Chris Perkins

Oi Cheeky, That veneered wooden specimen is pretty popular and I haven't even listed the new wooden trays yet! But it's all about price at the end of the day. Some people are very happy to pay a little over a hundred pounds and have plenty of safe, chemical fee space for their collection. Chris www.predecimal.com

Good idea. Probably one of the ancient Greek coins I have which if I can confirm it's authenticity should be worth about GBP15,000! It looks very real, and my friend at www.coinsforsale.co.uk who has been an ancient coin dealer for 40 years also says it looks very real. Next time in in the UK i'll pick it up and take it to the British Museum for verification. If it isn't that one it could be another Greek Decadrachm I also need to get verified. If both of those were made by the same bloke that seems to be producing all the dodgy pound coins these days then it's probably my 1937 Proof Sovereign (Spink 2004 GBP750.00). I have seen them sell for GBP1000.00 Or perhaps it could even be my 1927 halfpenny struck shilling size with a milled edge! Who knows. Chris www.predecimal.com

Chaps, I've often wondered about the differences too. I know that Spink have been going for ages etc but even a lot of their prices are well under/over what some coins sell for. It also seems to me that the Spink market values pay no attention to the prices acheived in online auctions which I've often seen go far higher than the stated prices. They monitor the major World auction houses I'm sure but i'm convinced some international sales of British coins get away. The Collectors coins books give another opinion drawn from British dealers lists and auctions in the real world and as far as I know they pay no attention to online goings on either. The Spink catalogue is really much more than a price guide, it shapes the market, because most dealers price their coins using it. So whatever is in there is probably what you'll see coins being sold for! So perhaps the Richards book reflects true worth with some coins. You just need to find a dealer without a Spink copy! And you won't. Chris www.predecimal.com

Well it's looking increasingly like no one knows the mintage figures! I have a copy of 'English Silver coinage' and it just gives silver coins a rarity scale, no mintages as far as I can see. Perhaps the only figures are by weight or face value. Chris

Dear Anna, Yes I agree, the site and forum are becoming larger and perhaps need a little re organisation when i get a mo. I have however replied to your email. Chris www.predecimal.com

Good question. From personal experience the people that buy most of the early milled coins are dealers. I once bought a James II Guinea from a US dealer and sold it to another dealer, so by the time it gets to a collector 3 dealers have all made a profit on it! I think the steady rise in internet auctions and sites like mine have fuelled it a bit, the easy availabilty has grown. Also there have been rumours abound that investors are getting a sniff of coins in there 'portfolios'. The buzz creates an extra demand and an extra demand sees higher prices and therfore more people wanting to sell I suppose. maybe also the realisation that these mini works of art have been under valued for year. Those are my thoughts. Chris www.predecimal.com

She must do something for him that Diana didn't do, and I'll say no more! Chris

Eyes peeled on my accessories, SAFE have just launched a wooden stackable coin tray of the same dimensions of the NOVA range. Some people prefer to buy plastic as they get a lot more trays for their money and it is just as safe for the coins. Chris

Was he really! Well i never, and he seemed such a nice chap. Chris

Perhaps I'm not down with the kids, but what exactly is a Crusty? is it a badly corroded coin of some kind, or a character from the Simpsons? Chris www.predecimal.com

Well you get that on ebay. People use the same pictures to sell different coins. I'm sure even some ameteurs steal other pictures thinking that as long as it's the right date it'll do. I hope you sent them back for a refund. Chris www.predecimal.com

I'm afraid I don't have any books on German paper money. It does sound like it's a military note though. I would imagine the value depends on condition, like with coins as it is relatively modern. Chris www.predecimal.com

And it's why Churchill Crowns are so plentiful in higher grades as we skimmed over before. Chris

Yes that's why they're rare and the nice examples are rarer. The same thing happened in America in the early days of your Philedelphia mint I read yesterday. Both with silver and gold coins. Chris

And I bet some of those were remelted, either officially or not. Chris

I think they're in my Collectors George III Coins book back to 1760. I'll have a look. Chris

Rob, You'll probably find they'll acheive 40-80% of the catalogue values on ebay, often they go for less. Perfect year sets with absolutely no tarnishing are slightly more popular. I personally think that those kind of things are just a money making machine for the mint, they rarely hold there value and I have paid too much for a few of them in the past. I have quite a few in my specials area and they sell maybe 4 a year at those reasonable prices. Send me a list and i'll give you the cat values and make an offer for the lot. Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com cp@predecimal.com

Yes that's a good idea. Email me a book review to start if you like and i'll post it in a new forum. Anyone else that cares to provide a title and a review please email me and we'll get something started. I do have a review on the site for the Collectors Coins GB 2004 book here: http://www.predecimal.com/books/collectors_coins_review.htm I agree, economic history is facinating, and tied in very much with coinage and it's continued debasement over the years. Even in Roman times the bronze coins got smaller and smaller and the silver coins became silver washed bronze. Chris www.predecimal.com email: cp@predecimal.com

Dal, I know a Dealer in South East London that stocks a lot of books and he may have it. Last time I was there I saw the RIC books but didn't take note which they were. He is very reputable, but I have a grudge against him at the moment so won't give out his web URL and provide him with free advertising!! In fact his website is awful and doesn't list his book stock so you'd have to give him a ring. Email me and I'll point you in the right direction. Chris www.predecimal.com cp@predecimal.com

Dal, My friend Richard who runs a new site www.coinsforsale.co.uk has the knowledge. Although he may not have the time as he wants to sell coins, not tell people about them for free! Maybe worth a try if you tell him I sent you and ask him very nicely indeed. Chris www.predecimal.com

It was Oscar Wilde that said 'America and England have everything in common, except of course language'. I don't care how the U's got there, they're staying now! I'm glad it looks prettier, well done those standardisers! (or should that be Standardizers? or is that actually even a word?). Maybe I'll start a Forum to talk about anything that isn't to do with coins.... Chris www.predecimal.com

I second that

By the way.... I must insist on the proper British spellings being used in the forum. Anyone found writing 'color' and not 'colour' will be banned for a week! That goes for Americans too I'm afraid. Chris

Well there appears to be a proper little community here that I hadn't noticed! Good work Sylvester it really is good to have someone in the Forum to welcome people and talk about sensible stuff! I'll just let you get on with it then. Peter Nicholls is all very well but you know my collecting accessories are fantastic too! Chris www.predecimal.com

Fake pound coins are becoming more widespread. THis months Coin News Magazine has a feature on it. www.tokenpublishing.com I have emailed you Helen. Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com