help building my collection

Hello everybody!

I found an old box full of coins my dad used to bring me from his voyages.

I'd like to build my collection but I know absolutely nothing of numismatics,
so I'd appreciate some help starting!

For example, I own this one https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces4615.html
How do I know if it's 3.775.000 or 225,000?
What are VG F VF XF UNC grades?

Thanks in advance.

marco

Hello,

Welcome to Numista. The grades are relative to the coins condition. Here is a quick guide to grading coins. https://en.numista.com/numisdoc/coin-grades-58.html. To find out which mintage your coin is whether or not your coin is proof. If it looks like it has been circulated in the higher mintage. Proof coins are a higher quality coins. I can't really explain it well. Maybe someone else can explain better. You can also try using Google and search proof coins.

Regards

Welcome to the world of world coin collectors!

There has been a topic on how to identify proof coins on the forum before: https://en.numista.com/forum/topic6717.html

As for coin grades, there is a Numisdoc with explanation and illustrations: https://en.numista.com/numisdoc/coin-grades-58.html

And how to start building a collection; well, we had a discussion on that on the forum as well:
https://en.numista.com/forum/topic18542.html and
https://en.numista.com/forum/topic5894.html

When it comes to starting a collection, I would advise you to catalogue what you have, first. Then look if something special fascinates you, or if you have seen other coins that you would like to have while you were cataloguing.
I myself am a strong advocate of focusing on a region, period, theme, or whatever because there are too many world coins to collect them all. But other people think otherwise and collect what they can get. There is no right or wrong way, as long as you do what you like!

Success!

Hi Marco,
I too have a very big collection for many years which I did not look at for long time.
Lately I decided to dilute it by concentrating on ANIMALS and SHIPS.
This rehabilitated my interest in my collection, and by the way suddenly I find some interesting coins in my collection that I was not aware that I have.
So I have many coins to offer to others in order to get those I am interested (not yet on Numista).
Some other topics that you may consider: children on coins, flowers, landscapes or leaders.
Have fun :-)