New Collector, looking for advice

[Accumulator 52]

Join date May 2009. Only 13 posts, mostly very recent. Simples!

[Guest irish79]

Great advice from everyone, thank you. I have the "Grading British Coins" book in the mail, should have that later this week. I do have a small bag of circulated coins ranging from 1890's through 1960's, both copper and silver which I got form my parents and grandparents many years ago - which I have been going through again recently and getting a feel for what each coin feels like. My favorite though is a 1897 florin which is in maybe fair condition which I dug up in my garden in Darlington when I was a teen. Not worth anything other than maybe scrap silver but not everyday you dig up a 100 year old coin. I have been looking more and more at different coins online on some of the dealers sites and more and more am siding with the silver coins, though in the end I would like to have an example across the spectrum. I really like the designs on the half crown, crown, and florins.

David

Hi David,

Welcome to the forum. I don't know whether anybody has mentioned this to you yet (I know it's one of John's favourite sayings) but buy the coin not its grade. When I was collecting I would try to get the best coins I could afford but always found that when upgrading there were lower grade coins I just couldn't part with. Whether it was that I liked the patina or something about the process of acquiring them, I know not but for example in a run of George V pennies mostly with high percentages of lustre, I had a VF 1922. Not particularly difficult or expensive to find in better grade but I just liked my old '22 and didn't see the need to upgrade it. I guess in a way this kind of personalises a collection and to my mind makes it a little more interesting. So by all means start out with the intention of collecting runs of coins in very high grade but don't be surprised if what you end up with is just that little bit different.

I agree. Eye appeal and finding coins that just "look right" to you are the ones to collect. Don't let someone else dictate your choices.

Best Regards,

InforaPenny

I notice you've been 'lurking' for a while, though have been a member for a few years. Your name and list of interests suggest you are a collector of bronze pennies like myself and a few others here. I for one would be very interested to see pics of a few of your more interesting coins if you don't mind sharing them? Feel free to start a new thread if you wish.

How on earth would you know that?

Actually, I only just joined the forum.

[Mongo 1]

Great advice from everyone, thank you. I have the "Grading British Coins" book in the mail, should have that later this week. I do have a small bag of circulated coins ranging from 1890's through 1960's, both copper and silver which I got form my parents and grandparents many years ago - which I have been going through again recently and getting a feel for what each coin feels like. My favorite though is a 1897 florin which is in maybe fair condition which I dug up in my garden in Darlington when I was a teen. Not worth anything other than maybe scrap silver but not everyday you dig up a 100 year old coin. I have been looking more and more at different coins online on some of the dealers sites and more and more am siding with the silver coins, though in the end I would like to have an example across the spectrum. I really like the designs on the half crown, crown, and florins.

David

Hi David,

Welcome to the forum. I don't know whether anybody has mentioned this to you yet (I know it's one of John's favourite sayings) but buy the coin not its grade. When I was collecting I would try to get the best coins I could afford but always found that when upgrading there were lower grade coins I just couldn't part with. Whether it was that I liked the patina or something about the process of acquiring them, I know not but for example in a run of George V pennies mostly with high percentages of lustre, I had a VF 1922. Not particularly difficult or expensive to find in better grade but I just liked my old '22 and didn't see the need to upgrade it. I guess in a way this kind of personalises a collection and to my mind makes it a little more interesting. So by all means start out with the intention of collecting runs of coins in very high grade but don't be surprised if what you end up with is just that little bit different.

I agree. Eye appeal and finding coins that just "look right" to you are the ones to collect. Don't let someone else dictate your choices.

Best Regards,

InforaPenny

I notice you've been 'lurking' for a while, though have been a member for a few years. Your name and list of interests suggest you are a collector of bronze pennies like myself and a few others here. I for one would be very interested to see pics of a few of your more interesting coins if you don't mind sharing them? Feel free to start a new thread if you wish.

How on earth would you know that?

Actually, I only just joined the forum.

Think they are referring to InforaPenny, Irish

[Peckris 579]

Join date May 2009. Only 13 posts, mostly very recent. Simples!

Ok, I'll give you that one, Sherlock!