"I'm goin' for high coin baby,
Or I ain't goin' nowhere at all,
I'm goin' for high coin baby,
To keep me high and in and up and down and all" -- Van Dyke Parks

A recent writing assignment made me think back to my (much) younger days. When I was younger I earned Coin Collecting merit badge while in the Boy Scouts. My dad was and still is a coin collector. In fact, to this day I still collect any silver coins I find just so I can send them to my dad. Unfortunately, these days the only other coin collecting I do is saving quarters to use at the laundromat. (In fact, I am overdue to write a piece about laundromats. But I digress. . .)

If the term “numismatist” applies to you then you will be interested in www.icoincollect.com. This site is about numismatics or the study of coins. Included here are articles on buying gold, auctions and current gold and silver prices.

One article concerns the value of old coins. It begins with advice for novices.

The writer advises people to research, as not all old coins are more than face value. Collectors should consider such factors as popularity, rarity and historical importance.

The author also notes that collectors can use both guides and The Professional Coin Grading Service to aid them in not only determining the actual value of coins but also in preserving them by putting them into appropriate containers.

Finally, the writer suggests that a beginner should invest in “The Red Book Guide To U. S. Coins” to insure that he or she never pays too much.

If you are a fan of coins then visit the site. It just makes "cents".

(Sorry.)

I look forward to hearing what you have to say about it.

My name is Phoenix and. . .that's the bottom line.