Coins

Coin Q&A: Answers To 5 Common Coin Questions

These are among the most popular questions we receive here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins...
 

Question #1:
How Do I Clean My Coins?

Don't! Cleaning your coins will actually reduce their value. Why? Because coin collectors and coin investors prefer coins with their original, natural toning and color.

Cleaning your coins will wash away their natural toning and even strip away some of its metal. As a result, most coin cleanings actually result in damage.

Coins with loose dirt and debris can be safely removed with gently running, clean water. Afterward, you can softly pat the coins dry with a soft towel.

Any coins which have heavy amounts of grime, grease, or residue should be cleaned only by a professional. Refer to a coin dealer for information on where to have your coin cleaned by a local professional or recommended mail-order service.

Continue reading: 5 Common Questions About Coins

2009 U.S. Mint Coins: Old Favorites And Stunning New Designs

The United States Mint is always turning out new and exciting numismatic products.

Summer 2009 promises to offer even more wonderful coins and coins sets for coin collectors!

The summer 2009 U.S. Mint coins will include several old standbys, a few new kids on the block, and some silver and gold pieces that will really brighten up your collection.

Continue reading: 2009 U.S. Mint Coins

Native American Coins In Circulation

Native Americans have long been honored on United States coins.

In fact, some of our nation's most popular coins have featured Native Americans or Native American culture in one form or another.

The United States Mint has begun minting Native American dollar coins. This has inspired interest in Native American coins.

There are, in fact, several United States coins in circulation which feature Native Americans.

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5 Great Coin Gifts For The Advanced Coin Collector

Are you trying to find the perfect gift for a coin collector who has everything?

Or maybe you're simply not as well-versed in coin collecting to know what to get an advanced coin collector.

You're in luck! Chances are, the experienced coin collector will appreciate receiving any of the following items as a gift. Many of these can be found online, too.

Continue reading: Coin Gifts For Advanced Collectors

Coin Grading Basics - To Help You Find The Value Of Your Coin

You have probably seen a lot about coin grades here on this site.

Some of you may know what coin grading is, and some may not.

If you can understand coin grading, then you can begin to figure out coin values much more easily than you may be able to now.

Continue reading: Coin Grading Basics

Got Old Coins? Use Them As Tips & Gifts For Others!

The economy is forcing a lot of people to cut back on what they spend.

Going out to a restaurant, getting your hair cut, and getting your lawn mowed means paying for the service, then tipping on top of that.

If you're short on cash but long on "extra" coins in your coin collection that you no longer need or want, you might want to give away those old coins as gifts or tips for the services you pay for!

It's fun! Plus, you never know when someone else might become intrigued enough to start their own coin collection...

Continue reading: Using Old Coins As Tips & Gifts

How To Find Coin Books, Coin Videos & Coin Magazines At Your Local Library

The Internet offers a wealth of information about coin collecting and other aspects of numismatics. However, sometimes you simply have to refer to a good book, video, or magazine to find out more about the topic you want to research.

Going to a bookstore is great, but sometimes even the biggest bookstore doesn't have the publication you want. Or, maybe you want to find the information for free!

Going to the library can be a great way to look for coin publications and videos geared toward your interests.

Here's what to look for...

Continue reading: Find Coin Books At The Library

Should You Clean Coins Or Not? (Hint: NO!)

People entering the hobby of coin collecting (and those who've found a coin that might be valuable) usually want to know how they can clean their coins.

Questions like "Which way is the best way to clean my old penny?" or "How do I brighten up my tarnished silver dollar?" normally lead to one, impassioned answer: "Don't clean your coins!"

It seems logical to some people that a bright and shiny coin would be favored by coin collectors. While that may be true to a certain extent, what is also true is that coin collectors prefer coins that display normal, natural color.

If a coin is bright and shiny because it was well preserved or just came from the Mint, that is a good thing. However, if a coin is bright and shiny because it was just dipped in vinegar and baking soda or was scrubbed with an abrasive like toothpaste, then coin collectors will shy away.

Why? Again, most coin collectors prefer coins that possess natural color.

Continue reading: NO Do Not Clean Your Coins!

Souvenir Sets Versus Mint Sets: What's the Difference?

You may have heard about mint sets and souvenir sets, but you might not be sure which is which.

At first glance, mint sets and souvenir sets look very similar to each other.

But, in fact, there are some very important differences between mint sets and souvenir sets.

Continue reading: Mint Sets vs Souvenier Sets

Using Metal Detectors To Find Old Coins - Metal Detector Reviews & Tips For Metal Detecting

Whenever people rummage around in their pockets or bags for things, they inevitably drop loose change onto the ground sometimes.

Usually, these coins are never missed by the people who dropped them. And soon the coins become trampled into the dirt or otherwise hidden just below the surface.

Imagine for a moment, what if you were lucky enough to find some old long-lost coins that are now extremely rare?

Here's how you can use a metal detector to find old coins...

Continue reading: Using A Metal Detector To Find Coins