Another Newbie

[JohnnyS 0]

Hello everyone,

Another newbie I'm afraid with the same type of questions.

I'm just in the very early stages of coin collecting, actually I've gone as far as to raid my children's money boxes.

Not into it for the investment just the enjoyment of collecting something that has been on the planet for hundreds of years. Recently ordered my first book-the Collectors' Coins GB.

Could someone please help me with following questions:

1. Plan on collecting mostly UK, do you recommend a particular album, something that I won't 'out grow' too quickly.

2. As I have zero pre-decimal is it worth buying 'bulk' from ebay or will I just be purchasing junk? Do you recommend ebay at all?

3. I've admired some Roman coins on ebay and been amazed at the age of these items. Some are going relatively cheap (obviously poor condition), again is buying these from ebay a wise choice?

Thanks in advance

John

[TomGoodheart 403]

Hi Johnny, and welcome! To try to answer your questions in order;

By album, I presume you mean to put coins in? Well, most here tend to use trays of some sort. I have a cabinet, which is a wooden case with drawers drilled with holes to put your coins in, but it weren't cheap! Albums are OK, providing you buy proper ones designed for the purpose since in the old days some plastics used would discolour your coins. But they can get heavy and the pages sag. Trays are a bit more expensive (Chris who runs this site has some if you click on the predecimal.com link under the logo at the top of the page and go to 'Accessories'. Or the generally cheapest option is little paper envelopes. A dealer called Colin Cookesells them. They are made from acid free paper (so won't damage your coins). The only draw back is you can't see the coin! Some people do use the plastic envelopes but these aren't best for long term storage, or for your better coins. Again due to possible damage from the plastic.

eBay is best when you know what you're doing. There are bargains, but also overpriced junk! It's more fun to look in antique shops, car boot sales or if you have a nearby coin dealer, in person at a shop. eBay is good to search though to see what people are paying for stuff, but grading (the assessment of how much wear a coin has) can be ridiculously bad. And since better grade means more expensive .. it's important to know a bit about that before trusting ebay sellers!

The bulk Roman coins on eaby will never be brillliant condition, but as an exercise in cleaning and identifying, that's not a bad way to do it. However other dealers with websites do sell lots (as in auction lots, ie: a small number together) of Roman coins for ID ing. I think again Chris has a bit he's written about Roman coins here on the predecimal.com site.

Probably in time you'll find a range of coins (either of particular value or historic period) you particularly like. Just remember, nobody here minds answering questions (though threads inevitably go off topic a bit!) even to a 'here's an ebay listing number, do you think this is a fair price'. Unless of course it's something someone else wants too. LOL

Edited October 7, 2012 by TomGoodheart

[Peter 615]

Hi

Johnny

Welcome to the forum.I have albums,trays,2x2 flips,aluminium cases containing six trays and a coin cabinet.I started many years ago with albums.I ended up putting the coins in flips and then into albums.

There is no best method it is down to personal preference.

Have a look around the predecimal site.

I bought some of the small albums from Chris which hold about 40 2x2 flips.

[Accumulator 52]

Hi John, welcome to the forum.

Although it's great to look at and handle the actual coins I tend to photograph them and keep the photos on my computer. That way I can browse and examine (in enlarged detail) the coins to my hearts content without constantly needing to retrieve them from their safe storage. It means that most of the time I'm only viewing a virtual collection, but it works for me.

The main thing to avoid are the older pvc coin pockets which, over years, leave a sticky blue/green residue on the coins. I spent many an hour cleaning this gunk off my boyhood collection (acetone works)!

eBay does contain an inordinate amount of junk but, as another recent thread has proved, there are bargains out there waiting to be had. You just need to know what you're looking for.

I can't comment on Roman coins as this isn't my area (I do have a few though). If bulk buys are cheap enough then I see no reason why buying some won't provide you with a good introduction. While virtually all your learning will come from books, nothing beats putting this into practice with your own coins.

[declanwmagee 122]

I like these:

Coin storage boxes

You can mix and match the cheapy plastic 2x2s with the better self adhesive flips like in the photo - same size, you see.

200 coins per box. I have one for each denomination and a couple for overspill, as I have slightly more than 200 examples of each denomination. I shall soon be buying another...

[Paulus 1,975]

I also like the 2x2 Lighthouse self-adhesive coin holders, I store them in Lighthouse albums.

The one thing I don't like is that you can't read the edge legends ...

[Paulus 1,975]

I also like the 2x2 Lighthouse self-adhesive coin holders, I store them in Lighthouse albums.

The one thing I don't like is that you can't read the edge legends ...

[Peckris 579]

To answer your third question - Roman coins were minted in large quantities and survive in large quantities too, as many hoards were buried when the legions left, plus the Empire was vast. So I would not be tempted to spend a few pounds on a worn bit of green, whether from eBay or anywhere else. You can pick up reasonable late bronzes - e.g. Constantine - for a tenner, and quite good mid-to-late silver denarii for less than £50. Those scrappy bits of green Roman that you can barely make out the emperor let alone much else, are worthless. Don't go near them.

[Rob 3,152]

If you are just starting out and know next to nothing, ebay has a large selection of copies waiting for people like you to snap up. Tread very carefully when buying decent looking coins from there. Roman copies are abundant as are later items. This is something that various members point out on a regular basis, though with next to no one collecting Roman, or at least specialising in them, these copies are likely to slip under the forum radar. Have a look at the forgery network for copies listed and wildwinds for a pretty comprehensive lsiting of Roman coins.

[TomGoodheart 403]

Really, until you know what you're doing it's safest to buy from a dealer. Here for example is a lot of Roman coins available for £33 from a reputable dealer that's a friend of Chris P (who runs this forum and site):

Not in fantastic condition, but genuine and not a bad price for seven different Emperors from 600-700 years ago I think! Just click on the pic for the link.

Edited October 7, 2012 by TomGoodheart

[Paulus 1,975]

Really, until you know what you're doing it's safest to buy from a dealer. Here for example is a lot of Roman coins available for £33 from a reputable dealer that's a friend of Chris P (who runs this forum and site):

Not in fantastic condition, but genuine and not a bad price for seven different Emperors from 600-700 years ago I think! Just click on the pic for the link.

Give or take a thousand years or so!

[Rob 3,152]

You can pick up close to EF Romans from £30-40 apiece. High grade examples of many types are surprisingly cheap with relatively few costing three, four or five figures. It probably isn't worth the risk of buying unknown items from ebay when you can go to a coin fair and peruse the trays. a) you get a better idea of what is out there and you are buying from people who are knowledgable and are usually willing to discuss. Many items on ebay are sold by people who haven't a clue, as the eBay laughs thread will show. Every other coin is rare, and most of those that aren't are overgraded anyway.

Stupid emoticons won't allow you to make a point b. It's little wonder that textspeak rules if a smiley takes precedence over a logical sequence. Doh.

Edited October 7, 2012 by Rob

[Accumulator 52]

You can pick up close to EF Romans from £30-40 apiece. High grade examples of many types are surprisingly cheap with relatively few costing three, four or five figures. It probably isn't worth the risk of buying unknown items from ebay when you can go to a coin fair and peruse the trays. a) you get a better idea of what is out there and you are buying from people who are knowledgable and are usually willing to discuss. Many items on ebay are sold by people who haven't a clue, as the eBay laughs thread will show. Every other coin is rare, and most of those that aren't are overgraded anyway.

Stupid emoticons won't allow you to make a point b. It's little wonder that textspeak rules if a smiley takes precedence over a logical sequence. Doh.

I just realised what your second paragraph meant, Rob. I thought you were having a go at someone else for using emoticons, when you had just used one yourself!

Let's try:

a)

c)

Seems to work for me?

Edit: See what you mean now!

Edited October 7, 2012 by Accumulator

[Rob 3,152]

You can pick up close to EF Romans from £30-40 apiece. High grade examples of many types are surprisingly cheap with relatively few costing three, four or five figures. It probably isn't worth the risk of buying unknown items from ebay when you can go to a coin fair and peruse the trays. a) you get a better idea of what is out there and you are buying from people who are knowledgable and are usually willing to discuss. Many items on ebay are sold by people who haven't a clue, as the eBay laughs thread will show. Every other coin is rare, and most of those that aren't are overgraded anyway.

Stupid emoticons won't allow you to make a point b. It's little wonder that textspeak rules if a smiley takes precedence over a logical sequence. Doh.

I just realised what your second paragraph meant, Rob. I thought you were having a go at someone else for using emoticons, when you had just used one yourself!

Let's try:

a)

c)

Seems to work for me?

Edit: See what you mean now!

Probably relies on the assumption that most written things on the web are drivel, and so have no point to make.

[TomGoodheart 403]

Give or take a thousand years or so!

Doh! Yeah, I meant that!

[Peter 615]

I started off on the Roman quest after buying a job lot from a dealer (market trader) for £10.I soaked these in Olive oil and I'd most.

Michael Trenary is a great dealer and I bought some nice examples.Also a US dealer who doesn't seem to trade now.I also have a metal detector and the site of a Roman fort across the road. (yes I do have permission)

[JohnnyS 0]

Thanks very much for all the contructive advice, it's been appreciated.

I've just ordered the Roman Base Metal Coin book to raise my knowledge from zero. Still not sure how to display my coins yet, will carrying on looking and reading.

[TomGoodheart 403]

Thanks very much for all the contructive advice, it's been appreciated.

I've just ordered the Roman Base Metal Coin book to raise my knowledge from zero. Still not sure how to display my coins yet, will carrying on looking and reading.

The bottom line is that storage is down to personal preference. But what's important is that you avoid the coins rubbing against each other and causing further wear and damage, and that they are protected from extremes of damp or chemical fumes. I used to store my coins in flips. Basically they are card (some are plastic) with clear windows and you pop the coin on the window and fold over the other half. The coin is sandwiched between the windows and so protected from sticky fingers. And if you drop it, the card takes the damage. It's an inexpensive way to start. Certainly compared to the money a coin cabinet would cost!

Just be careful if you use the non-adhesive ones and close them with staples, to fully remove the staple before you try to get the coin out. I've met a few coins with staple scratches across them. Not attractive!