Don't Panic. It is a very simple hobby to begin. And will be a lifelong adventure as you grow your coin collection over the years. The thrill of a great find is absolutely terrific.

First off; go and visit the library. Pick up some of the standard reference books on coins. Some examples are:

A Guide Book of United States Coins 2006: The Official Red Book by R. S. Yeoman, Kenneth Bressett

The New York Times Guide to Coin Collecting : Do's, Don'ts, Facts, Myths, and a Wealth of History by Scott Travers (Foreword), Ed Reiter

The Official Blackbook Price Guide to U.S. Coins 2005, 43rd Edition (Official Blackbook Price Guide to United States Coins) by Thomas E. Jr Hudgeons

Read them thoroughly along with as many other coin collecting books you can find. You will find a wealth of knowledge and ideas. There is no need to guess with so much information available.

Next search for and join some clubs and organizations. Stop by a local coin dealer to get the best recommendations. Become a member and buy some magazines to repay them for the help. Just talking to the people at a coin shop can really assist the beginner.

Now that you have done some homework, it is time to choose what you want to collect. You can have general collection but you will get much better results if you specialize in one area at a time.

Follow what interests you. Learn everything you can about your specialty. You can collect coins from a country or time period, or themes, like animals, airplanes or states. Silver dollars are popular as well as $100 gold coins, tokens, bi-metallic coins. You can collect coins with flowers on them or coins with a specific person. The possibilities are endless. Collect gold rush coins or commeratives like the olympics.

You can also collect coins for specific years like the birth of a child or a graduation year.

Study at your own pace and you will have more and more fun as your knowledge of coins grows. Once you learn what to look for, how to spot quality coins at bargain prices, how to speak coin, and bargaining for coins it is a great hobby for all. Getting a big "find" is one of the thrills that keep coin collecting interesting.

Get out there do a little research and have fun as you build a coin collection that others will admire.

For more info on this hobby be sure and check out our directory of great websites to assist the beginner. http://www.coinsandcollecting.com has quite a few resources for the new coin collector plus a directory of hand picked websites to find expert level tips.