How to Start a Coin Collection: A Beginner's Roadmap

Your First Steps

Every great coin collection started with a single coin and a spark of curiosity. Whether you found an old coin in change, inherited a collection, or simply love history, this guide will help you start collecting with confidence.

Choose Your Focus

The most common mistake beginners make is trying to collect everything. Start with one series or theme that excites you:

• A denomination — Lincoln cents, Jefferson nickels, or Roosevelt dimes are affordable and widely available.
• A type set — One example of each major US design type. Lets you sample everything.
• A theme — State Quarters, bicentennial coins, or coins from your birth year.
• An era — Civil War-era coins, Depression-era coins, or WWII coins.

Essential Supplies

• A Red Book (A Guide Book of United States Coins) — $15. The collector's bible.
• A 10x loupe — $15–$40. For examining coins.
• 2x2 cardboard holders or an album — $5–$30.
• A magnifying light — $20–$50.

Where to Start Buying

• Pocket change and coin rolls — Free to start. You'd be surprised what turns up.
• Coin shows — The best place to learn and buy. Dozens of dealers under one roof.
• Local coin shops — Build a relationship with a trusted dealer.
• Online dealers — APMEX, JM Bullion, and dealer websites for specific needs.

Up Next

Collecting Strategies: By Date, Type, Denomination & Theme.