5 Great Collectibles for History Buffs

Do you love relics from the Civil War? Could you lose yourself for days in a 10th century museum or 12th century cathedral? If you can't get enough of the ancient and dusty tomes of generations past, consider gifting yourself with some of these treasures.

1. Coins

From drachma to doubloons, ancient coins are valuable items for the modern collector. Not only can they be worth a thousand times more than face value, but they're also heavy with the weight of countless hands that have touched them before. Who knows? Maybe that silver coin used to be a king's. You could be touching the same thing that a king once touched.

2. Flags

The tattered remains of a wartime flag are a great find for historical buffs. In addition to having immense power as a symbol of times gone by, they also have big value to collectors who will always be willing to buy them from you. If you like to grab historical artifacts with an eye towards reselling them in the future, flags are the way to go.

3. Books

If you want to go old-school, look for scrolls and manuscripts that were written centuries ago. If you're on a somewhat tighter budget, just buy a modern book that has copies, transcriptions or translations of ancient texts. The words of previous generations are out there; you just have to be willing to open your mind and listen.

4. Videos

Maybe you're bidding on a 40-year-old documentary about the Salem witch trials. Maybe you just want to get your hands on genuine propaganda films made by WWII Germany. While the history of the video only goes so far, there's good stuff to be found in the ones that exist, so snap them up whenever you see them on the market.

5. Military Manuals

Military field manuals will tell you all about the uniforms, protocols and troop movements of historical armies and militias. They're a great find for anyone who's interested in the everyday details of war. Instead of reading about it from a history book, read about it from the chronicles of men who really lived through it.

These are just a few historical items that will add prestige and value to anyone's collection. There are many more, of course, but these should be enough to get you started on a journey of truth and discovery. Happy hunting!