An electric coil comprising a coil core (10), a main winding (16) surrounding the coil core (10) and having an electrically conductive coil wire, a start winding (14) surrounding the coil core (10) and having an electrically conductive coil wire, and an end winding (18) surrounding the coil core (10) and having an electrically conductive coil wire, is characterized in that the coil wire of the main winding (16), the coil wire of the start winding (14), and the coil wire of the end winding (18) are formed by a continuous wound wire, and at least the main winding (16), preferably also the start winding (14), is wound directly onto the coil core (10).