins for their own collection. The rumor was that the two pound coin with the queen's necklace was worth a lot more than its original face value, and the bank and the post offices were issuing extra premium for every submission of the two pound British coin.
Eleven distinctive grades are used as a standard to denote the condition of the British coin. For the coins that have their inscriptions too faded to be understood is categorized as poor, while the coins with legible date and denomination are categorized as fair and good (G) and are considered mediocre coins. Then there are very good (VG), fine (F), very fine (VF), extremely fine (EF), uncirculated (Unc.), and brilliant uncirculated (BU). And for the coins with a perfect mint condition there is a special category called fleur de coin (FDC). These are the "Rolls Royce" of coins.
Lastly, there is an even farther category for the coins known as proof. The features of this category are that these British coins have very sharp edges - a result of deliberate high pressure. There are even categories falling in between grades and are generally denoted in the way "Nearly VF" or "Gem BU" and etc.
British coin collecting is no doubt fascinating and who knows, you might even come into possession of fleur de coin!
