Education is the "Key Date" for ultimate enjoyment & Return on Investment, so make a date with yourself and your favorite coin publication and Learn about the hobby We all Love!
- chrisnroan
- Mar 1, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 23, 2024
Educate Yourself on Your Area of Interest
This thread is geared more to beginners, but even the most advanced collector may find a Hidden GEM or two in the thread. CHECK Out some of the Links, there is some really cool stuff here!
Most people would admit that learning is Fun, especially if you are learning about something that you are really interested in. I believe that when we are too old to learn, we might as well lay down and die. So, anyone that has been around the hobby for a while is familiar with the term "key date" but in case you are brand new to the hobby and just happened to stumble onto this site, a Key Date is a common term and a reference to the Key Coin, or rarest coin and most difficult to obtain in any given series. As such it is almost always the most expensive coin in the series as well. For instance, the Lincoln penny "key date" is the 1909 S with the Designers initials VDB on the Reverse, with only 484000 minted and the designers name being Victor David Brenner. After those first 484k, they simply removed his initials from the design. In the Mercury Dime Series, the key date is the 1916 D, with a mintage of only 264000 coins produced, which of course makes it very rare! As with anything that we enjoy, learning about it is half the fun. I absolutely LOVE Walking Liberty Half $'s, because in my opinion the design is the most beautiful coin ever issued! The Walking Liberty half dollar is a 90% silver 50-cent piece or half dollar coin that was issued by the United States Mint from 1916 to 1947; it was designed by Adolph A. Weinman, a well-known sculptor and engraver. There are several Key Date coins in the Walking Liberty Series and mintages don't always determine this. For instance, there were only 608000 1916 WLH's but it is not the scarcest coin in the series, nor the most expensive. This can be due to several factors, one of which is that many coins that are silver have been melted down or made into jewelry.
The mint even copied the Obverse of the design and reissued it in the form of the American Silver Eagle Series. It was first released by the United States Mint on November 24, 1986 and is still an ongoing series as of this writing, and with no end in sight as it is a very popular collector coin.
I really enjoy getting young people involved with the hobby, because I believe that they will enjoy collecting coins for the rest of their lives. Coin Collecting doesn't even have to be expensive, and It doesn't matter if they are looking for wheat pennies or state quarters in pocket change to fill an album. So next time one of your grandchildren or nieces or nephews stop by for a visit, show them a couple of pieces of your collection, or jump over to the shop Shop | Choice Numismatic Rarities (cnrncollectables.com) and buy them a set of State Quarters! They are a really inexpensive way to get them involved! It was estimated soon after the 50 State Quarter program was started that it pulled between 50-100 million New Collectors into the hobby! Now THAT is What its ALL About! If you are a brand new to the hobby, get yourself a magnification loop and start really looking at your favorite coins, due a search on the internet and you will find all kinds of great information on any coin or series, or anything else for that matter. You could start a collection of circulated State Quarters just by going through your pocket change and you will probably be surprised just how far you get in a short period of time. You don't have to spend a lot of money to really enjoy collecting coins, so just have fun and learn as much as you can along the way and you will enjoy the hobby for the rest of your life!
Educate Yourself BEFORE YOU Buy and on WHO to Do Business With!
Just like any other industry or business, You want to do your homework on just Who to buy your rare coins from. There are many reputable Coin Dealers out there, many of which have been in business for years, even decades. But unfortunately, there are still less then reputable coin dealers out there to. The internet has helped people learn just who, and who not to do business with.
All of us here at Choice Numismatic Rarities takes your satisfaction very seriously, and We hope to do business with you for many years to come. We believe in the old adage that one can never have too many friends, so even If We never sell you a coin, we have hopefully made a new friend! We are always here to help you in any way that We can, so please do not hesitate to call us if you have questions before You buy, and even if it's not from us! If you don't see something that you are looking for on Our Website, please call and ask, we actively service "Want Lists" and have contacts Who specialize in every Series. Again, Education is Key and We hope that Beginners and maybe even a few "Old Timers" learn a thing or two.
IF YOU are interested in PRECIOUS METALS, Please, Please, PLEASE Do Your Homework! I cannot stress this enough. For instance, I know some companies that are nationally advertised and that have big name "endorsers" literally WILL NOT Tell you how much you are going to pay on ounce for your precious metals UNTIL You send them money!!! THATS CRAZY! As a result, I also know people that have lost thousands of dollars immediately upon buying their products. You have to do your own homework and if it just doesn't seem right, trust your gut!
There are all kinds of great resources for you to learn about whatever area of Numismatics that you are interested in. You can do a search on the internet and find a zillion results in a matter of seconds. Buy yourself a current Rebook and check it out.
THIS Link is a really great resource, as it shows pics of EVERY US Coin! Be SURE And CHECK THIS OUT!
"The American Numismatic Association (ANA) is an organization founded in 1891 by George Francis Heath. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, it was formed to advance the knowledge of numismatics (the study of coins) along educational, historical, and scientific lines, as well as to enhance interest in the hobby"
The ANS, or American Numismatic Society
"Founded in 1858 for the appreciation of numismatics"
I wanted to add a link to a really cool old Coin Book from 1933, from B. Max Mehl, and it is REALLY NEAT! I love anything old, I suppose because I am Old too hahaha This is from the "Internet Archives" so you can actually read the book, page by page. CHECK IT OUT Friends!
Pictured below is one of my favorite collector series, the 3-year issue run of Jefferson "Silver" War Nickels, from 1942-1945. There are only 11 coins in this special issue (plus some errors and No 42D) and the metal composition was changed because The United States Of American needed the nickel for the War Effort, with these special issues having 35% Silver and are easily distinguishable by the Bold Mint Mark above Monticello on the reverse of the Coin. Because of the composition, these coins can take on absolutely BEAUTIFUL RAINBOW COLORS! SEE WHY I LOVE THESE!!!
Christopher N. Roan
Choice Numismatic Rarities
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