Coin collecting
Coin collecting is operated both as a hobby as well as of scientific interest. The scientific study of coins is called numismatics. Collected are both coin a currency as a special collector coins.
Collections
Coin collectors usually specialize in a particular subject area. This can be:
- A State
- A geographical region or
- Be a historical period, but also:
- A topic such as FAO coins,
- A coin motif such as animal motifs,
- Coins on special occasions such as the Olympic Games or
- Coins from certain materials, such as bimetallic coins, stoneware coins etc.
A distinction is made in the area of collection Mint also between type collections in which coins of the same motif, nominal value and metal occur only once, and vintage collections, in which attention to completeness of all years per type. Furthermore, can be collected after mintmark or minor variants or misstrike a coin can be compiled.
A very popular collection area is the euro. The introduction of the single European currency coin collecting has numerous new followers found. The different backs of the euro coins have about one million moved to new collectors to get into this hobby.
Other collectors prefer next to the Mint commemorative coins that are spent on various occasions.
Coin collectors are interested in often for related collectibles like medals, tokens and banknotes.
Value determination
To determine the value of a coin usually following points are observed:
- Embossing number, rarity
- Demand
- Metal
- Age of the coin, with special historical circumstances
- Degree of conservation
The metal plays only coins made of precious metals an important role, since base metal coins is usually already the denomination of the coin far exceeds the price of the metal. An important role played by demand and the rest of the coin ( even If the coin is often bought? If its circulation too high? ). The age or the particular historical circumstances usually only play a role in coins from antiquity. Important in determining the value of a coin is the maintenance, for which there are defined classifications, see Grading coins. Even the mint mark or the Münzmeisterzeichen may be of considerable importance for the collector value of a coin. In some cases, the signature of the coin is also of particular importance.
Fakes
Forgeries to the detriment of collectors are circulating for a long time, especially ( but not only) in search of curiosities, which is why very expensive pieces are often traded only with expert opinion. Most mass falsifications of modern coins ( 1800 ) come from China and are due to some features relatively easy to recognize. Fake Silver Coins are usually made of iron and are therefore - in contrast to the originals - magnetic. Furthermore, they will indeed " worn out " from, but lack the typical silver coins that were actually in use of small, deep scratches in the planar sites of the embossed image. Not least, the edge is often striking: On one side dull and sharp on the other, the edge lettering is not centered slipped on the edge but or the embossed image is not exactly centered. In addition, most counterfeit coins minimal too small (diameter) and / or too easy.
Well-known German forgeries of Goldmark coins are the " Schmidt -Haussmann fakes " from the period around 1960.
Cleaning
Many collectors are the cleaning of coins critically. No problems is usually a cleaning in soapy water to remove dirt, especially in coins that were in circulation long or stored improperly. In addition, immersion baths for various metals are commercially available that act anti-oxidizing and thus change the character of the coin. Gold coins do not require such cleaning as gold because of its chemical properties anyway hardly reacts with other substances from the environment. Also on pure nickel coins usually forms no visible oxide layer. However, silver oxidized with time and is gray to black, it also loses its luster. When using a silver dip bath, the oxide layer is removed and the coin is returned to its bright luster. Silver dips are most likely accepted by collectors and are especially used in modern 20th and 21st century coins. On the other hand, many collectors appreciate a uniform skin as a sign of the historical authenticity of a silver coin, which is why older silver coins should not be deoxidized.
Baths for copper are problematic because coins are not made of pure copper, but from a variety of different alloys with the addition of various high levels of zinc, tin, aluminum, or nickel alloy and each responds differently to the bathroom. In addition, often results in a perceived as unnatural shine, which is referred to as " cats shine " and differs significantly from the original embossing shine. In addition, coins can discolor or whiten only in some places, however, remain in other dark. In no case can the numismatic value of a coin improve by a chemical cleaning. Is a coin, however, marred by a failed cleaning attempt, this does not diminish their value significantly.
For a mechanical cleaning must be taken very carefully because any resulting scratches affect of reducing the value. Examples thereof include soft brush and brush or cotton swab and the like, which leaves no scratches.
Storage
To protect coins from environmental influences, there are numerous different storage systems. The most common among these are coin albums and coin boxes for collections and for individual pieces of coin capsules and coin holders.
In a coin album clear plastic sheets are stapled, in which several coins can be placed on a page. The various subjects in the films have different sizes to accommodate coins of each diameter perfectly. In the album, the coins can then be viewed without touching them individually from the front and rear. A coin box is a box made of hard plastic, which is usually lined with velvet or felt and divided into equal-sized, square fields. Can be inserted in any field then a coin. Due to their higher price and its larger footprint a coin is particularly suitable for the storage of valuable coins.
For storage of individual pieces capsules and frames are used. Coin capsules consist of two round plastic trays that are inserted into each other and thus protect the coin between. Frames consist of a piece of cardboard with two rounds, covered with foil cutouts. The coin is inserted, then the carton is folded in the middle and then glued or stapled, so that the frames surrounding the coin on both sides. Now the frame can be labeled, such as with catalog numbers, prices or information about the piece. While capsules can open as often and close frames are intended for single use, as they can not be opened again or be torn here. Capsules are specially used for commemorative coins and coins of Production "proof " while frames are specially used at coin dealers to price out a piece and display information.