'to specialise or not'

[basecamp 0]

Only been collecting since April and have got my self a couple of hundred coins in my collection already - mainly pennies/half pennies etc 1800's onward (nothing really exciting though!) - but hey its a start!

I found a Leith halfpenny token 1797 last week with a full-rigged ship under sail on the obverse, I have tried to do a bit research on token coins and I am not exactly sure what they are all about - could you spend them anywhere in the UK for example?

As a new starter I wonder if most collectors end up specialising in certain areas and consider selling/swapping thes 'token' coins if they come into their possesion for something they prefere to collect or are 'token' coins worth hanging onto?

[PINMAN 0]

Only been collecting since April and have got my self a couple of hundred coins in my collection already - mainly pennies/half pennies etc 1800's onward (nothing really exciting though!) - but hey its a start!

I found a Leith halfpenny token 1797 last week with a full-rigged ship under sail on the obverse, I have tried to do a bit research on token coins and I am not exactly sure what they are all about - could you spend them anywhere in the UK for example?

As a new starter I wonder if most collectors end up specialising in certain areas and consider selling/swapping thes 'token' coins if they come into their possesion for something they prefere to collect or are 'token' coins worth hanging onto?

I've only recently got back into this hobby(around the same time that you started),and have mainly gone for the Victorian,and post Victorian stuff.My collection mostly consists of silver,although i have gone for a few choice copper items too.

To me personally,i believe that the most important thing about this particular hobby,is that you have fun doing it.To do that,your collection doesn't have to contain countless valuable items....so long as your having fun,that's all that matters.

Regarding Tokens.....don't really know all that much about them myself,either,but there certainally seems to absolutely thousands of real interesting ones out there.....out there,as in Ebay lol.Not really the best of places to go to,to add to your collection,but it's an easy option,although an expensive way of doing it.It's quite surprising,just how much some of those Tokens can fetch.

[scottishmoney 52]

One area I would not advise collecting in is 17th century English tokens. There are over 20.000 varieties currently believed to be in existence, far to many to ever have a complete collection. Besides they are ugly designs, not much to see on them, not a lot of variation. They have gotten right pricey of late also.

That asunder, I have my 17th Century Tokens here, but please do not collect them, they are my domain, mine all mine

17th Century English Tokens

Check out the last on the page, it is my current fave.

[Peter 615]

Scottishmoney

This is not my speciality but I love farthings and worked in Lowestoft a few years back...it was a must.

It seems a rare Town like its pottery.

http://www.omnicoin.com/coin_view.aspx?id=917476

Edited July 23, 2007 by Peter

[scottishmoney 52]

I have seen a few in deplorable condition from Lowestoft.

[Red Riley 2]

That's actually a fascinating area which I've been toying with getting into for some time. My idea was to collect tokens from the areas where I have traced my family roots i.e. the towns/villages around Battle, Reading, Marylebone, Bath etc. etc. Did they ever issue tokens in Ireland?

Basecamp - you are doing the right thing - collect anything and everything for the moment and if you feel the need to specialise later do so, but if not, hey what the hell. Pinman has hit the nail on the head, just enjoy yourself.

[Hussulo 6]

I also agre with the rest of the guys, just enjoy yourself.

I personaly find it hard to specialise. I started off with JUST British coins, then British coins and British error coins. Then a few world errors sneaked in. Now I collect all of the above and also world gold coins.

I am also tempted to start collecting Scottish coins!

[scottishmoney 52]

Did they ever issue tokens in Ireland?

Yes, but they are fiendishly scarce, though I saw a beater piece on eBay recently. There were not very many issued in Scotland, it was one of the scarce times when Scotland actually had almost enough base coinage in circulation. I really want a token from Cornwall.

[basecamp 0]

Thanks some good advice there (probably more confused now though!) In short I will do what you recommend and keep everything for the time being, problem is I am running out of space and end up putting several in the same jar and worry they will all damage each other! Haven't got enough jars!

[Hussulo 6]

Thanks some good advice there (probably more confused now though!) In short I will do what you recommend and keep everything for the time being, problem is I am running out of space and end up putting several in the same jar and worry they will all damage each other! Haven't got enough jars!

Well everyone follows their own path.

I too collected and bought lots of coins at first but lately I have been focusing on quality more than quantity. I might save up for a month or two and then spend my budget on one coin as apposed to buying hundreds of coins. I started collecting as a hobby but now as well as it being a hobby I look at it as an investment also. Therefore I try and buy coins (unless rare) with minimal wear.

I do not buy coins I don't like the look of. I only buy coins that interest me whether it be historically or numismaticaly. I wont be selling my collection off anytime soon but I would like to think that when I come to retire (40+ years time) or hand them down to the kids that they might be of some value.

My father in law in the other hand has thousands if not tens of thousands of coins. He buys bulk boxes of world coins whenever and wherever he can. He then enjoys searching through his Krause catalogues in the hope that he might find a rare date or low mintage and sometimes he does!

Again each to their own and as long as your having fun thats the main thing.

Also if you find any coins of any value keep them separate. Consider investing in 2x2 card coin holders.

Hope you enjoy your hobby and never be afraid to ask. There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid answers.

You have joined a great forum with many a knowledgeable collector who can assist you along the way.

Best of luck!

Edited July 24, 2007 by Hussulo

[scottishmoney 52]

That said, I used to be a bit of an accumulator, slash hoarder too, which is why I literally have 6000+ predecimal coins lying around in linen bags. Back in the day that was cool, but as Hussulo notes, quality does mean more than quantity. And I wish I could find someone that wants all those darned British coins.

[Rob 3,242]

I disposed of most of the low grade stuff. It saved me having to underpin the foundations.

[Red Riley 2]

Okay, so this is how I do it. I am not a hoarder and never have been. I have a core collection currently numbering about 400 coins, almost all British - half of which are pennies, my specialty.

I first of all started off collecting pennies in F-VF grade, then added a few other denominations in much the same condition. I then embarked on a long-term project (which I have yet to complete) of collecting one example of each design from 1838-1970 in EF, and from 1662 in VF. To be honest, due to rising prices, this is never likely to be finished, but I keep on trying. I have also improved my penny collection so that the average is now above EF. Whilst I can understand why people do, I do not collect admass varieties - 8 different variations on the 1874 penny are good enough for me!

In the absence of any clear direction at the moment, I have started to dabble in hammered, Roman and even Celtic, which is nowhere near as expensive a proposition as it sounds. Beginners are often amazed at the ridiculously low cost of Roman coins, but it is hardly surprising given that metal detectorists are turning them up by the skipload.

As money is not as plentiful as it was, I now pick coins by 'eye appeal' i.e. grade is more or less irrelevant, just so long as the coin has good tone and an absence of damage, and of course worn coins are more historically evocative than pristine examples. Not the best way to make a killing, but anything which looks tidy should still sell if push comes to shove.

So there you have it, one collector's philosophy on 45 years of collecting.

[basecamp 0]

Getting back to the subject of token coins, I have a strange coin comemerating General William Booth and the Salvation Army. It has an image of the Salvation Army Headquarters with the words 101 Queen Victoria St, headquarters london. On the other side it has on the outer edge 3rd July 1882.

Its about the size of a Victorian halfpenny. Does anyone recognise this type of coin and if so is it classed as a token coin or just a commerative type coin?

[Hussulo 6]

Getting back to the subject of token coins, I have a strange coin comemerating General William Booth and the Salvation Army. It has an image of the Salvation Army Headquarters with the words 101 Queen Victoria St, headquarters london. On the other side it has on the outer edge 3rd July 1882.

Its about the size of a Victorian halfpenny. Does anyone recognise this type of coin and if so is it classed as a token coin or just a commerative type coin?

Probably a commerative token. Did a quick search on the net but can't find anything about it.

[josie 8]

Hope this will help not much.

http://www.sacollectables.com/cmha/volume3.../instrument.htm

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?SA/SA.shtml

They did became self sustaining on those days just an opinion, maybe hussulo is right a commemoartive token since they started and commemorate the day its a start of work maybe a start of wages token.

[basecamp 0]

I can see where your coming from, I will follow this up with some 'i-web' research, the Salvation Army were massive in those days and archives although large should cough up the info I want.

Thanks for your help/suggestions.

coin picture;

http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002544218028282686

[scottishmoney 52]

To specialise or not, that is the question,

whether 'tis nobler in the spirit to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous expense of fortune,

Bodles and Bawbees, Turners and Hat Pieces, or a token to please thine affection?