Ask any coin collector and they will tell you each coin carries its own unique story. A coin's design, mint mark, condition and composition can offer a glimpse into history, reflect changes in society, culture and technology and give us a better understanding of the past.
Coin collecting is one of the oldest hobbies, (the first coins dating to 650 B.C.
and found in Lydia, a part of Turkey,) was once practiced only by kings and the wealthy. That's why coin collecting often is called the "king of hobbies" and the "hobby of kings." Coin collecting became increasingly popular in America during the 1930's when US commemorative coins became widely available.
Coins of interest to collectors often include those that circulated for only a brief time, coins with mint errors and especially beautiful or historically significant pieces. At the simplest level, finding a new coin to fill an empty hole in a coin folder is most of the fun and satisfaction for coin collectors! Anyone can get involved easily and inexpensively and as a pastime is interesting, rewarding and timeless. It is a hobby that produces a valuable heirloom for centuries.
The most common type of collector is the hobbyist, casual collector or child, who amasses a collection purely for fun with no real expectation of profit. Another reason for purchasing coins is as an investment. Another type of collector is the inheritor, an accidental collector who acquires from another person as part of an inheritance.
As the hobbyist's enthusiasm grows, they may trade coins in a coin club or buy coins from dealers or mints - collections take on a more specific focus. Some enthusiasts become generalists and accumulate a few examples from a broad variety of historical or geographically significant coins.
The Royal Australian Mint produces coins that celebrate significant events or mark important moments in history. Collector coins take on different shapes, weights and colours, however they are all still redeemable at face value at any Australian bank as they are Australian legal tender.
Every year the Royal Australian Mint releases new and exciting coins with different finishes such as: Proof, Uncirculated (UNC), FRUNC (frosted uncirculated), Antique, Proof‑like, Colour printed/Pad printed and Hyper‑metallic.
Individual collector coins from the mint are as little as $8.00 Uncirculated, $15 Colour/Pad printed, $65 Silver Proof. Sets range from $125 uncirculated and from $220 up for Silver Proof. The Baby and Weddings sets and the colour/pad printed designs are hugely popular.
