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How to Buy Coins

When it comes to buying coins, buy the best example you can find. And if you get serious about coin collecting, you can call yourself a numismatist--it'll look great on your re'sume'!

Instructions

- 1
  Look for luster--the shine on a new coin. If you're collecting old coins, however, luster is less of a concern.
- 2
  Get a lucky strike. The strike is the impression on the coin. Look for a design that's perfectly centered on the coin.
- 3
  Examine a coin for sharp details. One that has been in circulation for years will show a wearing down of high points on the design.
- 4
  Avoid coins with small scratches on their surface: hairlines decrease its value. Cleaning the coin can also create hairlines, so learn the correct cleaning method from an expert.
- 5
  Check your collection for the famed Buffalo nickel, with the profile of an American Indian chief on one side. Believe it or not, they are not hard to find. A complete date and mintmark set (one of each nickel minted between 1913 to 1938) goes for between $500 and $600. In uncirculated condition, that coin set would fetch closer to $27,000.

Coin Collecting