Collecting can become a great hobby and passion. Collecting coins has much in common with collecting stamps or other collectibles. Where you start depends on your available money to build your Silver Eagle collection for example.

As a kid I collected British and International stamps. Because I didn’t have a lot to spend I started with “used” stamps. These were less expensive and of course I bought a lot of virtually worthless “bulk” lots of stamps. Over time as I became more discriminating and learned more about stamps I began to specialize in Great Britain stamps and began my collection of mint (unused) and first day covers. First day covers are specially printed and stamped envelopes for collectors which bear the date of first issue of the stamp.

Similarly with gold coins and silver coins. You start where you can and as you learn about the hobby you begin to specialize and save up to buy a more valuable addition to your collection.

So, for the Silver eagle collector you could go to a coin retailer like the one HERE and buy Silver Eagles for less than $28.00

For example the Mint 2010 American Silver Eagle BU features the “Walking Liberty” design of American sculptor Adolph A. Weinman, which famously appeared on U.S. half-dollar issued from 1916-1947. Recognized as one of America’s most beautiful coins ever struck, its design — along with U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver John Mercanti’s design of a heraldic Eagle on the reverse — makes the Silver American Eagle an instant modern classic.

The 2010 Silver Eagle Early Release MS69 will be a little more expensive at $36.95 as this has been professionally graded as “Mint State 69″ or MS69 level.

For the top grade of MS70 you can pay as much as $159.00. So start where you can and progressively upgrade your collection as you are able.