inherited colection

[John Chandler 0]

Hi all,

I am new to this so please forgive my ignorance.

I wonder if you members can help me please.

My wife and her sister have just inherited a collection of what I think are guineas, lots of sovereigns/half sovereigns and sets of sovereigns and also lots of pre decimal coins dating back around 300 years.

What is the best way to go about valuing all this?

What are the pitfalls or people/tricks to avoid?

What is the best way to sell? Maybe to an individual/s or through auction as a lot.

Any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks

John

[TomGoodheart 403]

Welcome John. Firstly it might be helpful to get a better idea of what they have. If you could post a few photographs of half a dozen of the nicer older coins it might give people a chance to assess condition and types of coins?

After that, well if they are in no hurry then taking time to catalogue the coins would be best. Higher value ones could be sold through auction (the more value, the more likely to be sold individually) or a specialist dealer. But it depends on quality whether we are talking bullion (for the gold coins) or 'numismatic' interest.

There are also dealers here (or members could recommend a few). Most dealers will travel to look at a collection that is potentially up for sale for free, or for a cost, value a collection for insurance purposes.

It also helps to know if it's an 'accumulation' or 'collection'. Generally accumulations were picked up over time or sometimes bought from a 'mail order' dealer. Though guineas and sovereigns suggest a collection. Collections will usually be more focused and often the collector will have recorded somewhere what the coins are, how much they cost and where acquired. If your wife and sister-in-law can find such a record that would help a lot. And also how they were stored. Collectors often take better care over storage. Accumulators are more likely to pop things in bags, suitcases, biscuit tins ...

In the meantime key things are DO NOT CLEAN them (or even give them a nice 'wipe over' to better see the details). Such damage cannot be reversed. And try to handle them by the edges, put them somewhere they won't rub or knock together (so not in a bag or jar together!)

.

Edited January 20, 2015 by TomGoodheart

[Coinery 1,157]

That sounds very intriguing, John! I'd go with what's been said above. If you do decide to go to a major auction, you could find some good deals on sellers' fees if the collection is interesting enough? Depending on what coins you have, and the condition, of course, various auctions could be suggested. Please don't clean or wipe ANY of them, thinking it'll make them look more appealing. Also, no bouncing them around...edge nicks and digs will loose you hundreds, maybe even thousands!

Some pictures would be great!

[mhcoins 95]

Hi John,

Sounds very interesting, you can get a free and impartial online valuation here >>>>>

http://www.mhcoins.co.uk/free-valuation/