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Numismatics the Study of Coins
by
D. L. Crane
For someone to speak about the subject of coin
collecting they need to know and understand what
Numismatics means. It might sound complex, but
the meaning is quite straightforward.
Numismatics is pronounced ‘new/miz/mat/ticks.’
Numismatics is the study of money or collection
of currency, and its history in all its
different forms including coins, medals, tokens,
paper money, banknotes, medallions, stock
certificates, and related objects. The study of
Numismatics can consist of many diverse aspects
pertaining to coins for example their history,
geography, market, modern processes, studying
their metals and their usage.
A numismatist is anyone who researches, studies,
or collects, any of these things. It surprising
to realize that numismatics, or coin collecting,
has been around for hundreds of years. Julius
Caesar is often recognized for writing the first
book on numismatics. In the earliest times,
numismatics was known as the ‘hobby of kings.’ A
numismatist today can be anyone. Coin collecting
is a very popular hobby in the United States.
Millions of people collect the new state
quarters, this brings progressively more and
more interest to the hobby of coin collecting.
People who in reality study the record and the
look of diverse kinds and types of currencies
are Numismatists. Anyone who collects and
studies currency can be called a numismatist.
Machine struck coins are the coins that are
frequently thought to be the most collectible.
Mint records are often used to find the
comparative rarity of their coins. Some
collectors concentrate on a diverse variety of
coins, on errors made at the mint or even on the
history of the coins.
Coins are no exception to the fact that the
better quality the item, the higher the premium.
Coins are graded very much like the PSA grades
baseball cards for quality. Graded coins that
have been inspected for genuineness and
condition have a much higher worth.
There are many reasons for collecting and
studying coins that can comprise of their
historical importance and artistic qualities, as
well as their function in trade. If there is
considerable demand, coins could gain numismatic
worth above their present financial value. To
build a collection of coins you will have to
decide what type of coinage is of particular
interest to you. Some collectors focus on
specific precious metals, like gold, silver,
copper, or bronze coins. Other people like to
concentrate on a precise time or area. One
popular form for collecting is commemorative
coins.
It is not difficult to start a collection of
your own and become a Numismatist. If you have
been saving some state quarters or have a few
foreign coins from overseas vacations you are
already collecting. Coin collecting can be a
wonderful family activity and there are many
things that draw people to numismatics. The
coins many times have great historical
importance in addition to being truly beautiful
and collectible. But remember coins stay coins
for a longtime. So know you know the basic study
of coins you, too, can be a Numismatist.
Go to
www.BestCoin.Com for a Free Coin Guide and
More Coin Collecting Information. |