Coinery

Hi, and thanks for troubling to look at this post! Can anyone suggest from experience the best UK auction house for coin sellers? I would be looking at submitting 10-15K of British coins, around four times a year. I have checked out some of the realised prices from London Coins and Lockdales, but obviously haven't got the full picture from that! On average do the realised prices ever come close to book prices, or am I dreaming on this one? Also, a lot of questions I know, but do slabbed coins typically reasure the online/telephone bidders of auction houses enough that they realise better prices? I'm very much green about the gills, but have discovered enough to realise that this forum is probably the best online solution to such questions. Many thanks in advance, and many more questions to ask, Stuart

Hi, and thank-you to you all for your time and input. I’ve been away and have only just found the time to digest and respond to your advice. If anyone has any thoughts on the below I’d be extremely grateful. TomGoodheart: Many, many, thanks! Can I just ask you, and all, with regards to slabbed coins, that if the American market is the most responsive market for slabs, would I be correct in thinking that CGS would likely be a second or maybe third choice for them? Or would you say the overseas market is intelligent enough to assimilate the differences between the grading scales, and care little whether it’s a UK or USA TPG company that does the dirty deed? Are CGS well respected abroad, their rates for entombing seem to be significantly below the charges levied by the other American biggies? The types of coins I’d be looking at selling would, without sounding too cavalier and merciless, be any coin I could make some money on, so includes the full spectrum from Shortcross to EDVII, typically £100-£500, though I have sold a few £1000+ coins (I really am green, I’m just lucky...and experimenting always). I want to reassure you I love coins with a passion (I don’t need to explain the magic to you folks). However, I discovered around 10-15 years ago that the only way I could have a proper look at any coin was to buy the damn thing and hold it for a while. Circumstances always dictated that I should sell it again (of course) but, with a lot of luck (and a few mistakes along the way), I began to consistently clear something around 25-50% on a coin, thus the beginnings of a small collection (that I didn’t have to sell) was born. I guess I am just wishing to continue in the same ethos, but wish to stretch myself and chance to look at better and better coins, whilst enjoying the participation in a fascinating art – all above board with HMRC of course! So, no big collection, I’m afraid! VickySilver: Also, huge thanks to you...so, slabs for the Americans! Do you have any thoughts on the above re: CGS-UK? Have you any experiences that suggest the Americans shy away from CGS in favour of NGS or PCGS etc.? Does the CGS stock sell with equal or any strength, or am I really looking at dealing with PCGS if I’m to be getting the best out of the likes of Heritage and the American Market? Numismatist & Rob: Thanks to you both as well! As already raised above, do you think then that CGS would be a non-starter for the American market? I guess the place I’m at with this so far is...I would not be interested in buying slabs for myself (I really enjoy the process of crawling over Britannia with an eyeglass), but I am toying with the idea of slabbing stock to increase its marketability to those who either lack confidence in their own grading, or have too little experience to ‘risk’ their money on internet stock and, equally, do not have the patience to learn these things slowly. I 100% take on board your comments and good advice re the hidden edge (Thanks to you too Peter). Mat: Great advice re the ‘hard deal’ and percentages. But just out of interest, what scales are we talking when we talk large & small houses? London Coins has in excess of 2000 lots, for example, would this be considered large scale? What would be considered small? Really sorry to appear so naive on this, but I honestly am standing on the bottom rung of the ladder, and information is gold to me at the minute. So, there ‘tis! Many thanks from me, once again!

Hi, Again! Any thoughts on the following? I have recently been given 2 William III threepences (1701 - 1698) in exchange for a favour, both in High-Grade. They are convincing in every detail (to me at least), having crisp detail (even haymarks on one), and beautiful toning to the 1701 coin (the other being unfortunately bright). They both test positive for sterling, and the weights are right. I also cannot find any recorded 3d forgeries online, and cannot think of any reason for producing a high-grade, low value, contemporary coin in silver. However, and here's the question, both coins are showing what looks like a partial seam around the edge for 2-3mm on one coin, and around 7-8mm on the other...the remaining edges are intact and showing no signs of filing, etc. Could this possibly be a 'seam' created by the 'spilling' over of the edge? Namely, the creation of an 'M' profile to a portin of the edge, with the middle part of the 'M' forming what could look like a seam (if you get what I mean)? Or are we looking at two fakes? Any ideas why they would have been be forged, if they are? I attach an edge for you to look at. Many thanks, once again, Stuart