Hobbies Articles

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Tuesday, 1st July 2008 @ 1:17 AM

Each coin will tell a story whether it is of greed, hatred, lust, or love, but only if the collector is willing to spend the time it takes to research the history of their coins. Those collectors who are fortunate enough to own any variety of ancient coin are able to take a trip into history about a world long forgotten, except with these wonderful coins. One type of ancient coin that was supposedly lost or buried was the coins from Chessington, which were made near Gaul, which we know to... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Tuesday, 1st July 2008 @ 1:16 AM

There are several ways a collector can ruin their valuable coin collection without even really thinking about them. If you really care about protecting your collection, then take the special time to learn exactly how to properly handle, clean, store, and protect all your coins. Accidentally exposing your coin collection to the elements can ruin them, which may include storing your collection in extreme temperatures or humidity. Basements and attics are the worst place to store your coin c... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Tuesday, 1st July 2008 @ 1:12 AM

Form your collection of coins by acquiring one piece at a time as needed for your collection with perhaps some being common and others being rare. Rare coins can develop your collection into a very promising and valuable one, while common coins show the appreciation for the coins themselves, but either way your collection will have its own individuality in the end. When beginning a collection the question on the mind of every collector is what should I collect rare coins or common coins. ... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Tuesday, 1st July 2008 @ 1:12 AM

Individuals have been collecting coins for over two thousand years and it is believed that coin collecting is oldest hobby known. Some individuals feel as if coin collecting is a hobby while others view it as their driving force in life. For all of them it is a challenging pastime, especially when looking for that special prize piece for your collection. It is rather easy to begin a coin collection. In fact, you can begin with coins you have in your own home by looking in your wallet, und... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Tuesday, 1st July 2008 @ 1:09 AM

Money began being dated near the end of the 15th century, which was about the time that Columbus was seeking the new worlds. During the reign of Edward I, England was the first to date their coins in 1547. Great Britain and Spain furnished the first money that was ever used in America. However, the amounts were scarce and this tempted the colony located in Massachusetts to create a tiny mint within their own country. In 1652 they began striking silver pieces known as Pine Tree Money or Oa... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Tuesday, 1st July 2008 @ 1:05 AM

Individuals have always been extremely fascinated in any items that may propose an increase in value and many collectors have found that collecting coins has become an intense hobby. There is no set order of how a collector should collect coins for their collection although the availability of these beautiful coins is unlimited. Collecting coins have been gaining a tremendous amount of ground for centuries while coins are made of the most precious metals in the world, which include gold, ... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Tuesday, 1st July 2008 @ 1:00 AM

One other problem that could possibly occur that mint marks protects against is a dishonest mint officially debasing the coin by putting less precious metal within the coin than specified. The Greeks developed the first mint marks, which were called "Magistrate Marks" and would name the Magistrate who was in charge of producing that particular coin. In many civilizations debasing a coin is a very serious offense and punishable by death. An example of this practice occurred in 164... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Tuesday, 1st July 2008 @ 12:54 AM

Dealers tend to purchase their stock by grading and evaluating their coins offered to them, then naming the price in which they will pay. Some dealers focus the majority of their business on running advertisements in leading coin periodicals by issuing printed catalogs and price lists. The problem with this is that the collector has no idea exactly what they are getting in return. It is much more suitable for the collector to purchase their coins in person so they know exactly what they a... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Tuesday, 1st July 2008 @ 12:46 AM

Gothic is often recognized as the earliest official furniture style, beginning in the 17th Century. Most gothic pieces were constructed of oak and featured simple, yet heavy, designs. It was directly inspired by the architecture at the time, rarely containing curved lines and focusing more on right angles. Some of the most admired gothic pieces originated in France and became known for their foliage detailing, such as vines. For the duration of the century, baroque and rococo prevailed, among ot... more...

Hobbies | By Jeffrey Fang @ Monday, 30th June 2008 @ 11:53 PM

There are many different reasons to love blank skateboards and blank decks. These reasons vary depending on who you are and what you hope to accomplish with blank versions of these objects. Ultimately however, most people tend to find blanks advantageous to the other options and there are a few important reasons as to why this is so. Price The first reason for this is price. Money is usually important when these types of decisions are made and ultimately when you purchase something... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Monday, 30th June 2008 @ 11:49 PM

There are a variety of reasons why anyone may choose to begin collecting coins as hobby. Whatever the reason collecting coins is only becoming one of the world most popular hobbies. Numismatists, who are people who study coins, simply collect coins because they enjoy having a hobby that is easy and fun to do. The best way to begin collecting is to learn as much as you possibly can about this amazing hobby through several books and websites. Several of these valuable resources will give yo... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Monday, 30th June 2008 @ 11:47 PM

Prior to becoming collectors, the two sides of a coin were simply known as "heads or tails," but since becoming engulfed by the thrill of this new experience it is time to learn the proper terms when describing your coins. This is the special language of a numismatist who is people who study and collects coins. Other collectors will understand what you mean when describing a particular coin and show you a lot more respect in return. The "head" or front of a coin is the co... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Monday, 30th June 2008 @ 11:41 PM

Cleaning your coins then taking every precaution to see that they are properly handled and stored are vital roles in continuing to have a successful coin collection. The cleaning of your coins is not recommended due to cleaning can reduces the value of your coin collection. Older coins tend to show deep coloration from age which are much more desirable to collectors than coins that have been stripped by improper cleaning. There are times when you may feel there is a need to clean your co... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Monday, 30th June 2008 @ 11:28 PM

Collecting coins is a wonderful hobby, but you must build networks between yourself, other collectors, and dealers. Your relationship with your dealers will enable you to trade for valuable coins that may be missing from your collections or sets, which is one great reason why you need to select a dealer and build and relationship with them. The question is how do you determine which dealer would be the best choice for you and your individual needs as a collector. The dealer you choose sho... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Monday, 30th June 2008 @ 11:28 PM

It is important how you store your collection, because sharp changes in moisture or temperature are natural in attics and basements and they promote tarnish and spots that can devalue your collections. You should always keep your collection safe, whether they are stored in a safety deposit box at your local bank or at home in a private safe or safety box. It is of vital importance if you are leaving your collection at home that you check with your home owners insurance to be sure that it ... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Monday, 30th June 2008 @ 11:25 PM

Your skin is covered with oils and acids that can be detrimental to your coins. When handling your coins with your bare hands can leave them with covered with oils and acids that comes off of your skin. This acid can eventually eat into the surface of the metal and damage your valuable coins. If you must handle your collection with your bare hands, then be sure to wash and rinse your hands thoroughly and dry them on a clean towel before you begin handling the coins. It is always a good i... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Monday, 30th June 2008 @ 11:24 PM

Ensure the safety and protection of your collection by knowing the products their holders are made from are safe and that they allow you to easily view them while prevent any movement that may cause your coins to be scratched. While storing your collection always keep them away from direct sunlight and any heating or cooling vents. Keeping your collection placed safely within a safety deposit box or safe will also help reduce the risk of any moisture damage that may occur to your collecti... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Monday, 30th June 2008 @ 11:15 PM

The United States government first issued the American Platinum Eagle Coins in 1997, which was more than a decade after initial production of the Gold and Silver American Eagles. These unique coins quickly became the number one platinum bullion coin in the world and the designs featured are entirely new. Uncirculated American Platinum Eagle coins are all struck at the United States West Point Mint in New York. Although normally none of the uncirculated pieces carry mintmarks there was an ... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Monday, 30th June 2008 @ 11:10 PM

Collecting coins is an enjoyment that you can share with your family, while at the same time becoming confident and developing a collection to pass down from generation to generation. One of the first steps in collecting coins is to educate yourself so you are able to determine what coins you need to search for, whether a certain coin is worth owning, if it offers a potential investment, and if it is desirable due to its date or variety. Owning fine and expensive coins is great when acqui... more...

Hobbies | By Victor Epand @ Monday, 30th June 2008 @ 11:10 PM

There are a variety of reasons why individuals start collecting coins, but the most common seems to be that they tell unique stories. By understanding the past of the coin you will have a better understanding of each coin you collect. Appreciating the value of coins is another reason why collectors desire these rare coins, such as silver, gold, and platinum coins, but other are just as valuable because they are rare. One of the oldest hobbies, which was once practiced only by kings and th... more...