So, are you new to BitCoin, what about other Alternative currencies out there? Confused? Want some advice on where to start, below is a list of the coins out there that have stuck around, and the last 3 coins are those released recently with the most potential.
Bitcoin - http://bitcoin.org/en/about / This is why we are all here, the grand daddy of them all, the one all other's are based off of. A good investment, Solid, but, for those not lucky enough to have gotten into BTC early enough, what are these other coins? Well here they are. -
LiteCoin - https://litecoin.org/ / Release on bicointalk.org -
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=47417.0Second to that of Bitcoin, Strongest support of any other alt as well as current value. Has had highs of $4.50 per coin, currently hovering around $2.60 - Wild swings, MtGox announced implementing LTC into their exchange which would only heighten awarness to the coin -
https://www.facebook.com/MtGoxPPCoin - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=101820.0 - Currently hovering aroun .00125 / BTC on Btc-e.com / Launched August 2012, gained support but has evened out, innovative, but bleak future at the moment.
NameCoin -http://namecoin.info/ -
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=6017.0 - Currently at .00544 / BTC on Btc-e.com / Been around, but fails to keep delievering.
Above coins have been around for a while, Future is unclear when it comes to PPCoin and NameCoin, but LiteCoin has the most going for it at the moment.
----- What about coins released recently -----FeatherCoin - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=178286.0 / FTC has taken a dive in price on Btc-e.com, but its future may be looking upwards as FeatherCoin developers have partnered with PXC and WDC. FeatherCoin was wildly popular upon release and volume is high on btc-e.com. Feathercoin is listed on all major exhanges except MtGox.
PhenixCoin -https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=211165.0 - PhenixCoins developers are highly techincal trained experts, including a team member who had sold his software for over $10 million. So far PXC has delieverd phenixst.com, an automated free escrow system, phenixex.com, PXC's own exchange, releasing very soon. PhenixPoker.com, And Phenixbill.com coming soon. PXC developers have also partnered and are sponsoring - MonkeyS Xon Games -
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=223723.0 - PXC shows a very bright future at the moment, especially after partnering with FTC and WDC teams.
WorldCoin - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=204894.0 - WorldCoin has been popular with the community so far, but after releasing on cryptsy, bter, and mcxnow, WDC has slipped in value and a little in support.
There are many many other alts. you will see in this forum, 99% of these are quick "pump and dump" schemes (copy clones of other coins, easy to produce for the sole reason for developers to dump their pre-mined coins, inevitably killing the coin)
The coins listed above have been around and have had steady support for a while, other than FTC, PXC and WDC which are fairly new, but have proven to be the best to bank on at the moment. Too many alts are disrupting the ultimate goal of the crypto community, for most, it is to have a coin, or maybe a few coins succeed, and for those who got in early to turn a big profit as those did with BitCoin early on.
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The more support, hashing (mining) power and advertisement one, or just a few coins get, the more value it will gain.
The coins listed are those with the highest prospects of succeeding at the moment, and have proven time and time again to be honest, and plan on staying around for a very long time. 
