Coin collecting is a stimulating hobby on a number of levels. The thrill of tracking down sough-after coins and negotiating prices for them can provide even the most reserved collector with a wild rush. If you’re thinking about getting into coin collecting or have recently become a coin collector, there are a number of tips you’ll need to take into account. While this may not be an immensely challenging hobby, newer collectors tend to make an assortment of rookie mistakes – some of which ultimately sour hobbyists on coin collecting. Anyone eager to get the most out of coin collecting is urged to heed the following advice.

1. Find a Reliable Dealer

If you don’t have copious amounts of time to devote to hunting down coins, it’s in your best interest to find a consistently reliable coin dealer like GovMint.com. Dealers with massive inventories can save you the trouble of scouring the Internet to find the coins you wish to purchase. Being able to go to one place for all your coins is sure to save you a considerable amount of time, money and hassle.

2. Handle with Care

If rare, highly valuable coins are what you’re interested in collecting, it’s imperative that you handle them with the utmost care. Human skin contains dirt and oils that can prove harmful to older coins, so you’ll need to exercise caution when picking them up. Fortunately, this isn’t nearly as daunting as it may sound. For starters, you’ll need to acquire a pair of thin cotton gloves and some nonabrasive cloths. These items ensure that you’ll be able to safely handle your coins and place them on contaminant-free surfaces.

3. Avoid Cleaning

If you’re new to collecting, hearing that you should avoid cleaning your coins is liable to come as something of a shock. However, most hardcore collectors strongly advise against cleaning them for several reasons. First off, commercial cleaning products stand to diminish the natural luster of the various metals of which coins are composed, effectively making them less valuable to prospective buyers. Most hobbyists want coins to be as close to their original condition as possible – and cleaning only serves to make them less authentic in the eyes of discerning collectors.

Coin collecting is a hobby that’s been around for centuries and shows no signs of letting up. Since it fills hobbyists with a sense of accomplishment and keeps them intellectually stimulated, there’s little wonder as to why it’s remained so popular. Collectors, who are still learning the ropes should take care to find reliable dealers, handle rare coins with care and avoid cleaning their coins at all costs.