There are a lot of people who collect coins all over the world. Coin collecting is not a new hobby by any means. Since the very first coins were struck people have been hanging on to the because of the value of the metal they were made with. It took a while but coins eventually became pieces of art as well as money. There are some very stunning coins in collections and some are easier to find than most beginners would probably realize.
The reasons that a particular coin may be collected can vary widely. Some are flawed. They may have been struck improperly at the mint. They may have been hit by a die that was broken or had some kind of irregularity. These coins are still rolling out of the mint today. If you look closely at each coin in a brand new roll, you just may come across one of these.
Some coins are collected simply for their beauty or unique design. The recent run of 50 State Quarters is an example of coins that are not particularly valuable, but are readily collected by individuals seeking to form complete set. Many youngsters have developed a passion for coin collecting because they were trying to hunt down that one elusive state quarter. The announcement of another run of state specific quarters makes this likely to happen again.
The vast majority of coins are collected for their rarity. Not all rare coins are old, however. Some selective modern coin issues can have low mintages compared to the collector base for the broader series. These coins are probably not the best way for novices to start coin collecting, just because of the initial investment alone.
When it comes to coin collecting there are a lot of ways for someone to get a foothold in the hobby. Most all of us have come across a Wheat Penny. Those little one cent coins are usually worth at least three times their face value. That may not seem like a lot but it is a mathematically huge return on investment. There still a lot of those and other old coins still in circulation. By keeping an eye out and not taking your pocket change for granted, you can start coin collecting right away.
The America the Beautiful Quarters are the follow up to the extremely popular 50 State Quarters series that began in 1999 and ran until 2008. Many hope that these quarters will be just as popular with collectors, if not even more so. The new series is set to begin production in 2010 and run until 2021. Like the State Quarters, each coin will be unique and will represent each state, U.S. territory, and the District of Columbia.
The previous series of State Quarters were some of the most popular coins in recent memory. They introduced an entire new generation to the idea of coin collecting from circulation. There is no reason to think that the America the Beautiful Quarters will be any less loved by the public. The market for coin holders and prominent display cases specifically designed for these coins will also likely resemble what has been available for the state series.
The America the Beautiful Quarters will feature National Parks and other prominent National Sites from each of the fifty states, five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. The front of the coin will continue to be the profile of George Washington, which will be a restored version of the original 1932 design, while the back of the coins will depict the park or site. The first five coins of the series will be released in 2010 and will feature Hot Springs National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Mount Hood National Forest.
An interesting part of the series for collectors is that there will also be oversized duplicates of each quarter that will be made of five ounces of fine silver. These silver bullion coins will be exact duplicates with the first releases available later this year. The opportunity for collectors to purchase these bullion coins makes the upcoming releases even more exiting for all coin collectors.
This series is sure to bring coin collecting into the consciousness of millions of new coin collectors. The prospect of five beautiful new quarters each year will be something to be looked forward to. The silver bullion coins will be an interesting addition to any collection and will likely be popular with precious metal collectors too. It will be very interesting to see a collection of the fifty state quarters alongside the America the Beautiful Quarters once they have all been released.