2008-12-14T00:11:00.000-08:00

Collecting World Coins: What to Collect

The Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901–2000 contains more than 2000 pages of coin information! Wow, that is a lot of coins! Not to mention 18th, 19th and 21st century catalogs. So out of all of these coins, which coins should you collect? Well the short answer is, what ever you are interested in and makes you happy.

According to an article by Erik Martin in August 2007 CoinValues magazine, more than a 107 countries issued one or more coins in 1971. So just putting together a birth year set would be a very nice collection of world coins.

Do you have interest in thematic content like floral or fauna, well there are coins with flowers, trees, plants, birds, fish and mammals depicted on them. Then there are coins of many different shapes; square coins, triangle coins, round coins with square holes or with just holes. Choosing a theme would make a very interesting collection.

Some collectors collect world crowns. The term crown comes from the British coin denomination Crown and is coins of the size of the American silver dollar.

Personally, I collect type coins. Krause Publications publishes standard catalogs of world coins and these are the acknowledged sources of identification and values for world coins. Numbering systems started by R. S. Yeoman (Y#) and Chester L. Krause (KM#) used in the Standard Catalogs determines the criteria that myself as well as other type collectors use to specify a unique coin type.

You should collect what ever is of interest and especially, something that makes you happy and fulfills you desire to collect. Yes, by all means, select a focus for your collection, as this will allow you to make it the best that it can be.

WorldWide Coins Magazine - Magazine for world coin collectors

Krause Publications - Source of books and magazines for collectores

Collecting World Type Coins: Easy, Fun and Affordable

2008-11-13T22:05:00.000-08:00

I started collecting world type coins about 10 years ago. At first, it was just a side thought as I sought coins for my United States collection. Over time, I eventually stopped collecting US and devoted my small collecting budget to my world type collection that was then expanding. Now my collection consists of about 600 different types and it is still growing. I have some nice coins, but a greater portion of my collection is just common coins.

Easy:
With literally hundreds of thousands of different types of world coins, finding a different type coin that is not currently in your collection should never difficult. At times, you may find coins in your pocket change from neighboring counties. While this is not a viable method of consistently enhancing your collection, anywhere you get them works. Family and friends that travel abroad are always a ready source; just remember to have them bring back some loose change.

Fun:
As you find, identify and catalog each new coin, you begin to appreciate the diversity of coin designs and monetary trends of other countries. As you research coinage of various counties, you also become aware of changes that have occurred in these countries that are reflected in their coinage.

Affordable:
It is entirely possible that your friends and family have some foreign coins lying around their homes; this is a very rich source for starting a collection. As your collection expands and you are considering other sources, small lots of unsorted world coins are available at very reasonable price through various sources. Local coin shops, the internet as well as auctions are all options.

So if you think that this is hobby that would fulfill your desire to have a rewarding collecting experience, start a world type coin collection. Have Fun!!

Don's Coin World. Large on line coin image gallery --- Great help with identifying coins.
J Yeager World Coins. I am putting my collection online.
Omni Coin. You can put your collection line with many other people.
Coin Organizer Software. If you want an organizer, this is a good one. Personally I use a Excel.