My interest began when a small quantity of coins were handed down from my grandparents,nothing of any particular monetary value,however,this stimulated my interest.My collection began to grow,and I quickly realised that I had little or no interest in anything non-british.Or indeed anything much older than 1750 ish....not sure how this came about,it's just a personal preference. I can recommend the download for ''Collectors coins GB 2006'' available on the main site.It contains useful information and the images are superb. As to grading,yes you will probably be bitten several times by unscrupulous individuals,it's diffcult to avoid.Just remember,it's not only about the grade itself,it's what a particular coin is ''worth'' to the individual.Even if one is filling in dates,a certain satisfaction can be got by completing a run of dates even if paying a little over the odds at times. I'm a newbie to this forum too,and I have found it of interest and use, so stick around,there's plenty to learn here!! Welcome,good luck,and enjoy...........