Monday, November 5, 2012

Learning About Numismatists

By Marcus Lewis


So you're a coin collector, right? Not a bad hobby collecting small art works of art from around the world of time eras long gone past. Including a few gems here in the now and present.

But have you ever wondered with regards to the history of the coin you possess with you? Have you ever wondered how that coin was made? Why it was created? Or why don't you consider the way of life of people that used that coin in their lives?

This is exactly what makes collecting coins so much enjoyable - as a numismatist! Numismatic is a lot more than just collecting coins. It's study regarding coins. It's where you take the coin in your hand, and also you conduct some investigation for more information with that specific coin.

For instance, numismatists would take a look at a George Washington quarter and say, "Why does this coin say 'In God We Trust'?"

Certainly, the words In God We Trust initially appeared on an 1864 two-cent coin. It became popular, and it also started to show up on some other coins until in 1955 Congress required that ALL coins and paper currency include the words In God We Trust. Now you understand. Numismatists would check out a dime, quarter, half-dollar or dollar and want to know why the side of the coin is grooved...? Well, as strange as it may seem those grooved sides really have a reason.

Back long ago coins were minted in precious metals.

Metals which includes silver and gold. The grooved edges kept people truthful. To start with, it helped to detour counterfeit. Next, it kept people from shaving a tiny bit of the precious metal off around the sides to have for themselves.

Today it doesn't really make a difference regarding the precious metal shavings, but it's still done because of tradition and for the blind. As an illustration, a dime and penny are approximately the same size. The grooved rim throughout the dime may be right away recognized.

Okay, last illustration here. Numismatists may check out a coin and consider Why it was made. One such coin is the Lincoln cent. Why was the cent newly designed plus a dead United States president placed on the obverse part?

In 1909 the Lincoln cent was produced to commemorate the 100th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. The George Washington quarter was made for similar reason... It was issued in 1932 to remember the 200th birthday of George Washington, our first president.

The dime, the nickel, the half dollar... All of these coins were created to remember or recognize one of our great leaders for different factors.

Realizing that reason in fact changes your whole viewpoint on the coin, and it enables you to consider it in a different way the next time you trade it in for a Coca-Cola.

Collecting coins is undoubtedly an wonderful hobby, and plenty of individuals begin gathering up these little pieces of art because of the beauty. But if you need to take your collecting to a different level. Become involved with it in the "why" of coin collecting... Step on to the numismatic world.

The aforementioned examples I offered are just a few coins in the United States time of minting. The United States Mint has only been creating coins since 1793, but coinage has been around since around 700 B.C. We're young in terms of coin minting.

How come I mention this? Well, only to make you aware that there's no absence in relation to being familiar with the hobby all of us hold dear to our hearts - numismatics




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