But have you noticed with regards to the history of the coin you own in your hands?  Have you ever asked yourself how that coin was developed?  Why it was produced?  Or think about the lifestyle of people who used that coin in their daily lives?

This is exactly what makes coin collecting much interesting – as a numismatist!

Numismatic is much more than just coin collecting.  It’s the study of coins.  It’s where you take the coin in your palm, and you conduct some research to find out more that certain coin.

For example, numismatists would look at a George Washington quarter and say, “Why does this coin say ‘In God We Trust’?”

Well, the words In God We Trust initially appeared on an 1864 two-cent coin.  It became popular, and it also started to appear on other coins until in 1955 Congress mandated that ALL coins and paper currency have the words In God We Trust.  Now you understand.

Numismatists would examine a dime, quarter, half-dollar or dollar and think about why the side of the coin is grooved…?  Well, contrary to popular belief those grooved edges have a reason.

Back several years ago coins were minted in precious metals.  Metals for example silver and gold.  The grooved sides kept people truthful.  To start with, it helped to detour counterfeit.  Second, it kept people from shaving a small amount of the valuable metal off throughout the edges to have for themselves.

Today it doesn’t certainly make a difference regarding the precious metal shavings, but it’s still done because of traditions and also for the blind.  As an illustration, a dime and penny are approximately the same size.  The grooved edge across the dime can be immediately known.

Okay, final example here.  Numismatists might examine a coin and wonder The reason why that it was made.  One such coin could be the Lincoln cent.  Why was the cent newly designed along with a dead United States president placed on the obverse side?

In 1909 the Lincoln cent was released to remember the 100th birthday of Abraham Lincoln.  The George Washington quarter was developed for the same reason…  It was made in 1932 to remember the 200th birthday of George Washington, our first president.

The dime, the nickel, the half dollar…  All of these coins were created to honor or recognize our great leaders for various reasons.  Realizing that reason in fact changes your whole viewpoint on the coin, and it enables you to view it in another way to the next time you trade it in for a Coca-Cola.

Coin collecting is undoubtedly an amazing passion, and many people today start compiling these little works of art because of their beauty.  But if you wish to take your collecting to a new level.  Become involved with it in the “why” of coin collecting…  Step on to the numismatic world.

The above examples I presented are just a few coins in the United States time of minting.  The United States Mint has only been developing coins since 1793, but coinage has been available since around 700 B.C.  We’re young in regards to coin minting.

Why do I speak about this?  Well, merely to make you aware that there is no absence in terms of learning more about the hobby all of us hold dear to our own hearts – numismatics

What Is Numismatists is a post from: WiredWriter