Which coins should you buy to complement your growing collection? There is no tried-and-true formula for establishing a wonderful and fun coin collection. Your best bet is to follow your whims. If you prefer ancient coinage, research Greek and Roman era mints. If you are a fan of rarities, you probably will need a lot of money and information to get started. If you simply like collecting complete minted sets, opportunities abound. Coin collectors have employed the Internet to network with other collectors. That being said, the rules of smart buying still apply. Check for authenticity, particularly if you're making a big purchase. Even dealers with good references often pass on fraudulent coins unwittingly. You may want an expert evaluation to check for counterfeiting or undue alterations. One popular scheme is to make semi rare coins appear to be extremely rare by manipulating them vis-a-vis microscopic instruments. A useful guide for coin buyers is the "Standard Catalog of World Coins." Written by two expert collectors, Chester Krause and Clifford Mishler, this tome catalogs four centuries worth of coins from the four corners of the Earth. For United States coin help, you may want to check out the so-called "Red Book" or subscribe to the Coin Dealer Newsletter. Be aware that the mythology surrounding valuable coins may be different from the market reality. For instance, there's been much hullabaloo over the 1943 Steel Penny. As a result of metal hording during World War II, the government issued pennies plated with zinc. Some of these pennies are worth about a dollar today. The really valuable steel pennies, however, contain bronze. Be sure you know which of the steel pennies you are purchasing, as they vary widely in value. | 
