Andrew F. writes: I am 11 years old and I want to collect coins from around the world. What is the best way to do this? Should I write to foreign governments and send a dollar and a request and self addressed envelope for them to return the coins in? Please let me know what you think. Thank you.
Visit a coin or hobby shop or a local coin show (check the Internet or see your newspaper’s classified). Dealers often place miscellaneous world coins of low value in a bargain box or sell world coins by the pound.
I’ve been lucky going through these bargain boxes. I sometimes find some real treasures worth way beyond the few cents a coin that I’m charged. See if you can “cherry pick” a few yourself.
You can get new issues of coins (mint sets and proof sets) by visiting the Web sites of various Mints. See the Links page