Collecting coins from other countries has gotten complicated with all the information flying around online. As someone who started picking up foreign coins at flea markets back in college, I learned everything there is to know about building a solid international collection. Today, I will share it all with you.
Here are my five best tips for anyone just getting into world coin collecting:
1. **Set a realistic budget first.** You don’t need hundreds of dollars to start. I spent maybe $15 on my first handful of coins — a few Canadian loonies, some British pence, and a beat-up French franc. Plenty of interesting world coins cost a dollar or less. Decide what you’re comfortable spending each month and stick with it.
2. **Do your homework on each coin.** Every coin has a backstory, and honestly that’s half the fun. The British penny, for example, has been minted in some form for over a thousand years. That’s wild when you think about it. Grab a reference book or spend time on reputable numismatic sites before you buy anything pricey.
3. **Find other collectors to talk to.** I joined a local coin club about six months into collecting and it completely changed how I approached the hobby. Other collectors turned me on to coins I never would have found myself — like the colorful South African Rand designs and the country-specific sides of Euro coins. Online forums work too, but there’s something about passing a coin around a table and hearing someone’s story about where they got it.
4. **Store your coins the right way from day one.** Oils from your fingers can actually damage coin surfaces over time. I learned this the hard way with a nice Mexican silver piece. Use cotton gloves when handling anything valuable, and keep coins in proper albums or individual holders. Probably should have led with this section, honestly.
5. **Take your time building the collection.** Nobody puts together a great collection overnight. Start with common, affordable coins — Japanese yen, Canadian loonies, newer Euro coins — and gradually work toward rarer pieces like vintage Mexican silver or older Commonwealth coins. Patience pays off in this hobby more than almost any other.
That’s what makes international coin collecting endearing to us numismatists — each coin is a tiny window into another country’s history and culture. My collection now spans about 40 countries, and I’ve got a story behind almost every piece. You’ll get there too if you stick with it.
Recommended Collecting Supplies
Coin Collection Book Holder Album – $9.99
312 pockets for coins of all sizes.
20x Magnifier Jewelry Loupe – $13.99
Essential tool for examining coins and stamps.
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