How To Start Collecting Rare Coins With Just $50

It doesn’t necessarily take a lot of money to start collecting rare coins, but it does take the right strategy. Starting your collection with $50 requires a combination of knowledge, patience, thriftiness and selectivity.

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Your first step should be to research the market, learn what constitutes rare and valuable coins, how they are graded, where to find them, and what you can expect to pay.

As a beginner with only $50 to spend, you should put your focus on buying affordable coins, which means starting with lower-grade varieties. Because these coins have more wear or imperfections than high-grade coins, they cost less. This makes it easier to build your collection while still adding rare coins valued by collectors.

Another smart move is to start with smaller denominations or rare coins that are largely bypassed by dealers. Doing this will help you gain experience and learn about grading standards while building your collection.

You should also be picky about what you buy. Take the time to scout out the best deals on the largest quantities of coins rather than spending your whole $50 on only one or two coins. You can find some rare coins for a few dollars each, which means your $50 could land you a decent collection of 15 to 20 coins to start out.

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Attend coin shows.
Join a local coin club to network, make connections and learn more about the hobby.
Check out pawn shops, flea markets and garage sales.
Buy coin rolls from banks. You might come across some old or rare varieties just buying a $2 roll of nickels or 50-cent roll of pennies.
Use free apps and resources to learn more about the hobby and where to search for affordable coins.
Check out coin and numismatic websites such as Coin Value Checker, PCGS CoinFacts, NGC Coin Explorer, Robpaulsenlive and USA Coin Book.