Coin Collecting Clubs Abound on the Internet

Are you interested in meeting other coin enthusiasts, sharing information, and learning the ins and outs of this fascinating hobby? Consider joining an online coin collecting club or forum. There are a number of places to start, including these resources below.

Coinclub.com is a website that includes directories, event calendars, books and software for sale, message boards and a reference library. The site does accept advertising, so it’s also a good place to find suppliers, appraisers and brokers. and is open to advertisers. Its directories include: Dealers, physical coin clubs, numismatic news and numismatic links. These links go to auctions, advertisers, and software for sale, pricing information, educational resources and specialty fields such as tokens, medals and elongated coins. There is a link to independent coin grading experts. There is a link to the closing prices of precious metals. There are links to message boards, chat rooms and forums. They have a reading room, a magazine “rack” and a coin reference library. Their link to coin pricing is free; one just needs to register a valid email address. There are also links to purchase materials you will need to safely store your coins.

The American Numismatic Association is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado but can be accessed through their website, www.money.org. It contains a museum, events calendar, and a “Money Market” coin store. According to their site, they are dedicated to “the collection and study of coins, paper money, tokens and medals.” Their site offers a listing of online ANA member dealers, so you can rest assured you are dealing with reputable buyers. They also offer a great resource for younger collectors, the Young Numismatists, designed for collectors 22 years of age and younger.

Membership in the American Numismatic Association is open to the public, and they offer special rates for seniors (over 65) and juniors (under 23). Their “members-only” section of the website offers links to roadshows, discounts, profiles and special dealer directories.

The American Numismatic Society of New York City has available on-line shopping, research library, message boards and a newsletter. Their address is: amnumsoc.org. Like the ANA, this organization also charges a fee for membership, and offers a special discounted rate for students. Membership entitles you to invitations to lectures and events; subscriptions to their magazine; and even discounts to products and services.

Numismatics International does not buy or sell coins but has an extensive research library and has many publications for sale. Its members come from around the world, making this a great resource for people interested in foreign coins. It is based in Dallas, Texas, and is billed as the largest organization of its kind. They focus with only non-US coins, and welcomes private individuals from any country.

The Professional Numismatic Guild is for the serious collector. A non-profit organization, its members include some of the top experts in rare coins and paper money. They offer some very timely advice on how to protect yourself when buying coins, including tips for using EBay and other online sources. These members are full-time professional dealers that must have over $100,000 of verified coins for sale.

For beginners, the American Coin and Stamp Brokerage offers a “Coin Collecting University” at its website, www.acsb.com. This “teach yourself” program will walk you through the dos and don’ts of getting started in this hobby. Topics include tools of the trade, finding collectible coins, getting children started in the hobby, and coin handling advice. Also, general articles about what coins people collect, the best way to start, how to store coins, and what is the best way to clean a coin.