There are many things that people are now able to collect such as baseball cards, 1950’s magazines, silverware, old bottles, old milk cans and pictures, which are all considered to be antiques. It is simple enough to become a collector of antiques and you will eventually find something that you truly love.

Antique collecting is certainly an exciting hobby especially those that find something that they truly love. If you were say a collector of matchboxes ask your family and friends to keep an eye out for new ones to add your collection, you could even offer them a small cash reward for finding ones for adding to your collection. You may even get lucky and be presented with it as a gift.

But you now want to decide on what you are actually going to start your collection on. This is simple, just find something that you love and start your collection. Some people may decide to collect antique silverware picture frames while others may decide to collect something as obscure as Mcdonald freebies. At the end of the day the choice is yours as to what you collect.

However, once you have made the decision on what you are going to collect then the real fun starts. You will soon find yourself always looking where ever you go and constantly your eyes will stray to the windows of the little antique shops that you pass. Certainly, this is a big part of the fun of collecting.

Not only is there personal enjoyment to be had in collecting, but another reason for collecting antiques is the possible potential value of the items you have. Just think if you had kept those small Dinky toys with their boxes that you received when you were a child, you would be amazed at just how much they can reach at an antique auction today.

About the Author: Allison Thompson webmaster of several sites a work at home Mom now living in Spain. For further information on this product please go to http://www.antiqueadventures.info

Work, work, and more work is the global mantra these days. As you get caught up in the rat race for power and pelf stop awhile to think whether too much work is making you a dull boy! If you are constantly jittery or anxious, its time you had some time just for your self. A hobby like coin collecting could become an exciting and a competitive sport and do you a lot of good by diverting attention from mundane tasks. So hoard interesting coins instead of dollars for a change!

A coin collection usually starts from modest beginnings. For example, you may have coins in your wallet from a trip to another country or you may come across old coins while rummaging about in an antique shop. You can base your collection on country, year, period, or subject. If you or a friend or family member travels a great deal globally, you would find it easy to collect coins of different countries. You may also choose a particular foreign country that interests you, say France or India, and collect coins of that country. In contrast, collect your nation’s coins if you want to know more about it!

Collecting by year involves collecting a particular coin every year of its manufacture. For example, if a certain coin was produced first in 1900 you collect from that year to the present. If a certain monarch’s reign interests you, collect coins from that period. Alternatively, you could collect ancient or medieval period Roman, Indian, or Greek coins. Subject collection would include coins on a particular subject, for example, maps, flowers, or ships.

Some coin collectors collect by error! I mean they collect faulty coins. These include clipped coins, off center coins, and coins with over dates. These coins are very rare as automation has reduced the possibility of errors. This makes them even more interesting and desirable. You can also collect by material, say gold or silver.

Apart from picking up interesting coins during international travel, you can get them at local antique shops, flea markets, coin shows, and auctions. Some coin collectors say that rummaging through charity boxes kept at local stores also leads to interesting discoveries. But, don’t forget to inform the shop owner before embarking on such activities.

It’s great to collect coins, but where are you going to store them? Many people keep their coin collection in a box, but keeping coins all together can lead to scratches on their surface. It’s also difficult to locate a particular coin when required. To begin with, you can consider storing coins in separate paper envelopes, label the envelopes and, then, keep them inside a box. You can also opt for small plastic bags to store your coin collection. This way, in contrast to paper envelopes, you will be able to see your coins without touching them directly. However, ensure that the plastic bag is not made of PVC, which could harm the coins inside. When you develop a large collection you can choose a cardboard or plastic coin album. All these storage devices can be purchased from hobby shops, coin shops, or online stores.

Before you start buying expensive coins for your collection invest in a price guide, magnifying glass, and desk lamp. You can also join local coin collection clubs and read up books on this hobby.

About the Author: Tania Penwell is a regular contributor to The Coin Collector- http://thecoincollector.org – a guide to coins and coin collecting.