This book offers a much-needed overview of numismatics—the hobby, the historical connection, and the investment possibilities of rare coins. This is an up-to-date, comprehensive guide that explains everything a new collector needs to know. You will learn about getting started in the hobby, mint marks, varieties, and what makes a coin valuable. It also contains information on how to care for your collection, grading, where to find valuable coins and how to identify counterfeit and altered coins.