I've only been collecting only for about half a year, and have amassed quite a large collection already. However, I want to focus on a particular region/period/series.
I was wondering what are some interesting areas to start specializing in? Something relatively cheap.
To ask at a different angle - what do you specialize in, and why?
I am also in the same position as you and am still searching for that specialization. I do however have a liking for non-circular coins, whether that be oval, or multi-sided.
A friend of mine collects coins with horses.
The problem for me with going in these kind of directions is that you will nearly always be breaking up sets. That alone will probably force me into collecting some specific countries or maybe a continent. (I hate breaking up sets)
You have to decide yourself what you're wondering.
For example, I know people, who collect:
1) only our country coins (all types, mints and years)
2) only coins with animals
3) one coin from all countries
I collect:
1) All Russia coins (types, years, mints)
2) Coins by type from all world
In terms of investment potential, South American pre war silver coins, great designs and seriously undervalued. You can pick up many lower denomination coins for under $3 in very high grades.
For long term interest (let me know if you ever complete a set) 3rd Reich issues by year and mint mark, or Mexico prior to the debased coinage, say pre 1950's. Lots of variety and a long history of producing interesting rather than beautiful coins.
Top of the list would be pre decimal coins from Great Britain 1837 - 1967. Undoubtedly the finest coins ever produced over such a sustained period. You've kinda missed the boat on these though, prices have risen 20-30% in the past few years. They will never be cheap because of their huge popularity with collectors. Start with the 1970 proof set and work backwards, you will not regret it. It's still easy until you hit 1947.
This is my main area of interest, with a strong preference for Victorian copper. There are no junk commemoratives, the scarce coins, e.g. the 1951, 1950, 1926ME, Heaton, Kings Norton and 1902 LT pennies are still quite affordable. Apart from the legendary 1933 penny there is nothing too scary in terms of price until you get well into Queen Victoria's reign apart from a few crowns and scarce Edward VII silver.
One word of caution; Victorian issues, especially post 1860 have an absolutely bewildering array of die variations and minor design changes. Unless you enjoy looking at a permanently half filled album think long and hard about including these.
Non illegitimis carborundum est. Excellent advice for all coins.
Make Numismatics Great Again!
I have coins from all around the world, but most are for swap purposes, I say most because I still have thousands to list. My true choice is the same as Phil's UK pre decimal which I'm about to make a large purchase dating from 1900-1970 and already set up in Brazilian Mahogany Cabinets, condition of coins vary from vf to proofs. Also as already mentioned some Queen Victoria coins are rather expensive in vf or better condition. I also collect Australian pennies & half pennies, US and Canadian cents. Another type which I started collecting about 6 months ago are Isle of Man Crowns as there are quite a few.
Collecting world coins may be discouraging to some because there seem to be no limits. But you have to decide yourself what you like - a coherently build up collection around one theme/region/period or a cabinet of oddities where wooden nickels reside next to Indian hammered coins and Roman denariuses next to federal pfennigs. Either way is fun, since every coin has a story of its own anyway.
The tricky thing is that going for one thing implies not going for another. As Spookie remarks in his post - if you focus on horses then what do you do with the other coins from the same series? I have no advice what to do in this case, only what not to do: do not get rid of coins parting from which wouldn't make you feel comfortable.
I am pretty much like you in that I don't have a certain coin type I go for. I like everything.
But it seems nature sets its course itself every now and then. For example, you do start randomly coincidentally have more coins from a certain country or era... then suddenly you want to fill in gaps in exactly that. Or you happen to read about something that sparks interest.
I just go on collecting everything and change course whenever I feel like it.
See what kind of coin you have the most of and try to fill in years and mintmarks if you collect by them. If not, see what country you have most of and try to get the rest of similar ones from there.
I am working on the full run of Austrian schillings in any condition - only one rare date (1932) in the set, the silver ones are nice, the aluminum ones are uncommon, and it's a challenge to find every date of the aluminum-bronze type from 1959 to 2001 in local junk bins! Sure, it's not in the top grades and most of these coins are not very valuable, but it's affordable and fun for me.
You could also try copper-nickel British shillings, Dutch gulden (these are so common, right?), French francs... a fun world coin set is what you make of it.
I have a few collections which I switch between when I start getting bored with one of them. I collect silver coins, pre-decimal Fijian coins, unusual metal coins (zinc, tin, iron etc) and Vatican city coins.
Personally I started collecting one type of thing and then found myself in other areas. I took a serious liking to Austrian silver commemoratives and so I have been working on the 2, 25, 50 and 100 Schillings. They are pretty neat, silver, and not too expensive! I think if you look around a coin will catch your eye and then bam you fall for a series or a country...I saw the Tyrol Austrian 50 schilling...bought it and the rest is history.
I don't think you can go wrong with anything. There is nothing like the feeling you get when you add a coin to your prized collection.
What I did was go for a coin from every country. From there I just let it lead itseft. Like I am still working on getting a full set of German pf 1 through 10. All mints. Iceland, Poland, Yugoslavia, and UK. And Mexico and Canada. Just do what you like. And have fun, there are a lot of good people here. Happy collecting.
yours daryl
I look for bulk lots and people who collect coins but have some they have accumulated and no longer want, then I pick out what I like and swap the rest.
I like colonial American coins.
and everything else too
Taking a break from swapping for a while, but still interested in pre 1799 Spanish coins, I will make time for that!
