Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Starting a Commemorative Coin Collection

A commemorative coin is unique because it was designed to honor an event, landmark or person. The United States has been producing this type of coin since 1892. Since then, there are hundreds of gold coins, dollar coins, half-dollars and special quarters with the intention of commemorating special people, places or events.

The Value of Commemorative Coins
Commemorative coins vary in value as some are more valuable than others. Proof 5-dollar commemorative gold coins can have a price tag of hundreds of dollars, while circulation grade 50 States quarters have a face value worth. Early commemorative coins can be as low as $20 or $30 for the 1892-93 Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver and Columbian Exposition half dollars. 1935 Spanish Trail and the 1928 Hawaiian half dollars can be as expensive as $1000 or more.

What is the difference between non-circulating and circulating commemorative coins?
Coins from the U.S. Mint are legal tender and some are in circulation. There are coins, which are for sale only and are not circulated. Two examples of commemorative coins in circulation are the 1976 bicentennial coins and 50 state quarters. Non-circulating commemorative coins are the 1986 Statue of Liberty coins and Olympic coins struck in 1996.

What is the purpose of commemorative coins?
These coins recognize and honor important places, things, animals, events and people. Some organizations use these to raise funds and awareness for their causes or certain individuals, things, places and others that appear on the coin.

How do you start collecting commemorative coins?
The U.S. Mint has struck several commemorative coins since 1892; you can find the coins you want to add to your collection easily. Completing the collection of commemorative coins is an expensive endeavor that is why others just collect coins that interest them or a special event that matters to them.

Coin collecting can be a fun hobby, if you know where to look for coins and how to detect fake ones. Buy recent commemorative coins from the U.S. Mint and older ones from coin dealers.
The first thing you do when you start your collection is to identify what you like. Collecting by theme is a creative way to build your coin collection and makes finding what to add easier. Are you interested in commemorative coins from a certain country or a certain year? A theme keeps you on track and with a goal.

You can also collect coins based on the metal they were struck in such as copper, gold, silver or others.

Start your collection with commemorative coins, as they are unique and quite valuable when you resell them. Find out more about this at Colonial Acres.

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