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How to Start Collecting State Coins, Topical Stamps and Porcelain Dolls

Collecting is the hobby where one acquires certain items of interest. When collecting, it's important not only to get quality items that are in good condition but also to properly store and display them in order to keep them in good condition. The hobby of collecting is incredibly vast, ranging from collecting Japanese antiques to Disney memorabilia to autographed pictures of celebrities.

While some collections can be completed, others are an endless source of collecting. For example, if you are collecting baseball cards for a certain team in a certain year, eventually you will get all of them and complete your collection. Conversely, if you are collecting vintage Coca-Cola items, you can never get them all.

Collecting can be a time-consuming, expensive hobby, depending on what you choose to collect. Although some may run out of room to store the stuff they collect (i.e. those who collect classic cars), others may not have enough money to complete their collections (i.e. those collecting artifacts from Louis XIV's reign). Of all the things that people can and do collect, some of the most popular items include the state coin series, topical stamps and porcelain dolls.

State Coin Collections
As soon as the U.S. Mint started producing the new state quarters, a new collecting phenomenon was born. Almost anyone can find these quarters easily, as they are currently in circulation. The state coin collection has run from 1999 to 2008 with five coins being distributed each year, ten weeks apart. Each state coin has a different state design on back and is minted almost evenly in both Philadelphia and Denver.

In April 2006, US Mint market research showed there were 140 million people collecting the state coins. Perhaps one reason that this segment of collecting because so popular so quickly is that fact that it's a fun, easy hobby that nearly anyone can get into for very little cost.

Each state coin provides a little history lesson as it is released: not only is each released in sequential order of statehood, but each also displays an illustration of a unique historical or cultural feature of that state. For example, while the Georgia quarter features a peach, the Ohio quarter has an astronaut on it.

When storing your state quarter collection, you can choose from a variety of options, including:

• envelopes
• folders
• framed mounts
• special bags
• specialty maps with holes for the quarters.

Topical Collecting
Topical or thematic collecting refers to the area of collecting based on gathering everything related to a particular topic or theme. Of this type of collecting, stamp collecting is perhaps the most popular. Topical stamp collections can be based on collecting stamps with birds or other animals, with famous people or places or those with historical themes.

Some of these topical collections are almost impossible to complete because of the many types of topical stamps available for the collection. The cost of topical collecting varies, depending on the topic and year of the stamp you want in your collection. For example, while collecting stamps that are currently in circulation is affordable, collecting those from years past can be significantly more expensive.

You can find out more information about topical collecting from:

• collecting magazines 
• collecting trade shows
• contacting the American Topical Association 
• internet and collecting websites
• libraries
• stamp catalogs.

Whether you are just starting out or are an experienced stamp collector, you can also visit traveling exhibitions to learn more about news in topical stamp collecting.

Porcelain Doll Collections
One of the most common misconceptions about porcelain doll collecting is that they are based on antique dolls. While dolls from past eras can be part of porcelain doll collections, they aren't necessarily the main feature. Newer dolls are just as prevalent and popular as those from past eras. It all depends on your preference.

Prices vary according to the type of doll, its condition and its age. If you are looking to establish the value of your collection or verify the price of a doll you are looking to buy, consult an industry publication or professional doll dealer.

You can purchase your porcelain doll from:

• doll manufactures
• industry magazines
• internet auctions
• other doll collectors
• trade shows
• traveling exhibitions.

Once you start building your collection, you'll have a number of options as to how you can store it. While the method you choose ultimately depends on the amount of space you have, some of the more common ways people store their porcelain doll collections revolve around displaying them in cases or armoires. With the proper care, your collection will look great and rise in value over time.

It truly is up to you what you decide to collect. Depending on your budget, available space and personal interests, you can collect a variety of things. Today, there are many resources available to help you get your collection going. Start your collection today!