Old things are like old people. They have an attitude which says "I was there-then" or "I know what you guys don't." They are witnesses to the past and survivors of that time.

Coin collectors add to their archives even manuscripts which are hundreds of years old in a language which only the archeologists know, a roll of paper which the British used to print notes, old clocks, metal lock, ancient measurements, paintings, coins of all ages, all types, different sizes and different shapes. One can pick up coins of all countries. Hawkers sell coins on pavements in big cities like Bangalore. To source knowledge on coins and their history, one has to read books on them. So that when you go to buy a coin you will be able to know whether it is genuine or not.

One has to take a lot of care to preserve these things. For example, old scripts are to be laminated, some things are to be polished, some to be kept away from moisture. The older the coin, the more valuable it is. Though some people believe that coins should be cleaned so that coming generations know what is written on them, some others believe that coins should be kept the way they were found, crude and untouched.

Coins, the historians of time

They say that over time hobbies become second nature to the person. If there is a hobby that is pursued the most all over the globe, it is coin collection. Indeed coins are more than pieces of metal used as currency. They have a voice. They tell you about the time they come from. They tell about the rulers, the conditions prevalent then and a lot more. Coins are historians. And for the collector, they are a lifetime's treasure.

What makes coin collection interesting is the history of coins. Numismatics is an important part of coin collection. Over the years, coin collectors learn to study coins. There are different kinds of coins. The oldest ones were made of metals like lead, terracotta, copper, silver, gold and even leather. Coin collectors often choose a theme to work on. Old coins, new coins, period in history, a king's reign, a particular metal are examples of themes. These themes make coin collection easy. The rarer your theme the rarer your collection. Now, get on, start a coin collection. Here's how you do it.....

How to start collecting coins?

Visit auctions of coins.

Go for coin shows.

Get on the Net.

Join numismatics societies.

Before starting, think of a theme to work on. This makes collecting coins easy. Though there are people who don't work on themes.

Always look for rarity, historical significance and aesthetic beauty.

How to preserve coins?

DO NOT clean coins. Cleaned coins lose their value by half.

Keep them in a paper envelope.

Store them in clean conditions

Keep them in a dry environment.

Y Rama Mohan

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