Advice on coin prices for a newbie?

[Mongo 1]

Hiya forum,

I just signed up, having found the predecimal shop online.

I am new to coin collecting, I recently got given a small box of old british coins from my dad, nothing special there, but I really liked the look, feel and history of the coins... I think now I have discovered a new hobby!

I started off doing a quick google search for tips on collecting british coins, then purchased an old 2008 spink catalogue to try and help me avoid paying lots for coins not worth much.

I then went ahead and won some auctions on eBay... I was very happy with the coins I purchased, but I would like anyones advice on the amount I have been paying so far, as I really am enjoying my new hobby, and would like to maybe start looking at more expensive and better condition coins (starting with the ones on predecimal.com).

Here are the coins and prices that I have started my collection with, any opinions from experienced members, good or bad will be much appreciated, I would like to nip it in the bud now if I am paying silly money.

1807 Halfpenny £3.57

1866 Farthing £3.22

1799 Farthing £4.25

Combined postage on the above 3 coins was £1.00, so the total altogether was £12.04

1888 Farthing £3.71

1822 Farthing £1.30

1853 £0.99

Comined postage of £1.75 so a total of £7.75

The three above look alot better than the photos, I pulled all the pics off of the auctions I won, but can not link to the supersize images, sorry.

Thanks forum!

[Coinery 1,153]

It hardly seems worth getting the catalogue out or looking any more closely than an I-phone image of your coins because, at those prices, nobody is going to be able to save you very much whatever the advice! If you can continue to build your collection at these rates, you'll never be setting the world on fire when you cash it in, but you won't have lost anything, that's for sure!

You're starting very sensibly; a respected (mostly) price-guide, and communications with the best forum on the web...there are people on here that you will never transcend in their knowledge on these matters and, moreover, they share their hard-earned learnings willingly!

Stick around...in ten years you will be hooked and putting all your savings into antique coins, you wait and see, welcome!

[Coinery 1,153]

I guess I should also add, that coins for sale on this website, and by dealers who participate on this forum, are very much transparent in their pricings! Remember they are trading amongst their peers, so a very honest place to be checking out values and buying genuine coins!

[Paulus 1,975]

I can second all of that, and you are quite right to be wary of postage prices, especially for low value coins. There is lots of great advice on here, including the perils of buying on eBay!

I can recommend this link as a great ready-reckonner for milled common types:

http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk/values/

It can be a very rewarding and addictive hobby, welcome along!

[Peckris 579]

Hiya forum,

I just signed up, having found the predecimal shop online.

I am new to coin collecting, I recently got given a small box of old british coins from my dad, nothing special there, but I really liked the look, feel and history of the coins... I think now I have discovered a new hobby!

I started off doing a quick google search for tips on collecting british coins, then purchased an old 2008 spink catalogue to try and help me avoid paying lots for coins not worth much.

I then went ahead and won some auctions on eBay... I was very happy with the coins I purchased, but I would like anyones advice on the amount I have been paying so far, as I really am enjoying my new hobby, and would like to maybe start looking at more expensive and better condition coins (starting with the ones on predecimal.com).

Here are the coins and prices that I have started my collection with, any opinions from experienced members, good or bad will be much appreciated, I would like to nip it in the bud now if I am paying silly money.

1807 Halfpenny £3.57

1866 Farthing £3.22

1799 Farthing £4.25

Combined postage on the above 3 coins was £1.00, so the total altogether was £12.04

1888 Farthing £3.71

1822 Farthing £1.30

1853 £0.99

Comined postage of £1.75 so a total of £7.75

The three above look alot better than the photos, I pulled all the pics off of the auctions I won, but can not link to the supersize images, sorry.

Thanks forum!

The top three coins are respectable for a beginner - they are all in the range Fine to Good Fine, and you have probably paid about the right price for them, you certainly haven't paid too much. It's hard to see the bottom three, but the only doubt I have is the 1853 farthing - that's one of the most common Victoria coppers, and it has a spot of verdigris which should be avoided when buying coins. At 99p you haven't been "done", but for about £5 you should be able to find one better than VF, and £10 would get you an EF example. (Sometimes you should ignore Spink values, though it was a good move to pick up a copy - experience will teach you which coins are the most common.)

I'd say you've made a sensible if modest start, and at those prices you won't be going wrong! Welcome to the forums .

[Mongo 1]

Thanks for the tips! and thanks for the value link, I have bookmarked it.

In the handful of coins I was given, there was a beaten up old 1771 coin, the date was just readable and the head could be barely seen, but I think it was that old coin that caught my attention... Just the fact it was so old.

I thought I would start out small, only pay a few pounds for my first coins, then if i made mistakes they would not be expensive ones. Now I have found a place where I can learn from people with lots of experience, I think I will be more confident in making my collection grow.

I am on a limited budget, but was thinking of starting out by purchasing some decimal UNC coins, and pre decimal VF coins from the predcimal shop website, as and when I have a few pounds spare.

ref to the predcimal.com shop... I have read up about the sites owner, and it seems a very honest place to buy from, would members on here advise that the prices on the website are all reasonable? I really like some of the coins there, and with some nice grade ones available at low prices, they would be ideal for me to start with.

Thanks again for helping a newb!

[argentumandcoins 70]

Peck made a good assessment in relation to your purchases.

Your question regarding where to go next is a bit of a personal choice really. Coinery was quite right to say that you will never get rich nor die broke if you continue with small cost purchases. If you are in it because you like the history and design of our coinage the selling price when/if you move them on won't really matter.

Decimal coins I wouldn't really bother with unless you think you can build a good collection based on what you can pull from your pockets together with additions from ebay/dealers. I will have a bit of decimal stuff in UNC lying around together with some UNC late pre-decimal stuff that I would send to you for free as long as you drop a couple of quid in the next Air Ambulance box you see. If you are interested send me a PM with your name and address.

Buying from Chris is a safe place to start. Fair grading and prices (and a generous host to all of the degenerates on this forum )

The best advice I can give is buy the coins that you like the look of. Price is irrelevant as long as you enjoy what you acquire. I am too young to have pulled gems from my change but the older members on here usually count as their most treasured items the mid-grade scarcer dates or types that they were given as change. It's not the cost of purchase that counts but the value to you.

[Mongo 1]

Peck made a good assessment in relation to your purchases.

Your question regarding where to go next is a bit of a personal choice really. Coinery was quite right to say that you will never get rich nor die broke if you continue with small cost purchases. If you are in it because you like the history and design of our coinage the selling price when/if you move them on won't really matter.

Decimal coins I wouldn't really bother with unless you think you can build a good collection based on what you can pull from your pockets together with additions from ebay/dealers. I will have a bit of decimal stuff in UNC lying around together with some UNC late pre-decimal stuff that I would send to you for free as long as you drop a couple of quid in the next Air Ambulance box you see. If you are interested send me a PM with your name and address.

Buying from Chris is a safe place to start. Fair grading and prices (and a generous host to all of the degenerates on this forum )

The best advice I can give is buy the coins that you like the look of. Price is irrelevant as long as you enjoy what you acquire. I am too young to have pulled gems from my change but the older members on here usually count as their most treasured items the mid-grade scarcer dates or types that they were given as change. It's not the cost of purchase that counts but the value to you.

Thanks! Thats very nice of you, I will send you my details in PM.

With the UNC decimal coins, its not the value that appeals, but more the look of a bright shiny unused coin... Its interesting really, I had never even taken a second look at any coins in my pocket, but since taking an interest in coins, even a nice looking 5 pence that I got given as change yesterday is nice to the eye!.....

I just done a quick google, I can donate some money to the charity via their website here:

http://www.midlandsairambulance.com/shop/?c=20

Is this the correct air ambulance charity?

Thanks again

[argentumandcoins 70]

Peck made a good assessment in relation to your purchases.

Your question regarding where to go next is a bit of a personal choice really. Coinery was quite right to say that you will never get rich nor die broke if you continue with small cost purchases. If you are in it because you like the history and design of our coinage the selling price when/if you move them on won't really matter.

Decimal coins I wouldn't really bother with unless you think you can build a good collection based on what you can pull from your pockets together with additions from ebay/dealers. I will have a bit of decimal stuff in UNC lying around together with some UNC late pre-decimal stuff that I would send to you for free as long as you drop a couple of quid in the next Air Ambulance box you see. If you are interested send me a PM with your name and address.

Buying from Chris is a safe place to start. Fair grading and prices (and a generous host to all of the degenerates on this forum )

The best advice I can give is buy the coins that you like the look of. Price is irrelevant as long as you enjoy what you acquire. I am too young to have pulled gems from my change but the older members on here usually count as their most treasured items the mid-grade scarcer dates or types that they were given as change. It's not the cost of purchase that counts but the value to you.

Thanks! Thats very nice of you, I will send you my details in PM.

With the UNC decimal coins, its not the value that appeals, but more the look of a bright shiny unused coin... Its interesting really, I had never even taken a second look at any coins in my pocket, but since taking an interest in coins, even a nice looking 5 pence that I got given as change yesterday is nice to the eye!.....

I just done a quick google, I can donate some money to the charity via their website here:

http://www.midlandsairambulance.com/shop/?c=20

Is this the correct air ambulance charity?

Thanks again

I live near Penrith in Cumbria and in the area of the Great North Air Ambulance. http://www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk/donate

BUT you can donate to your own area if you prefer or an area wher you think they especially need it (Snowdonia for example if you are a climber etc). Any money to any area is a help.

I will post your goody bag today

John.

[Peter 615]

Another newbie here John.

Can I have a goody bag of UNC 18C farthings

The £2 is on its way to the air ambulance.

[Mongo 1]

I live near Penrith in Cumbria and in the area of the Great North Air Ambulance. http://www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk/donate

BUT you can donate to your own area if you prefer or an area wher you think they especially need it (Snowdonia for example if you are a climber etc). Any money to any area is a help.

I will post your goody bag today

John.

Thanks again! I have made a donation to the North area charity for you. I will let you know when the coins arrive.

A forum member kindly informed me you are a trusted coin dealer, so I googled your username and found your website. You have some very nice coins in my budget for me to consider... I am probably just blind, but I could not find your postage costs, are they available to see in the checkout process?

[azda 979]

I live near Penrith in Cumbria and in the area of the Great North Air Ambulance. http://www.greatnort...ce.co.uk/donate

BUT you can donate to your own area if you prefer or an area wher you think they especially need it (Snowdonia for example if you are a climber etc). Any money to any area is a help.

I will post your goody bag today

John.

Thanks again! I have made a donation to the North area charity for you. I will let you know when the coins arrive.

A forum member kindly informed me you are a trusted coin dealer, so I googled your username and found your website.

Mongo, just underneath where John (argentumandcoins) has written you'll see his link to his website, no need to google, just click on the link and it takes you there, along with other member who have websites. Just don't click mine, there's nothing there as i'm a lazy bar steward

[Mongo 1]

I live near Penrith in Cumbria and in the area of the Great North Air Ambulance. http://www.greatnort...ce.co.uk/donate

BUT you can donate to your own area if you prefer or an area wher you think they especially need it (Snowdonia for example if you are a climber etc). Any money to any area is a help.

I will post your goody bag today

John.

Thanks again! I have made a donation to the North area charity for you. I will let you know when the coins arrive.

A forum member kindly informed me you are a trusted coin dealer, so I googled your username and found your website.

Mongo, just underneath where John (argentumandcoins) has written you'll see his link to his website, no need to google, just click on the link and it takes you there, along with other member who have websites. Just don't click mine, there's nothing there as i'm a lazy bar steward

Oh yeah! thanks azda, Im such a numnut

[argentumandcoins 70]

Another newbie here John.

Can I have a goody bag of UNC 18C farthings

The £2 is on its way to the air ambulance.

Peter,

Very, very sorry but the only 1719 farthing I had has just gone off to Mongo. It was only nearly Fine and not worth bothering about. There were also a couple with Queen Anne on again only nearly Fine.

Sorry,

John.

Edited May 28, 2012 by argentumandcoins

[argentumandcoins 70]

I live near Penrith in Cumbria and in the area of the Great North Air Ambulance. http://www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk/donate

BUT you can donate to your own area if you prefer or an area wher you think they especially need it (Snowdonia for example if you are a climber etc). Any money to any area is a help.

I will post your goody bag today

John.

Thanks again! I have made a donation to the North area charity for you. I will let you know when the coins arrive.

A forum member kindly informed me you are a trusted coin dealer, so I googled your username and found your website. You have some very nice coins in my budget for me to consider... I am probably just blind, but I could not find your postage costs, are they available to see in the checkout process?

The postage is added at checkout, BUT, please buy from Chris before you come to me.

If it wasn't for Chris running this forum you would likely have taken a long time to find my website.

Any business I get as a user on here is nice but I am mainly here to talk to/help fellow collectors.

Thanks for the donation up Norf

[Mongo 1]

I live near Penrith in Cumbria and in the area of the Great North Air Ambulance. http://www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk/donate

BUT you can donate to your own area if you prefer or an area wher you think they especially need it (Snowdonia for example if you are a climber etc). Any money to any area is a help.

I will post your goody bag today

John.

Thanks again! I have made a donation to the North area charity for you. I will let you know when the coins arrive.

A forum member kindly informed me you are a trusted coin dealer, so I googled your username and found your website. You have some very nice coins in my budget for me to consider... I am probably just blind, but I could not find your postage costs, are they available to see in the checkout process?

The postage is added at checkout, BUT, please buy from Chris before you come to me.

If it wasn't for Chris running this forum you would likely have taken a long time to find my website.

Any business I get as a user on here is nice but I am mainly here to talk to/help fellow collectors.

Thanks for the donation up Norf

Not a problem.. I can buy from both sites! Its nice to have more choice, eBay is ok, but its hard to know who to trust on there. Im all excited about my goody bag! I dunno, 31 years old and looking forward to my new toys!

[Gary 7]

Welcome to the Forum and welcome to the hobby.

A lot of sound advice has already been given so what can I add? From the coin pics that you have already posted it seems that you are going down the bronze coin route so if this is a correct assumption then I recommend a copy of "The Bronze Coinage of Great Britain" by Michael J.Freeman. A very good reference book for bronze coins 1860-1970. Also this forum has a lot of very knowledgeable members in this area so any questions just ask away.

[Mongo 1]

Welcome to the Forum and welcome to the hobby.

A lot of sound advice has already been given so what can I add? From the coin pics that you have already posted it seems that you are going down the bronze coin route so if this is a correct assumption then I recommend a copy of "The Bronze Coinage of Great Britain" by Michael J.Freeman. A very good reference book for bronze coins 1860-1970. Also this forum has a lot of very knowledgeable members in this area so any questions just ask away.

Thanks Gary! At the moment I have not decided to specialize in any one group of coins, only that they are British/English. I like the look of most of the coins I have seen so far, the shilling and florin are very nice, I may start out trying to get some nice grade coins of these. I think at the moment it will be low price coins maybe £5-£30, but from the websites I have seen that should still buy me some nice examples.

While im here.. I got some pvc envelopes off of eBay before I done some research into storage of coins, I read the PVC is no good for long term storage, what is classed as long term for these envelopes?

I since have purchased some lighthouse self adhesive flips, these are much nicer for viewing, and I was told they will not harm coins at all. If you put smaller coins in the large flips does that still protect them just the same?

[Gary 7]

While im here.. I got some pvc envelopes off of eBay before I done some research into storage of coins, I read the PVC is no good for long term storage, what is classed as long term for these envelopes?

I since have purchased some lighthouse self adhesive flips, these are much nicer for viewing, and I was told they will not harm coins at all. If you put smaller coins in the large flips does that still protect them just the same?

PVC envelopes have a bad reputation due to the fact that when they were first introduced they contained a chemical to make them soft and pliable. The problem was this chemical reacted with the coins and accelerated the the occurance of verdigris on any coin containing copper. These days good quailty envelopes are free of these chemicals but the reputation lives on.

2" by 2" paper envelopes are prefered for long time storage but have the disadvantage in that you must remove the coin to view it.

As for self adesive coin flips one would think that this is the best option as the coin is isolated from the enviroment and you can also see the coin without having to touch it. In my experience these too are not ideal. I have had coins in these for up to 15 years and I have to say that even these do not stop uncirculated coins from toning!

The main thing is to store coins in a dry and chemical free enviroment. The main enemy of metal is moisture!

[Accumulator 52]

Welcome! It sounds as though you may start with shillings or florins, but if you happen to collect pennies you may wish to look at my site (link below). I don't sell so you will have to go to Chris or the others for your coins.

[Peckris 579]

With the UNC decimal coins, its not the value that appeals, but more the look of a bright shiny unused coin... Its interesting really, I had never even taken a second look at any coins in my pocket, but since taking an interest in coins, even a nice looking 5 pence that I got given as change yesterday is nice to the eye!.....

If you want nice shiny UNC coins, then you can still get them and follow John's good advice to avoid decimals. The fact is, predecimal coins of the 60s were hoarded in BU condition in their millions, in the lead-up to decimalisation. You can pick up BU pennies and halfpennies dated between 1965 - 1967 very cheap, also brass 3ds, sixpences, even shillings. You pay a little more for florins and halfcrowns, though if you want shiny, 1967 is your date

In fact, if you're looking for cheap BU predecimals, here's a quick rundown:

Halfpennies and pennies - any from 1962 onwards

Brass 3ds - 1937, 1953, 1961 - 1967

Sixpences - 1948, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1965 onwards

Shillings - 1948, 1953, 1957 English, 1959 English, 1961 English, any 1964 - 1966

Florins - 1948, 1953, 1964 - 1967

Halfcrowns - 1948, 1953, 1966 - 1967

Crowns - 1953, 1965

Hope that helps.

[Mongo 1]

Welcome! It sounds as though you may start with shillings or florins, but if you happen to collect pennies you may wish to look at my site (link below). I don't sell so you will have to go to Chris or the others for your coins.

Amazing collection you have there! and a nice website too... I can but dream

[TomGoodheart 402]

Hi and welcome Mongo. Always nice to see someone new and, more importantly, enthusiastic!

I can't offer much advice on nice and shiny, or much on unc, as what I collect rarely comes like that! But I have picked out a few decent decimal coins from change, so it's still possible to get 1980s and 1990s occasionally in BU. I wouldn't spend money on them however.

As to what you have bought, that looks like a good start. In time you'll get a feel for grade and prices. It still surprises me how (realitively) little some brilliant Victorian base metal coins can cost, though generally the further back in time you go the more you will need to pay for the better quality pieces. People talk about rare coins and certainly there are quite a few members here who own some very rare ones, but generally grade wins out over rarity. So whatever you collect, try to get as good an example as you can afford.

And if you're ever unsure, just ask here. We all love giving our opinion!!

[Mongo 1]

With the UNC decimal coins, its not the value that appeals, but more the look of a bright shiny unused coin... Its interesting really, I had never even taken a second look at any coins in my pocket, but since taking an interest in coins, even a nice looking 5 pence that I got given as change yesterday is nice to the eye!.....

If you want nice shiny UNC coins, then you can still get them and follow John's good advice to avoid decimals. The fact is, predecimal coins of the 60s were hoarded in BU condition in their millions, in the lead-up to decimalisation. You can pick up BU pennies and halfpennies dated between 1965 - 1967 very cheap, also brass 3ds, sixpences, even shillings. You pay a little more for florins and halfcrowns, though if you want shiny, 1967 is your date

In fact, if you're looking for cheap BU predecimals, here's a quick rundown:

Halfpennies and pennies - any from 1962 onwards

Brass 3ds - 1937, 1953, 1961 - 1967

Sixpences - 1948, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1965 onwards

Shillings - 1948, 1953, 1957 English, 1959 English, 1961 English, any 1964 - 1966

Florins - 1948, 1953, 1964 - 1967

Halfcrowns - 1948, 1953, 1966 - 1967

Crowns - 1953, 1965

Hope that helps.

Thanks, thats a big help! I do not think I will limit myself to BU coins, I think I will enjoy the hobby more if I take every coin on its own merits.

For a coin that is not particularly rare, nor cheap as chips, what would you say is the lowest grade that is a nice collectable condition? I have seen many that are graded as fine that I think are very nice (especially older coins), but I think it would maybe be better in the long run to save up the extra money and go for at least a Very Fine example.

[Mongo 1]

Hi and welcome Mongo. Always nice to see someone new and, more importantly, enthusiastic!

I can't offer much advice on nice and shiny, or much on unc, as what I collect rarely comes like that! But I have picked out a few decent decimal coins from change, so it's still possible to get 1980s and 1990s occasionally in BU. I wouldn't spend money on them however.

As to what you have bought, that looks like a good start. In time you'll get a feel for grade and prices. It still surprises me how (realitively) little some brilliant Victorian base metal coins can cost, though generally the further back in time you go the more you will need to pay for the better quality pieces. People talk about rare coins and certainly there are quite a few members here who own some very rare ones, but generally grade wins out over rarity. So whatever you collect, try to get as good an example as you can afford.

And if you're ever unsure, just ask here. We all love giving our opinion!!

Thanks Tom! I had only just posted a question about grade, thats interesting you say you can find BU coins in your change... that must be my noobness! I assumed that if a coin was ever in curculation it would never be classed as BU, Im learning!