About HowToBuyCoins.com

HowToBuyCoins.com exists for one reason: to help collectors — especially new ones — navigate coin collecting without getting ripped off, without falling for misinformation, and without making the preventable mistakes that cost beginners money in their first year.

The hobby is wonderful. The online information about it is uneven. A new collector searching "how to clean coins" is as likely to find bad advice as good, and the difference between the two can cost them 90% of a coin's value. Our guides aim to be the thing we wish existed when we started: practical, specific, and honest about what actually works.

How we're funded

HowToBuyCoins.com is a reader-free, ad-supported resource. Specifically, we earn commissions through two affiliate programs:

• Amazon Associates — when readers buy coin collecting supplies we link to on Amazon, we receive a small percentage of the sale.
• eBay Partner Network — when readers browse coins through links on our site and purchase on eBay, we receive a commission.

Neither program pays us to recommend anything specific. We only link to categories and sellers we'd suggest to a friend starting out. This funding model lets us keep every guide free for readers while spending the time necessary to write them properly.

Our editorial principles

• Factual accuracy. We do not fabricate testimonials, reviews, or data. Prices, mintage figures, and grading standards are sourced from recognized numismatic references (the Red Book, PCGS CoinFacts, Heritage Auctions).
• No fabricated personas. We do not invent author bios or stories. Our content is written by our editorial team and reflects the collective experience of working collectors.
• Disclosure everywhere. Every page that contains affiliate links disclosures the relationship clearly. The Federal Trade Commission requires this; we'd do it anyway.
• Corrections welcome. If you find a factual error in any of our guides, let us know and we'll fix it promptly.

What we don't do

We don't sell coins directly, operate as a dealer, or accept paid placement from dealers or mints. We don't offer coin appraisals, grading opinions, or authentication services — for those, use PCGS, NGC, or a qualified local dealer. We don't give investment advice. Coin collecting can be rewarding financially, but it's not a financial product, and we're not financial advisors.

Contact

Questions, corrections, or suggestions: visit our contact page. We read every message.