Coin collecting is a fun and rewarding hobby, but man is it expensive!

This might be exactly what's holding you back from completing a coin collection you're working on.

Not to mention, when you can find your rare coins at bargain prices, you can also profit by reselling them, or adding significant value to your coin collection as an investment.

Here are 6 of the more effective ways I've found to acquire rare coins at extremely low prices.

1. Classifieds

The first thing you should do is put an ad in the classifieds. You should have at least two or three constantly running. The guys that make really good livings doing this usually have about 20 to 30 or even up to 50 in the local surrounding areas.

Just to give you a good idea how much money you can make with classifieds alone, consider a certain eBay seller...

You can go to eBay, click on the US coins category, then to the Collections & lots category, and organize by highest price, and one of the $2,000 - $15,000 coin collections listed towards the top are his.

Now another key with classified advertising is to leave the ad in for at least a month!

That seems to be the magic number when you start getting calls.

The great thing about coin collections is that they are frequently passed down to family members. The family members usually don't have much of a clue how much their collections are worth.

2. Business Cards and Word of Mouth

There are many very effective methods for getting the word out, and probably the most effective is simple word of mouth. Business cards help out with this.

Go to your local office supply store and have them print out about 500 cards made up that say "I pay cash for coins" in bold, and then your name and contact information.

Some people like to print their cards on bright paper, but what I recommend is professional looking business cards.

Simply hand these out to people! I know it might seem strange, but I get referrals all the time! Hand them out to your mailman, the people working at the post office, local police you know. Anyone, simply hand these out to every one you come across. Make sure you present yourself and a friendly person.

3. Flyers

Flyers can certainly work wonders. Print out a ton of them with your little ad on there 8 to a page on bright yellow paper. Cut them put, and put the everywhere!

Put them on people's doors, car windows (right above the handle is best, in between the rubber and window.) malls, dry cleaning bulletin boards, oil change places, etc. You get the idea.

The best thing to do is hire some neighborhood kids that you know and trust to put the flyers out on people's doors.

One key strategy here is to put the flyers out Friday night, and Saturday night. People are more likely to read a flyer if they have more time on there hands.

4. Garage sales

This might sound strange, but I've actually found a few coin collections for really cheap at garage sales.

All you have to do is ask.

For example, ask, "Excuse me sir, do you have, or do you know anyone who has collectible coins for sale?" I'm sure you will be very surprised to find how often they will say, "Why Yes! I do!" And you get GREAT deals.

Now, you are usually not going to find coin collections just lying out on the garage sale tables. What you are going to do, is walk up to the person who is hosting the garage sale, and ask them if they know anyone who has a coin collection that they are trying to sell.

Nine times out of 10, or maybe closer to 19 times out of 20. You will get a "No I'm sorry, I don't" but every once in awhile; you will get somebody who says yes.

They will usually go inside and bring out their collection, or give you a phone number of somebody that they know.

5. Estate Sales

Ok, with estate sales, you have to get there EARLY. Have Your Business Card Ready!

After you have looked around at everything, and used your super refined browsing techniques, walk up to the owner (it is usually wise to have something ready to buy) and ask her/him if they ever run across coins (cards, antiques, whatever you sell.)

Usually they will say yes. When they do, hand them a business card, and tell them you pay TOP prices.

6. Advertising in your own auction

Ok, this might seem like common sense. Whenever you have a very high profile auction that is getting loads of attention and hits make SURE you put something somewhere in your auction that state that you buy coin collections, or sell for people on consignment.

A lot of the hits eBay gets are from people that aren't signed up, and in the case of coins, they might be looking in the coin collection section wondering if people are actually making money.

If they see your collection, they may be very interested in selling theirs, and if they see that you sell for people, they might just give you a call!