Question about Euros

[Prosit]

Now if that image was a photographers 50% grey (gray) card, we might generate some discussion about it   
and discover it isn't so uninteresting after all.  Bland, it still would be.

Dale

The picture below is bland and uninteresting,  Anything else - then go for it!

[Figleaf]

First time I see an American interested in collecting euro coins. Great! Here are some observations. They are based on my experience and not physical laws.

- Grading. Euro collectors are at least as keen on super high grades as Americans, but they don't use the 70-point system or "grading services". They seldom collect as an "investment"; they're just really picky. They're not interested in patina.
- Distribution. Unlike the situation in the US, sets will sometimes contain coins not issued for circulations. That has made them more popular than single coins. In extreme situations, packaging has become more important than the coins, e.g. there are sets with exactly the same coins, but in a different packaging.
- Rolls are not too important for the euro collector, except to find an ultra-high grade or trade with friends in other EU countries. Rolls are easily broken up, sets are not.
- Collecting area: it is highly unusual to collect by denomination/type like in the US. Most collect by date/status. Status can be circulation, legal tender or "everything I can afford". Because of extremely high priced, impractically heavy, silly pseudo issues, in practice nobody can collect everything
- Die varieties and errors are popular, though not catalogued to the extent they are in the US.
- Beware of "homework" - fabricated "errors" - and of "patterns" - fantasy issues. Both of these have no numismatic or market value.

That said, there is no law in the world that tells you how/what to collect. I'd suggest that you set up a want list asap and publish it here. It would be perfect to find a trading partner interested in recent US commemoratives. Have fun.

Peter

[RHM22]

Thanks, Peter! I'll try that. So far, I've gotten Euros from people in Germany and Slovenia.

[idiotghost]

Ok, I have an extremely Amateurish and Naive question (stupid to an extent): How do we identify which Euro coin is from which country?

I have many Euro/Euro cents but I'm not able to distinguish, which coin is from where as the country name is not mentioned, only the back part has some country specific monument or image.

Regards
Parth

[Figleaf]

For the common sides and common issues click here. For the national sides and pseudo coins, scroll all the way down to the table in blue lettering at the very bottom of the page and find:

Coins by country |

adopted |

followed by
EU: Austria · Belgium · Cyprus · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Ireland · Italy · Luxembourg · Malta · Netherlands · Portugal · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain  – Non-EU: Monaco · San Marino · Vatican

The country names are links to pages where the illustrations and other issues can be found. Greece is a bit behind, but the others are pretty up to date. These pages also have much other information on the coins. You will even find information on the planned issues of the Baltic countries, though they have not yet introduced the euro.

Also, there are no stupid questions. There are only questions that are not being asked.

Peter

[idiotghost]

For the common sides and common issues click here. For the national sides and pseudo coins, scroll all the way down to the table in blue lettering at the very bottom of the page and find:

Coins by country |

adopted |

followed by
EU: Austria · Belgium · Cyprus · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Ireland · Italy · Luxembourg · Malta · Netherlands · Portugal · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain  – Non-EU: Monaco · San Marino · Vatican

The country names are links to pages where the illustrations and other issues can be found. Greece is a bit behind, but the others are pretty up to date. These pages also have much other information on the coins. You will even find information on the planned issues of the Baltic countries, though they have not yet introduced the euro.

Also, there are no stupid questions. There are only questions that are not being asked.

Peter

Thanks Peter for the detailed description. It will server the purpose of edcuating people like me.

Regards
Parth