Collecting stamps and coins

Collecting has long captured the imagination of people across cultures and centuries. Coin collecting dates back thousands of years to ancient royals who referred to it as the ‘Hobby of Kings’. In its earliest form, coin collecting was classed more as an art collection rather than by monetary value, as ancient people appreciated the craftsmanship of the coins. Today, collecting coins is more focused on value and its official term is now globally accepted as ’numismatics’.

Stamp collecting also has a rich and fascinating history. Behind every stamp is a great story. Stamps tell us about current and historical events as well as the world around us. Over the years, changes in the postal service and stamp design have mirrored the way society has evolved. Stamps are part of this unfolding story, which is why stamp collecting has always been, and remains, one of the most popular hobbies in the world.

Whether you're drawn to coins, stamps, or both, collecting offers a rewarding journey of discovery, learning and connection. This guide will take you through every step, from starting and growing to storing your collection and finding support along the way.

Step 1 – Starting

Stamps

There are two ways to start your collection: 

1. Choose a country (or countries)  

The key to identifying worthwhile collecting opportunities is understanding the different categories of stamps and the context behind how they are produced. If you choose to collect Australian stamps, remember that thousands of stamps have been issued in Australia since the 19th century, and a beginner may find it daunting if the goal is to build a substantial collection. 

The introduction of decimal currency in 1966 created a great starting point for collecting, by replacing stamps in pounds, shilling and pence with stamps in dollars and cents. If you're just starting out, collecting stamps issued after 1966 is a great option. They're generally affordable and easier to work with, since you won’t need to worry about things like colour variations, watermarks or perforation types of earlier stamps.

A more recent starting point is 1989, which marked the commencement of ‘secret year’ dates on Australian stamps. Every stamp issued since 27 February 1989 carries the year of issue somewhere in the design, usually in tiny text.

2. Pick a theme

The second way to start your collection is to choose a particular theme. The list below offers several suggestions for choosing a theme based on Australian stamps:

Australian Antarctic Territory – Individual stamps for the Australian Antarctic Territory have been issued since 1957, and those issued since 1966 can be used for postage within Australia.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island – After several years of ‘postal independence’ when the local administrations of these island territories produced their own stamps, Australia Post took over responsibility for stamp production in 1993-94. These stamps can also be used for postage within Australia.

Christmas – In 1957 Australia became the first country in the world to issue Christmas stamps.

Royal portraits – Queen Elizabeth II is the most featured person on Australian stamps, having been depicted on many definitive stamps from 1953 to 1971. Commemorative stamps marking royal occasions include an annual issue for the Queen’s birthday. Until the Australian Legends stamp series, the reigning Monarch, and other members of the Royal Family, were the only living people who could appear on a stamp.

Birds – Many bird species have been featured on Australian stamps, and the number rises if stamps of the various Australian territories are added.

Aboriginal culture, art and motifs – Numerous stamps depict Aboriginal people, art and culture.

Aviation – Aviation has played an important role carrying mail in Australia and numerous stamps have been issued featuring aircraft, aviators and air mail themes.

WW1 Centenary – Between 2014 and 2018 Australia Post produced two stamp issues a year marking the centenary of World War I and the contribution our defence services made over the past century.

First day covers – First day covers that bear a first day of issue postmark have been produced by Australia Post for each new stamp issue since 1970.

Whether or not any of these suggestions appeals depends upon you own interests. If you have a keen interest in some field, your knowledge will provide a basis for building a collection and your passion for collecting will be sustained by the theme.

Coins

If collecting coins is more appealing to you, here are some helpful steps to make the collecting process more fun, easy and profitable.

1. Get all the tools and supplies needed such as a magnifying glass, a price guide, protective sleeves and holders, a thin pair of cotton gloves and felt or other non-abrasive cloths.
2. Learn how to determine the different kinds of coins (i.e. historical, artistic, quality) by researching collecting, grading and preserving coins.
3. Look to specialise in a certain set of coins. The more you narrow your focus, the easier it will be to understand the value and grading, minimising the chances of purchasing coins above their market value.
4. Determine the scope of your collection and how far it can go before you can display it.
5. When starting out, do not be afraid to get help, especially when grading coins. By seeking help from more experienced collectors, you can learn a lot from the lessons they’ve learnt along the way.
6. Familiarise yourself with the basic numismatist terms, such as bag marks, brockage, business strikes, as this can help when talking with a dealer or when you plan to attend your first coin show. The PCGS website has a useful list of coin market terms and slang used by people in the industry.

Step 2 – Growing  

Stamps

What to collect and where to find them.

• Follow your passions when choosing themes – it’s the best way to curate a personal collection. 
• Select stamps that are mint with their designs untouched, or used ones taken from real mail.
• Stock up from stamp traders with stores or sites, since they’re easiest to find, and traders with electronic and/or mail orders as they often have fair prices. They’re also found at stamp fairs and exhibitions.
• Shop around to find who has the best range for you, then build a good connection, and collection. 

Coins

• Many Australian coin collectors choose to focus on pre-decimal (pre-1966) or decimal issues, or both. Choose from a variety of key dates, significant events, coins without mint marks or even with unique defects.
• The Royal Australian Mint and Perth Mint make special collector coins to celebrate significant events or mark important moments in history. These coins are produced without being intended for general circulation and therefore do not conform to the same restrictions as ordinary coins. 

Step 3 – Storing  

Stamps

Keep your stamps organised, safe and displayed creatively with:  

Stockbooks – A great option for beginners, stockbooks are bound albums of 32 or 64 thick card pages, each fitted with eight to ten clear strips that can hold hundreds of stamps. It’s best to include descriptive labels from catalogues with each issue. Alternatively, you can use album stock sheets. These are individual pages with clear strips in assorted sizes, which make it easy to rearrange stamps and larger items.

Traditional stamp albums – These contain blank pages in loose-leaf format, where you affix the stamps, using stamp hinges or clear mounts. Your local stamp dealer should carry a range of albums. Some traditional stamp albums allow collectors to be creative in arranging stamps and adding annotations. Other types feature pages with printed illustrations where stamps from specific countries can be inserted.

Tips for storing stamps:

• Preserving mint stamps – These are more valuable if their gum does not have residual from a stamp hinge. Mint stamps should be kept ‘mint unhinged’ by mounting them on album pages. Use stamp hinges only for affixing used stamps. Hinge remains can be removed from a used stamp by soaking it in water; however, doing this to a mint stamp will destroy its gum.
• Containers – Use archival-quality, acid-free and free of polyvinyl chloride- (PVC). Never use metal containers. Store duplicate or loose stamps and stationery in a container made of, or lined with, archival-quality paper 
• Locations – Store containers upright and away from direct light. Use archival-quality paper or board to protect stamps from humidity and temperature changes and avoid plastic containers or mounts if humidity levels are high. If a stamp seems damaged, isolate it and wrap it in archival-quality or alkaline-buffered paper; if it’s valuable take it to a professional conservator. 

Coins

Taking proper care of your coins is essential for preserving your collection’s condition and value. Storing them safely helps keep your collection in excellent shape for years to come.

Coin collection albums and folders (best for beginners) – These feature coin-sized slots with plastic slides that protect both sides, making it easy to organise and display your coins. A variety of albums and folders are available on the market to protect your coins from wear and handling.

Display cases – Made from materials like oak, walnut or cherry, with glass fronts, these cases provide an excellent view of your rarest and most valuable coins.

Tips for storing coins: 

• Moisture can damage coins and cause chemical reactions, so ensure any containers you use are watertight.
• Keep coins at a constant, moderate temperature with low humidity and avoid storing them in basements or attics, which are prone to heat and water damage. 

Step 4 – Learning 

For support on your collecting journey, you can look at: 

Stamps

Stamp catalogues – Look up global stamp lists, prices and issue sequences in Renniks Stamps of Australia, 14th Edition, and Seven Seas Stamps’ Australasian Stamp Catalogue Volume 1: Australia & Territories, 31st edition.

Stamp magazines – Stamp News Australia and Australian Stamps Professional are ideal for beginners, plus our Stamp Bulletin for upcoming issues.

Philatelic clubs and societies – Join our Collecting Community to connect with other collectors and to stay up to date with our events. 

Coins 

Coin catalogues – Renniks has the essentials to get you started while the Australasian Numismatic Dealers Association Grading Guide for Australian Commonwealth Coins (PDF) provides a grading guide for Australian Commonwealth coins.

Coin clubs and shows – Meet other enthusiastic collectors by joining our Collecting Community and learn from their experience.

Online – The Australian Mint, Australian Coin Dealers, Numismatic Association of Australia and PCGS websites are great places to deepen your knowledge.

We hope this helps to get you started. Ultimately, the joy of collecting comes from building collections you love. There’s no guarantee of financial gain, and even when value does increase it can take many years, so we encourage you to follow your passion and embrace the experience. 

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