TPG coins required to sell a UK coin collection that's US based?

[freewheels 2]

I have amassed a small to moderate UK collection in the last 55 years with a few rarities, some high grade scarcities.

I would categorize most of my collection as 2nd tier with only a few items capable of 4 figures.

Maybe 15% slabbed.

Mostly milled post 1660 with a few hammered sixpences and shillings.

I actually got on Heritage's mailing list but quickly realized they are a TPG centric auctioneer.

Does anyone have a good referral for a US auction house that is able to specialize in coins of the UK?

I welcome any input!

[Menger 96]

How about CNG or Stephen Album? The former sold the Mildenhall collection although that was generally first tier quality - and CNG appear to have graded it first with NGC. The latter sometimes has interesting, even raw coins. My sense is that the U.S. market generally is slab-centric though.

If it were my collection I would probably slab the very best stuff and sell the rest raw at Noonans or some such place in the UK.  Or eBay with a view to drip feed sales over several years with some nice photos and fixed pricing open to offers … 

I think second tier / raw coins sold quickly will produce steep discounts. 

[Rob 3,173]

I'd say CNG as well for a US sale. It really depends on what is in the collection. A decent number of hammered pieces would probably appeal more to them.

Given the US obsession with slabs, unless they are going to get 63 or better, you might be better off selling in the UK, but bear in mind that would attract 5% on the hammer price for UK buyers as the collection would be imported. Is there anything that would do well as a private sale? You also have to consider selling fees, but that would be negotiable.

I guess a few phone calls would be in order.

[freewheels 2]

Hi Thanks, for these thoughts, rather what I had expected!

I had noticed CNG, but Stephen Album, although local, seems to not have any current auctions, but I will follow up with a phone call.

Thanks again1

[VickySilver 876]

I know it doesn't seem fair, but if the more expensive bits are really up there you might still consider StacksBowers or even Heritage. The former gave me 105% of hammer on a couple of nice bits. I have sold doubles or redundancies through them with nary a problem. I may be facing a similar issue some years for now.

[SilverAge3 81]

On 8/26/2024 at 11:13 AM, freewheels said:

Hi Thanks, for these thoughts, rather what I had expected!

I had noticed CNG, but Stephen Album, although local, seems to not have any current auctions, but I will follow up with a phone call.

Thanks again1

Stephen Album's (SARC) auctions aren't nearly as frequent as HA, Stack's (SB), Great Collections. The other three pretty much only deal in slabbed coins now, with rare exceptions .  While sarc does handle raw pieces, generally these are lower quality condition, often sold as mixed lots, don't get very nice photos, if any, and so generally won't bid up well for you.

I agree with the idea to slab better pieces, as it's just how the market is here in the US, but obviously avoid doing so for lower-priced items, as grading is so expensive, and slow. If a coin is not worth $100, at least, if not even a good bit more, keep it raw. But for better pieces, it's frankly going to do far better in a plastic slab, and NGC could even attach a Collection name to your submission, if you desire (I imagine it costs more money). Take time going through sold listings on eBay and all the auction houses, compare to similar grades. I concur with selling especially raws on eBay, or privately to individuals, including offering some in forums, or Reddit coin selling subs. I know someone who works for Stack's, but he focuses on US, especially dollars. You could also try to find world coin dealers, see if they'll give you a decent offer for raw less expensive items as a lot. I know a few coin shop owners, one or two through Discord who might be interested (and they'd buy it all raw, submit pieces to TPG they feel are worth it, which would probably be quicker, but less money for you), though I can't comment on their offered prices, I've not sold. Obviously anyone you sell to wants to make money, but do your research on recent sold listings, so you're not going to be taken advantage of. If you're interested, I can post the links to Reddit subs used for selling coins, as well as the Coin Discord server, where most users are in the US, but many of us collect world coins, plus some of the aforementioned dealers are in there. You could pose this opening post query in there, to get feedback from them. Just let me know if any of that interests you. 

You may find splitting it up among a few places worth your time. The best graded pieces especially are sure to be best suited for large auction houses, where more participants are to catch bidding fever.  

Edited September 2, 2024 by SilverAge3