StephenO

Azda - I think you're probably right. The toning on my shillings looks a lot like the half crown in the photo, although it's only on the obverse which is what makes it weird.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'd never heard of quadrums until now but they sound good. They also sound expensive, though, particularly as I'd have to buy a lot of different sizes to fit all the various sized coins. I think paper envelopes might have to be the answer, at least for now. Silly question, I know, but I'm now wondering what sort of box to keep them in when they're in their envelopes. I've got about 180 coins to store. Most dealers seem to sell the envelopes but not suitable boxes and somehow I don't think and old biscuit tin would do! Also, does anyone have an opinion on clear plastic envelopes, please? Some of the coins I've bought online have arrived in them, but how safe are they for long term storage?

Paddy - I'm not sure what the wood is, I'm afraid. I inherited the book case and I've always assumed it's mahogany due to the colour but I couldn't say for sure. It's definitely not pine, thankfully. PWA - I'd rather not keep them in envelopes if there's an alternative as I like to be able to look at them without having to handle them. Thanks for the suggestion, though. The mystery continues!

Thanks for the reply. The coin tray has a 'smoked' plastic lid you can see through, which I generally keep closed. It's on the bottom shelf of a book case with my other coin trays, and not in direct sunlight. I've had the shillings for 10-15 years but the weird toning's only just started to appear. The rest of my small collection of shillings, from Charles II to Elizabeth II, is in the same tray, plus some florins and half crowns. Some of them are also toned but it's a fairly even tone (mostly sort of violet) on both sides, not just on the one. I don't want them to go the same way so would it be a good idea to cover all the trays with a large cloth?

I've recently noticed that a number of the silver coins in my collection have started to tone but, weirdly enough, only on one side. I keep them in blue-lined Linder trays and only a few of the coins seem to have affected - 1902, 1911 and 1928 shillings (all Uncirculated) and a 1902 Maundy set, all of which I've had for years. The toning is a sort of gold colour and isn't unattractive but, as it's only on the obverse of each, it looks odd. The reverses show no sign of toning and neither do any of my other coins (so far, anyway). Does anyone have an explanation, please? Is it anything I should worry about and is there any way I can cure it if, that is, a cure's needed?

Every inch the warrior princess! Can't wait to see the Jubilee Head episode, if it gets that far.

Hi Iain and welcome to the forum. I love the older £2 coins and the 1986 one is a brilliant design. The bimetallic ones don't have the same appeal (to me, anyway) now that the Royal Mint seems to churn them out for every possible occasion.

Good idea. Thanks for the suggestion. I've Googled them and they sound much better.

I tried to insure my coins through my home insurance last year but they told me they didn't insure collections even if I paid an additional premium.

Thanks for the help and advice, everyone. I enjoy collecting because I'm fascinated by history and because I love the look, the feel and just about everything else about coins, if that makes sense. I have around 200 coins altogether. I've valued them according to Spink's catalogue and Coin News Yearbook and, presuming the grading is accurate (a big presumption, I know!), then the collection is worth between £10,000 and £13,000, depending which book you go by. It's made me realise how over-priced certain dealers are! A lot of the coins are only worth a few pounds but the most valuable include a VF denarius from Tiberius's reign, a Godless florin in EF and an uncirculated 1915 sovereign. I've had an insurance quote for £105 a year to cover the collection. They don't mention whether or not they need receipts.

Hello. This is my first time posting on the forum so please be gentle with me! I've been collecting coins for about twenty years since my godmother left me a small collection in her will. Since then I've spent far more money than I should on it but have only recently got round to cataloguing the coins for insurance purposes. Not being very organised, though, I haven't kept the receipts and don't have a record of where or when I bought most of them. My question - does this matter? The coins are mainly milled British, ranging from a 1672 farthing in VF to a Churchill crown, plus a few Roman ones. I purchased them from various places including a local antiques shop and coin dealers such as Baldwin's, R Ingram and Coincraft. Thank you for any advice you can give.