beginner series

[jodape 0]

Hi, I've been reading around for about a week, have a copy of Collectors' Coins GB, Pre-decimal Issues 1797-1970 in the post. Wondering if anyone can give me some advice on a series that isn't too hard or costly to start with?

Thanks in advance.

J

[Nek17 0]

Hi Jodep, welcome to the forum. As you could see I am also a newbie here, so really can't advise but share some learning experience here.

Cheers and enjoy the hobby.

[Rob 3,152]

It depends on what you view as costly. If you are undecided what to specialise in, a good starting point is to go for a type set of anything and everything within your budget. You can worry about what to collect in depth once you decide what you like. Obviously the cheapest is the most modern and as a generalisation the further back you go in time the more expensive things become, but there are some issues even from a couple hundred years ago that are so common that they can be acquired cheaply.

First thing is to learn how to grade a coin - it is very easy to overgrade until you know what to look for. Just about anything in the past hundred years should be collected in high grade and as a rule of thumb you should always buy the best you can afford. There is no right or wrong about a series or theme or denomination that you collect because it is each to their own.

[Coinery 1,156]

If you're thinking milled coins, rather than hammered, I'd go for a monarch set, G6/G5 would give you plenty of experience in .925/.500 silver, copper and brass. Both monarch's are very affordable for most of their coins, and it's always best to make your inevitable mistakes on coins that have cost you very little!

There's plenty of scope for grading experience with all the various busts and weaknesses with G5, and also an opportunity to actually get a reasonably-sized collection going quite quickly and cheaply with G6.

Another 'older' period that's largely affordable are the G3 coins!

My own interest is in Elizabeth I, who can be collected in low-grade fairly cheaply, as can the Edward hammered pennies (a lifetime of learning with these).

Whatever you decide to go for, buy the best reference books on the area! Anyone on here can advise you on that once you're ready! Also, there's around 10 year's worth of excellent reading material on this forum, and I can't recommend enough that you sit down for a couple of evenings with a bottle of wine (or three), and go through some of it!

Welcome aboard, and enjoy!

[TomGoodheart 403]

Hi and welcome jodape! I would say the important thing is to find a coin series you like. That includes size, designs, metal. ALL coin series will have their 'micro' varieties that are subtly different and need experience to spot and may be challenging to find, but most within the last 100 years will provide a range of designs and grades and prices to look through.

I myself started with shillings. I remember using them as a child so they had a sentimental value, plus they aren't too pricy for the later ones, the series goes back several hundred years (strictly to Edward VI/ Henry VIII) and I liked the size. And there were Commonwealth (New Zealand, South Africa etc) issues too, to add to the diversity.

Costly? Well you can pick up coins for a couple of quid or hundreds+, so it's sort of relative to your budget. But even 'old' coins, such as shillings of Charles I from the 17th century can be found for £15 upwards. Though for that price they won't be in terribly good condition, but should be recognisable for design and rough date of issue.

Just remember, you don't have to stick with whatever you start with (we all have a few coins we've found that don't fit into the collection!), changing your mind is fine, you can always ask for advice here about grades etc and as others have said, start with cheaper coins until you know a bit about what makes a particular coin desirable and expensive. (That's not the same thing as desirable and expensive on ebay!!)

[Peckris 579]

Hi, I've been reading around for about a week, have a copy of Collectors' Coins GB, Pre-decimal Issues 1797-1970 in the post. Wondering if anyone can give me some advice on a series that isn't too hard or costly to start with?

Thanks in advance.

J

Farthings have a big fan club here, sixpences (for no good reason I can see) don't. But both series offer amazing value for money, providing you have either good eyesight or a good magnifier.

Next up, you have the similarly sized halfpennies and shillings. The former are less popular than the latter, though I'm talking post-1860 - earlier, they are both equally collectable.

The largest denominations - crowns, halfcrowns and pennies, have always been very popular and certainly won't come cheap.

Or, as someone else said, you could try a single monarch. Elizabeth II and George VI are both easy series, particularly if you start as a type collector not a date run obsessive George V is also a good starting point (a fascinating reign) but prices for the higher grades are getting eye watering. However, 1936 for the final series, or 1915/1916/1918 for the earlier, you can still get bargains. The most difficult period is the 'middle' one, 1920-1926, in all denominations.

Edward VII is hard in high grade though 1902 is affordable. Earlier, Victorian Jubilee Head is very easy especially 1887, and Old Head is fairly easy especially 1901.

But to echo what's been said - always get the best quality you can afford. Better, in my opinion, to buy one coin in EF than 20 in Fine for the same money.

[jodape 0]

Thanks for the quick replies.

Is there anywhere to avoid like the plague for buying coins?

[Nick 329]

Thanks for the quick replies.

Is there anywhere to avoid like the plague for buying coins?

Yes, but if we mention his name this thread will get pulled.

[pies 33]

As a newbie myself all i can say is buy quality And enjoy it if you stop enjoying it stop collecting

[Paulus 1,975]

As a newbie myself all i can say is buy quality And enjoy it if you stop enjoying it stop collecting

I would echo everything that's been said so far. I'm still a relative newbie (15 months in to more serious collecting) and I have enjoyed (nearly) every moment of the roller-coaster ride!

The main advice I can offer is:

• Buy the highest grade you can afford (as many, many have said)
  
• Come here for advice about anything at all (to do with coins!)
  
• Don't spend what you would consider significant money 'blind' (i.e. without seeing the coin 'in hand'), unless it is from someone whose grading and description you trust, or from a dealer who offers a 'no quibble' return (most reputable dealers will do this). This might rule out a lot of high-price online auction purchases (eBay for example), unless you are willing to take a degree of risk
  
• Do not trust someone else's grade for a coin (including slabbed coins) unless, again, it's from someone who's grading you have learned to trust
  
• Get the reference books that are relevant for your area of focus
  
• Do not confuse investing in coins with collecting them as a hobby
  
• Learn to grade a coin yourself
  
• Only buy coins that have eye-appeal to you - regardless of the grade or rarity of the coin
  

(there's many more but I have run out of steam for now!)

ENJOY!