Learn the hobby
Seven short lessons that take you from “I found a coin” to confident collector. Read them in order — about 20 minutes total.
Why Collect Coins?
Coin collecting is one of the few hobbies where the starting inventory is literally in your pocket. Every coin…
Handling and Storing Coins (and Why You NEVER Clean Them)
Hold coins by their edges, between your thumb and forefinger, over a soft surface like a folded towel. Fingerp…
The Only Tools You Actually Need
Start with a loupe — a small folding magnifier. Get a 10x loupe with a glass lens; decent ones cost $10-$20. T…
How to Read a US Coin
The front of a coin is the obverse (the 'heads' side, usually with a portrait and the date), and the back is t…
Where to Actually Find Coins
Coin roll hunting is the beginner's goldmine: banks sell rolled coins at face value, and you search them and r…
Grading Basics: From Good to Mint State
Grade means how much wear a coin has, and it drives value more than almost anything else. The same coin can be…
When to Get a Coin Professionally Graded
Professional grading means sending a coin to PCGS or NGC, the two services whose opinions the market trusts. T…