Mistakes I Wish Someone Warned Me About
Hey friend — pull up a chair.
If you’re jumping into coin collecting (or thinking about it), you’re already ahead of where I was. When I first started, I didn’t know what I was doing. I made mistakes, wasted money, trusted the wrong sellers, and bought coins I definitely didn’t need.
So today, I’m giving you the cheat sheet I wish someone had handed me on day one.
Let’s save you time, money, and headaches.
1. Buying Coins Before You Know What You Like
This is the classic beginner mistake — and it’s so easy to fall into.
You browse eBay, see something shiny, read “RARE!” in the title, and boom… you’re clicking Buy Now.
Here’s the truth:
You don’t need every coin.
You don’t even need most coins.
You just need to figure out what you actually enjoy collecting.
Do you like silver?
Old pennies?
Error coins?
Foreign coins?
Birth-year sets?
Pick one lane to start with. That alone makes the hobby 10× more fun (and way cheaper).
Coin-Collecting-Tools
2. Thinking Every Old Coin Is Valuable
This one hurts, but here we go.
Just because a coin is old… doesn’t mean it’s worth anything special.
Some coins from the 1800s are worth a few dollars.
Some coins from the 1960s are worth more than coins from the 1940s.
Value depends on:
Metal content
Mint mark
Grade (condition)
Rarity
Demand
Old is cool — but rare is valuable. Big difference.
3. Not Checking for Silver (People Miss This All the Time)
There’s a little cheat code most beginners miss.
Look for 1964 and earlier on:
Dimes
Quarters
Half dollars
Those are 90% silver.
They sound different.
They feel different.
They’re worth different.
And people still accidentally spend them in vending machines. Seriously.
4. Buying From the Wrong Sellers
Nothing ruins the fun faster than getting scammed.
Here’s what to avoid:
Sellers with low feedback
Listings with blurry photos
Coins described as “RARE” (all caps… big red flag)
Sellers who don’t accept returns
Sketchy “estate finds”
And here’s what to look for instead:
Clear photos
Detailed descriptions
100% feedback or close
Reasonable pricing
Return policy
Good sellers want repeat customers — the bad ones want a quick hit.
5. Not Protecting the Coins You Already Have
This one’s easy to overlook because you’re focused on getting coins… not storing them.
But coins can get ruined quicker than you think.
Keep them away from:
Humidity
PVC plastic
Touching bare hands
Extreme heat
Random junk drawers (guilty…)
Get some simple:
Coin flips
Pages
A small binder or box
That’s it. Doesn’t have to be fancy — just safe.
Bonus: The Mistake Almost Everyone Makes
Here’s the big one:
Thinking you need to be an expert.
Trust me — you don’t.
Coin collecting is supposed to be simple, fun, and relaxing.
You’re allowed to learn as you go.
You’re allowed to make mistakes.
You’re allowed to collect whatever you want.
If you’re enjoying it… you’re doing it right.
Final Thoughts
If you can dodge these five mistakes, you’re already ahead of 99% of beginners.
I’ll walk with you step by step inside this blog — no pressure, no jargon, no gatekeeping.
See you in the next article.
— August Keene
Numisteria Blog
