For beginners, buy coins that you know are not counterfeit. Modern coins from reputable dealers or preferably from the Mint are the way to go. Plunging in to buying old expensive coins can, in some instances, leave you out of pocket. My advice would be, select a modern theme you like, learn about the coins or coin and only then, purchase. (remember fools rush in) and finally, buy coins with a clear objective and know yourself. If you are a collector, "collect", if you are stacking for armageddon, "cheers", if you buy to flip, "flip" but most of all be a realist.
I am very new to coin collecting and have been helped alot by a friend who is also a member here. My hints from a total newbie As was said above choose a country you like Buy high mintage coins with low collectable Have fun And go from there. If there is something I like and it's expensive, which is over $30 for me, so research on known fakes and check for discrepancies
mmissinlink, that's an interesting video. From my experience, collecting coins, as opposed to investing in silver coins, should be at least as much about the enjoyment of what you buy as it is about how much you spend and how much (if at all) the coin may appreciate in value. My YouTube channel is soon set to have it's first official video completed and uploaded soon. On the channel I will discuss this issue and numerous other issues about coins as well as about stacking. My channel can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE1Kt2mfBKL9mw-4PpEmnfA