Everyone has a need to save things sometimes, some more than others.  Who hasn't seen a stamp that they liked, or a coin they thought might be valuable.  These things usually accumulate in a drawer or closet, gathering dust until a spring cleaning or rainy day boredom drags them out into the open.

In the world of collecting, one thing determines an item's value: Scarcity.  This trumps even the condition of the item.  You could have a gleaming, shiny, uncirculated fifty cent piece from 1950, but if there are 300,000 of them still around, they are going to be worth fifty cents each.

Coin collecting is one of the most successful forms of collecting, and one of the easiest to get into.  This is because you can sometimes find rare coins in the change you get making purchases.  Did you know that all silver change (dimes, nickels, and quarters), produced prior to 1964 are 90% silver?  This percentage has dropped significantly since.  Therefore, silver change with years before 1964 printed on them are worth significantly more nowadays due to the increasing silver rates. 

For more information on what a coin might be worth, you can check Ebay to see what others are asking for the same type of coin.  Be sure to note the year and a good estimate of the condition.  You will notice a wide variety of price ranges.  Look at the items with actual bids on them for an accurate view of what people are willing to pay. You can price an item at whatever you want, but this doesn't mean people are going to bid on it.

Another great way to acquire coins is to purchase a metal detector.  These can be found between $75 and $150 in many places, and can be a great tool for finding old coins and antiques.  You may picture an old man strolling the beach when I mention "metal detector" but young people are involved in this hobby also.  You'd be surprised what you can find with one of these things.  The best places to metal detect are old houses built in the 1800's.  People drop things all the time, and, over the years, coins and other trinkets get lost and buried.  Do you have a friend or family member with an old house like this?  Buy a metal detector and stop over.  You might be surprised at what you'll find!