Here are some good coin collecting tips I’ve learned over the years… Along with examples that I blogged about here on this site (in no particular order):
- Join a coin club – they’re perfect for trading/selling coins and just having fun!
- Expert collectors there can also help you grade your coins
- Tell all your friends/family you collect! They’ll find stuff for you!
- Always offer to pay 20% less if you’re buying a coin at a store/dealer
- Ask banks if they have anything “cool” or “old” looking
- Look for silver in foreign coins – no one ever notices/cares about them
- Look for modern foreign currency too – you can still use them as money!
- Separate out your “keepers” and those you’re willing to sell/trade
- Appreciate your coins more by putting them in viewing distance
- You can usually get more by asking for “credit” instead of cash
- Search for items in areas they don’t belong
- If something looks “off,” research it
- Look in jewelry boxes/drawers at yard sales and estate sales!
- Take an odd or non-mainstream coin one to a specialist
- Make a “trading binder” or box to separate out all the coins/currency you’re willing to trade
- Empty jars make great containers for silver and poorer coins – as well as modern foreign ones!
Have any tips of your own? Share them with us in the comments below so we can all learn :)
I have a 1998 D penny that is the size of a nickel and color but I can see traces of copper in the coin. It does seem light in weight. I found you during an internet search.
Very interesting… Normally when coins are enlarged they’re just for show and are fake, but usually in that case they’re REALLY enlarged – not just a little bit larger like a nickel. Is the design of the penny the same size as a normal penny, or is it enlarged to fit the whole area of the “nickel” ? If it’s the same size and has lots of room around it, it’s possible it’s a mint error and was accidentally stamped on a nickel planchet instead of a penny one, but if the design of the penny is larger than normal then it’s probably just some sort of toy money or replica of some sort.
If anyone knows anything about this coin please leave me message and hopefully it will be forwarded to my email address.