Oxford_Collector

Not necessarily, I've seen some great toned coins, but also some fuggly ones... My original question, though, was more about whether its actually be possible for a 200 year-old coin to be uncleaned, yet untoned or is this only possible if the coin has been dipped?

BTW have noticed that there is currently a promotion to purchase a download of the FileMaker Training Series for FileMaker 11 at the special promotional price of US$9.99 (normally US$99 ) until March 15, 2012, so I might look into acquiring this...

Believe me - if you found FMPro intimidating, MS Access is no easier, in fact it's more complex to learn. The upside of the learning curve is that once you get some confidence with it, you'll start using it for loads of things. As for the cost, yes if you buy the latest version it is expensive, but I got the previous version from Amazon (new, sealed) for significantly under £100, which for a full-featured relational database is not at all poor value. As a Mac user already there is no downside to being "locked in" to FMP (I've used it since 1994) especially when you consider there are multiple export formats including Excel. Okay, I might give FMPro another go, I downloaded a 30-day demo and still have time remaining on this. BTW does FMPro have visual tools (like MS Access, Open Office, Navicat etc.) for defining the relations between tables etc.? Is the form-buider relatively easy to use? Any other tips? Thanks

Okay, have tried out a few things now on my Mac to create a custom coin database/spreadsheet: * Bento * Microsoft Excel 2011 * Filemaker Pro * Open Office Base front end with MySQL Community Edition Backend Don't forget, there is no MS Access for Mac, so that's not an option. Bento is quite easy to use and there is an iPhone app for it (though I can't seem to get the two to sync...), but is perhaps too simple for its own good, I've not found it ideal for setting it up with a more complex relational data model (which is what I have started to plan), but maybe I'm just not "getting it". I would also be a little concerned about "locking-in" to the Bento format. Its cheap, but not free. I'd like to like it more than I do... Excel has the advantage of being cross-platform and fairly ubiquitous and its easy to retrieve and manipulate numerical data in it (e.g. bullion prices, if you care about that sort of thing), and can produce nice reports and charts, but its not ideal when handling relational data as is not really built for this, though you can fudge it by using different worksheets to represent relational "tables" or you can connect to MySQL as an external data source. Filemaker Pro looks quite powerful, but I found it quite intimidating as a new user, would also be a little concerned about "locking-in" to the Filemaker format, though I guess I could just use it as a front-end to MySQL. It's also quite expensive. The option that I think I'm going to experiment further with, though, after some experimentation, is to use Open Office (which is free) and the "Base" application as a front end to a MySQL database. This has the advantage of being cheap/free and cross-platform. I also already have some MySQL management software (Navicat) and know MySQL a little bit through work, so have a head-start there. This approach also gives me the option to host the MySQL database "in the cloud" (e.g. on Amazon Web Services), alleviating concerns about backups somewhat and also making the data available from anywhere (though not necessarily with a front-end). The Open Office "Base" application seems quite easy to use for creating and managing tables, creating data-entry forms and creating reports. There is also the MySQL Connector Open Office extension available, allowing direct connecting to MySQL (instead of through ODBC or JDBC), which seems to work well. The front-end is not as "pretty" as Bento or Filemaker, but seems more powerful than the former and easier to use than the latter. Has anyone else tried using Open Office Base (with or without MySQL) for their coin database?

I take it you mean things like this lustred dipped coin?

Yes, I too struggle to get excited about debased coinage, most of my post-1920 coins are American for that reason (and the fact that they had great designs up to about 1947...) The modern Gold and SIlver Britannia bullion cons are quite nice, mind...

I think that the most useful description is exactly as you describe: "small edge knock, otherwise UNC". Okay, so it would still be considered to be a UNC coin then, albeit with an edge knock

BTW one thing I've wondered, if I have a coin that has a small edge knock, but is otherwise a good "UNC", would it still be usual/reasonable to describe it as UNC when coming to sell? Thanks

Yes - just what *was* the US Mint thinking when they tried to foist the Susan B. Anthony dollar on the American public?!? They were facing a hard job anyway trying to convince people to use a dollar coin instead of a note in the first place, so what do they do, put a coin out with a portrait so ugly no one wants it in their purse/wallet (though of course there were other reasons that people didn't like the coin, such as its similarity in size to a quarter). Okay, I know she did much for civil rights for woman in the US, but she doesn't look great on a coin. BTW have you seen what the other proposed design for that coin actually was? It was actually a rather nice Flowing Hair rendition of Liberty, proposed by United States Mint Engraver, Frank Gasparro, see: http://koinpro.tripod.com/Articles/1977LibertyHeadDollar.htm I can't help thinking the coin would've had more success if they'd gone with that design! The reverse is better too... Yes, the pattern coin was so much better. The entire coin was a disaster, an ugly reverse and the same reverse used on the Eisenhower dollar! I must say though, I do like the reverse of the Sacajawea dollar (at least before the US mint decided to make yet another meaningless politically correct "commemorative" series), though the obverse is bland and the edge lettering is poorly executed. I find it rather sad that the US mint has gone from producing amazing coinage in the form of the Morgan Dollar, Peace Dollar, Indian Head Cent, Standing Liberty Quarter, Buffalo Nickel, Mercury Dime and Walking Liberty half dollar to the Eisenhower Dollar, Susan B. Anthony Dollar, Washington Quarter, the far too numerous state/territory/national park quarters, the ugly and terrible presidential dollars, the Franklin half dollar (which, I suppose I don't mind so much since they are all 90% silver...) and the Lincoln cent. There has been such a backsliding when it comes to coins since about the 1940s. Despite the fact that technology has advanced, the US mint instead decides to make low relief coins out of worthless, nearly unusable metal on the dollar coins with poorly designed edge lettering. On a thicker coin it wouldn't be a problem (like on the 1 and 2 pound coins) or if they made it raised (like the old Victorian crowns) but carved edge lettering in such a thin coin is worse than useless. Of course, I don't think things will get any better if the modern commemoratives are anything to go by and with the possibility of changing to even worse metal (steel)... I don't have much hope. Its really sad, as the much of the early to mid 20th Century US coinage had great designs (although my favourite US silver coin, the Walking Liberty Half Dollar, wore badly in use), though I actually think the Washington quarter isn't too bad, and unlike in the UK, US coins were 90% silver right up to 1964 (which makes the Franklin half more acceptable, as you say)! Mind you much the same could be said about the worsening designs of the UK coinage since decimalisation, I guess!

BTW this page on the PCGS international site lists all the UK-based dealers who can submit coins to PCGS: http://www.pcgs.com/Dealers/default.aspx?rn=5&mn=5&cc=UK Also the next round of submissions to PCGS Paris is for grading/slabbing is apparently 12-16 March 2012 Hope this helps!

Yes - just what *was* the US Mint thinking when they tried to foist the Susan B. Anthony dollar on the American public?!? They were facing a hard job anyway trying to convince people to use a dollar coin instead of a note in the first place, so what do they do, put a coin out with a portrait so ugly no one wants it in their purse/wallet (though of course there were other reasons that people didn't like the coin, such as its similarity in size to a quarter). Okay, I know she did much for civil rights for woman in the US, but she doesn't look great on a coin. BTW have you seen what the other proposed design for that coin actually was? It was actually a rather nice Flowing Hair rendition of Liberty, proposed by United States Mint Engraver, Frank Gasparro, see: http://koinpro.tripod.com/Articles/1977LibertyHeadDollar.htm I can't help thinking the coin would've had more success if they'd gone with that design! The reverse is better too...

Also the "Swiss Miss" from the Vrenelli 20 Franc gold coin:

I've always quite liked Marianne (image from the obverse of the French "Rooster" 20 Franc gold coin: Also the very French-influenced lady representing "Liberty" on the US silver Peace Dollar:

Your insurer will also require any coin valued over £500 or £1000 depending on the insurance company, to be listed seperately. I get my few revalued every year. Good point - I only have a few that would come into that category, but its worth knowing about...

Hi - something I was just wondering about, I realised that at the London Coin Fair, I only actually got a receipt for one of the coins that I bought (I guess I should have asked for a receipt in each case - is this usual?), and certainly for quite a few other coins that I've bought in the past, I don't have any kind of receipt for these either, or if I do, if doesn't necessarily say which coin the receipt is for. Anyway, I was wondering if this could potentially create a problem is I ever need to claim on my insurance for stolen coins, for example? Apart from the obvious, e.g. keeping a list of coins purchased, including date of purchase, how much paid and who bought from, as well as photographs of each coin, how can I prove that I owned any coins which might get stolen? e.g. Should the photographs I take of the coins include my name somewhere in them, for example, and/or some proof of the date the picture was taken (e.g. the traditional "reasonably current newspaper front page"??) or is that overkill? For coins bought on eBay, at least, I have some kind of "paper trail" which I guess could help. I guess in future I should always ask for receipts and ask the seller to specify the actual coin(s) bought on them. This would also be nice, perhaps, as a provenance record, if the coins were bought from a known reputable dealer, and may help if selling them too. I was just wondering what others do as regards receipts and records for insurance and/or provenance?

I have thought of doing a visit to this one but it seems the parking is limited, plus with the cost of rail travel it has always put me off. Do you know of any other low cost (or free) local parking near the museum? Parking in Oxford isn't great, there is very limited free parking and the car parks are quite expensive, though there's some more information about parking in Oxford here: http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decTS/Parking_occw.htm The other option, if you don't want to get the train or coach/bus is to use the Park and Ride facilities (not a bad idea anyway, as driving in the centre of Oxford is very confusing if you don't know the area) - the parking is free at two of the sites (Thornhill and Water Eaton) and only £1.50 all day for the other ones, but you pay for the bus far into town, for details see: http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decTS/Park_and_Ride_occw.htm What are your main areas of interest BTW? Hope this helps!

BTW the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford also has an extensive coin study room, called with The Heberden Coin Room which "houses a systematic and comprehensive collection of some three hundred thousand coins and medals. It has an academic staff of seven and is a leading international centre for teaching and research in numismatics and monetary history." The Heberden Coin Room apparently has particular strengths in the fields of Greek, Roman, Celtic, Byzantine, Medieval, Islamic, Indian, and Chinese coinages. It also holds collections of paper money, tokens, jetons, and commemorative and art medals. Its collection of hammered and milled British coinage is also, to my untrained eyes at least, very good, they have some stunning specimens - I know this because I work for the Museum, though not in connection with the Coin Room (I'm a mere amateur private coin collector) and sadly have little time to visit it. The Heberden Coin Room can be visited by appointment, and they try to be accommodating, for more details see: http://www.ashmolean.org/departments/heberdencoinroom/services/

I don't really have a problem with slabs, I can see how they could help when buying a coin "unseen" (apart from in a photo), not just from eBay, but from online dealers too, especially if they're not one's you've dealt with before and don't know how they grade coins (someone's "GEF" can be another's "UNC", or a "GVF" an "EF", for example...). Also as a private seller, if selling a coin on eBay and its a really nice one, I think there's more chance potential buyers will believe you when you say its UNC i.e. it actually *is* UNC, not like many coins described as such on eBay, so they might actually bid on it as if it is a UNC (whereas I think many eBay bidders will assume when a seller says something is "UNC" that its only really EF, and will therefore bid as if it was the lower grade....). I can also see how slabbing might be useful for insurance purposes too, for higher value coins and also for coins for which there a a large number of known counterfeits (e..g. Gothic Florins, key dates / mints of many coins etc.), especially for beginners. I'm aware of the arguments against them, of course, and I prefer buying coins when I can see them and hold them in the hand first, but this isn't always possible and I think slabs can have their place. I'm not sure I'd like to see them take-over here like they have in the US for all but the low-end market, though. If I was to sell any of my better coins privately (e.g. via eBay), though, I would consider slabbing the British coins via CGS, and any US and European coins with PCGS (I think to submit coins to NGC you would have to send them to the US, whereas you can submit to PCGS via UK partners who send them to Paris for grading, I think) to try to ensure I get a price for them that is appropriate for their grade. I'm not sure that this would be necessary if asking a dealer to sell a coin for you on commission, though.

I wouldn't worry too much about holding them by the edges, if your hands are clean, but don't touch the front or back of the coins!

Does it have an Indian Head on it? They can be, but again depends on the year

You can get your coins slabbed by PCGS in the UK now by these people: https://www.thelondoncoincompany.com/ Also see: http://www.pcgsglobal.com/index.aspx I would go with PCGS over NGC Only touch the coins be the edges before they get slabbed, and preferably wear cotton gloves!

Hi - I was wondering what I should be using for long-term safety to write on the coin tickets that sit directly under my coins in my coin trays - should I use pencil or would a pen with "archival quality ink" (e.g. Pigma Micron: http://www.sakuraofamerica.com/Pen-Archival ) be better? Thanks!

On closer inspection, the material in my coin trays looks like some kind of velvet, is this likely to be okay and not cause the silver to tarnish?

Its probably not an issue for most of my coins, but, for example, I've been told there are counterfeit Gothic florins around, so if I was to obtain any of these (which I would probably only do through a reputable collector or dealer), then it could be useful to show where I acquired them from.

Anyone? I've not seen these for sale on here, for example, but they must exist somewhere!