About Andy
Welcome to IEnjoyMyCoins.com where I share all the things I've learned over the 20 years I have been collecting coins. I hope that my sharing helps you enjoy your coins to the fullest. Everyone that collects coins has their own unique way of building and enjoying their collection and my goal is to give you new and different ideas on how to turn the box of coins in the drawer into an accessible part of your life.
From a Cigar Box of WWII Coins to My Passion
My collection began when my grandfather gave me a cigar box of British coins he had collected during his time on the European Front in WWII along with some United States coins that he had kept in the 50 years since he returned home. The collection didn't carry a huge monetary value, but the fact that I had this box of history that he carried with him for so long really caught my interest. Now, at that point, I had no idea how to collect coins - I just knew I liked them.
Over the next 5 or 10 years, I didn't have much money to invest in the hobby so I spent most of my time in coin shops and antique stores looking through their inventory, asking a TON of questions, and being genuinely interested in what the very knowledgeable coin folks had to say. I was admittedly lucky to have multiple coin dealers in my area that were interested in talking to young folks that didn't have much money to spend. Their engagement is what really expanded my knowledge of the hobby and cemented my desire to build a collection.
I realized that one of the hardest things to decide is how to make my collection accessible and usable. The coins that I have readily accessible bring me the most enjoyment and those that are disorganized in a box bring me far less joy. I have spent the last 3 or 4 years organizing, displaying, and storing my collection to be as accessible and pleasing as possible. The result has become my passion and a frequent topic of conversation with all those willing to listen!
How I Can Help You
As I think back to my early days collecting coins, I remember just how daunting a task it seemed to enter the coin collecting community. Some lessons I learned and some of the best pieces of advice that I've heard should be passed on to anyone that is interested in the hobby.
I will tell you about the different ways people collect coins (because everyone has their own style), explain what different collections can focus on, and show you ways that I have used to make the best use of my collection. Many of these elements will help you as you either start or expand your coin collection.
My Goal - Give You the Tools You Need to Enjoy Collecting Coins
The purpose of ienjoymycoins.com is right in the name - I want you to be able to say "I Enjoy My Coins". I will do this by showing you different ways that I and other collectors engage with their collection and the coin collecting community to get the most out of this hobby. I'll also give you some recommendations about how to engage with coin dealers at coin shops, coin shows or other venues and make it easier to enter those (sometimes intimidating) areas.
With so many ways of collecting, I hope to show you a variety of different techniques in anticipation that at least one will be appealing. Once you find a starting point, you will feel much more free to expand in that direction. I would also like to continue giving you new ideas as time progresses to get the most enjoyment out of your coin collection.
If you ever need a hand or have any questions, feel free to leave them below and I will be more than happy to help you out.
All the best,
Andy
ienjoymycoins.com