How do people get so many foreign coins???

Hello people,

I was just wondering how some people on Numista are able to acquire 10,000+ foreign coins on their swap list. That is a whole lot of coins so I really want to know how you would find them lol.

ALSO, for the people who have that many foreign coins on your swap list, how do you organize all of them? I have some of those organizer boxes for tools but how do you organize them on such a large scale?

Thanks

Buying a joblot of coins will usually give you loads of coins. One is bound to find a few good ones here & there.
Sometimes you are very lucky and other times not.
About storage - I don't have many to worry about.
I keep mine alphabetically in a few organiser boxes. Some in mylar sleeves.
Would need a secretary to help me if I had 10,000 coins to swap

- having many countries with different currencies around yours
(from my coin collecting viewpoint now it's sadly only Euros)
- knowing many people who travel
(Attention!!! only for the collectors that don't fall into a coma when they see slight circulation wear)
- straight up buy them or trade them for your local currency
(a must if you want stuff that is older then a few decades for most cases)

I have the impression (don't know if it's true though) that when you live in the US it's all about collecting US coins. But when you live in Europe you almost automatically collect coins from around the world.
Perhaps because like Idolenz says: if you live in Europe then just 20 years ago every country around you had their own coins and they are very readably available for reasonable proces. And almost always such lots have coins from around the world in them.
You have to have some luck, not all lots are the same, but the last 5 to 20 kg lots I bought had coins from about 120 to even 180 countries (some no longer existing) in them...

Quote: "mkruse"​Hello people,
​
​I was just wondering how some people on Numista are able to acquire 10,000+ foreign coins on their swap list. That is a whole lot of coins so I really want to know how you would find them lol.
​
​ALSO, for the people who have that many foreign coins on your swap list, how do you organize all of them? I have some of those organizer boxes for tools but how do you organize them on such a large scale?
​
​Thanks

​Check this thread. Its the best discussion thread to know about how to store & manage coin collection

https://en.numista.com/forum/topic4356.html

Regards,
Pramod

Quote: "Newtony"​I have the impression (don't know if it's true though) that when you live in the US it's all about collecting US coins. But when you live in Europe you almost automatically collect coins from around the world.
​Perhaps because like Idolenz says: if you live in Europe then just 20 years ago every country around you had their own coins and they are very readably available for reasonable proces. And almost always such lots have coins from around the world in them.
​You have to have some luck, not all lots are the same, but the last 5 to 20 kg lots I bought had coins from about 120 to even 180 countries (some no longer existing) in them...

​Yeah I see what you mean. I do live in the US, and not many people focus on world coins, its all about US coins and ancients lol. I only come across US coins in circulation except for the occasional coin from Canada/Mexico.

I could imagine all of the different coins people use in Europe. I've never been but its on my bucket list :)

Do you buy those lots on eBay or get them from a coin shop or what?

Quote ​Do you buy those lots on eBay or get them from a coin shop or what?

​I have bought lots from eBay, local second hand sites, shops, ...
Prices vary, quality also. Shipping can be expensive too so I try to buy locally.

Quote: "Newtony"​I have the impression (don't know if it's true though) that when you live in the US it's all about collecting US coins. But when you live in Europe you almost automatically collect coins from around the world.
​Perhaps because like Idolenz says: if you live in Europe then just 20 years ago every country around you had their own coins and they are very readably available for reasonable proces. And almost always such lots have coins from around the world in them.
​You have to have some luck, not all lots are the same, but the last 5 to 20 kg lots I bought had coins from about 120 to even 180 countries (some no longer existing) in them...

​It's true about Americans.
And going to my local dealer, and sorting through his buckets of foreign coins, I've been able to assemble about 2K foreign type coins for about $200.
Few were of much value, but the education was priceless.

Go to your local airport and ask all incoming foreigners to change their pocket change to your currency.

Try to find where the tourist busses stop in your town and do the same..

You can always browse my swap list to get more foreign currencies.

coin star

Quote: "mkruse"​Hello people,
​
​I was just wondering how some people on Numista are able to acquire 10,000+ foreign coins on their swap list. That is a whole lot of coins so I really want to know how you would find them lol.
​
​ALSO, for the people who have that many foreign coins on your swap list, how do you organize all of them? I have some of those organizer boxes for tools but how do you organize them on such a large scale?
​
​Thanks

​Buy, buy and buy gain.
Now that the coin markets are not available due to lockdowns, online shopping at marketplace (Dutch marktplaats) it's a good option.