Coin collecting

Coins may be collected as objects in their own right for a number of reasons.

The scientific study of coins is a branch of numismatics.

Some things that make coins special and therefore collectible are:

• Engraving errors
• Stamping errors
  • Double strike
  • Off metal
  • Off center
  • Clip
• Limited run
• Discontinued
• Foreign or World Coins
• Ancient
• Defunct nation

Collections are often built on coins within one of the above areas. Other collections might consist of a single coin such as the U.S. Morgan silver dollar, with a coin from each mint for every date that Morgan dollars were minted. A type set contains one representative of each coin that was minted in a particular country. A U.S. type set would include 2-cent, 3-cent pieces among the different kinds of 1-cent, 5-cent, etc. pieces. Most people are not aware that the U.S. minted two and three cent pieces; fewer still have ever seen one.