Strategy & etiquette for purchasing coins

[mrbadexample 985]

1 hour ago, Weaver said:

Hey mrbadexample...(can we get to first name terms yet? I'm Wayne btw)

Yes, of course. It's mister.

As far as identifying world coins, this board on this forum is extremely useful: http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?board=87.0

Read the first post to see what they need (weight, diameter etc), post decent pictures. They haven't failed me yet, even with some pretty worn stuff. It gets a little easier after every one, as you start to be able to pick out the details. I found the numbers on Thai coins quite challenging at first. I enjoyed going through mine as they'll very often post plenty of additional information rather than just "it's a Bhutanese ngultrum from 1979" or suchlike.

Have fun,

Jon

[Weaver 41]

10 minutes ago, Peter said:

Yes Grasshopper you are doing well.

Wax on Wax off Master

(from Karate Kid.)

Edited March 23, 2016 by Weaver
To clarify my quote

[Rob 2,998]

?

[Weaver 41]

1 minute ago, mrbadexample said:

Yes, of course. It's mister.

As far as identifying world coins, this board on this forum is extremely useful: http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?board=87.0

Read the first post to see what they need (weight, diameter etc), post decent pictures. They haven't failed me yet, even with some pretty worn stuff. It gets a little easier after every one, as you start to be able to pick out the details. I found the numbers on Thai coins quite challenging at first. I enjoyed going through mine as they'll very often post plenty of additional information rather than just "it's a Bhutanese ngultrum from 1979" or suchlike.

Have fun,

Jon

Thanks Jon

I have about 70 Arabic or Asian coins that I can't work out what they are, so let the games begin

[Weaver 41]

7 minutes ago, Rob said:

Yes, but that's the rub. If not rare, then it is unlikely that you will have the only example, nor is it likely to be in the right grade for the prospective purchaser. If mint state, then you are likely to want to hang on to it.

i tell you what Rob...you certainly make me think!

[Rob 2,998]

Good

[mrbadexample 985]

24 minutes ago, Weaver said:

Thanks Jon

I have about 70 Arabic or Asian coins that I can't work out what they are, so let the games begin

Let me know when you start, I'd like to take a look.

[Weaver 41]

No problem Jon.

Most of the Arabic coins are silver so I know there is bullion value as a minimum!

[mrbadexample 985]

1 hour ago, Weaver said:

No problem Jon.

Most of the Arabic coins are silver so I know there is bullion value as a minimum!

That's a good start. Most of mine isn't. 

[TomGoodheart 373]

Many if not most dealers will welcome 'wants' lists from clients Wayne.  However it'll come as no surprise that clients that regularly spend money will be remembered more quickly when that key coin turns up!

Having said that, I've had some excellent help from some dealers (locating old sales lists etc) who I've not recently bought from.

It's a business so keeping the customer is (usually!) a priority.  So in theory your scheme could work.  Some dealers even have a commission page on their website where they will list client's coins.  It's certainly a safer step than going straight into trying to deal for yourself.  Though a fair few dealers are, or have been, collectors too of course...

[Weaver 41]

Thanks again Tom (Are you actually called Tom?)

This discussion thread has given me plenty to think about, and I have to admit that I am gravitating towards investing/collecting a few Gold coins from the Charles 1 period  but I must do my research first.

As mentioned before, I'm happy to pay a reasonable price for a coin of this era, but I don't want to get ripped off or pay way too much because of my naivety.

As a few of you guys have previously suggested, I will probably ask your opinions first before I take a plunge.

But I will say this...

If any member/dealers on this forum would like to offer me an opportunity with a price I can't refuse to get me started I will be listening... 

[Weaver 41]

2 hours ago, mrbadexample said:

That's a good start. Most of mine isn't. 

Are you interested in collecting Arabic then Jon?

This is probably the best of my collection in terms of silver Arabic...

[TomGoodheart 373]

LOL  Two things to remember about the gold coins of Charles I. 

1)  As Rob touched upon , the earlier privy (mint) marks are generally commoner, almost the reverse of the situation with the silver coinage where the first few issues are scarcer (although quality control seems to have gone down as output of silver coinage from the Mint increased, making nice examples of some later marks much trickier to find in pleasing condition than would be expected from the mintages). 

And 2) before you buy it's worth checking out the size of the coin against a modern one.  Gold was way out of most people's reach at the time and some of the coins, such as crowns are quite small by our standards.  (Tiny by comparison to their silver counterparts).  While they are nice, you don't want to buy a lovely looking example from online images only to have a nasty surprise as to how small it is when it arrives!

3)  Hammered coinage has it's own quirks and challenges way beyond those struck using machinery.  Almost no hammered coin is perfect and so compromises usually have to be made.  But each collector will develop their own standards, views about which quirks they can and can't live with, what about a particular coin appeals or not and that takes time.  There's always the temptation to rush in and buy something.  In fact we all (probably) have to make a few mistakes to learn from on the way.  But if you think of collecting as a long term, if not life-long hobby it might help a bit.  And of course, people here are always happy to offer an opinion on a coin before you buy!  Or even after 

[Weaver 41]

Great advice! Thanks Tom

[mrbadexample 985]

2 hours ago, Weaver said:

Are you interested in collecting Arabic then Jon?

This is probably the best of my collection in terms of silver Arabic...

 

No, not my thing - just wanted to know what I had. But I'm quite pleased with the knowledge I've acquired in doing so. Yours is an Egyptian 20 piastres, 1923 (1341 AH). I couldn't have told you that a month ago.

[Weaver 41]

Nice one Jon! 

That's one less coin I need to research...

Any value to it?

[mrbadexample 985]

37 minutes ago, Weaver said:

Nice one Jon! 

That's one less coin I need to research...

Any value to it?

Krause 38th edition (2010) gives values as: F $20.00, VF $60.00, XF $210.00. Grading's a bit tricky because the coin is unfamiliar to me but looking at the wear where the fez meets the head I'd guess around VF? Having looked at the sold listings on ebay I think you've got to be looking at £50-100. Nice one.

[Weaver 41]

Result! But let's be pessimistic and grade it lower as Good Fine as I am prone to over grading right?

Still gotta be worth £30 or so! Nice

My grandad was a wiley one eh!

[mrbadexample 985]

23 minutes ago, Weaver said:

Result! But let's be pessimistic and grade it lower as Good Fine as I am prone to over grading right?

Still gotta be worth £30 or so! Nice

My grandad was a wiley one eh!

The sold listings I was looking at were in broadly similar condition to yours. Don't sell it short. Unless, of course, it's to me.

[Weaver 41]

Cheeky man!

Well...if I do decide to sell I will certainly give you first dibs ok Jon?

Also, I think I should open up a new discussion thread for identifying some other Arabic coins ok?

[mrbadexample 985]

48 minutes ago, Weaver said:

Well...if I do decide to sell I will certainly give you first dibs ok Jon?

Also, I think I should open up a new discussion thread for identifying some other Arabic coins ok?

Told you already, not my thing. I'd only buy it for far less than it's worth.

WOC forum the best place I think for the arabics, although there is a foreign board here somewhere.

Edited March 24, 2016 by mrbadexample

[TomGoodheart 373]

5 hours ago, Weaver said:

Thanks again Tom (Are you actually called Tom?)

Only on here!

(It's Richard)

[Weaver 41]

Thanks Richard for all your valuable advice! Much appreciated

BTW, on here do you prefer Tom, Richard or Rich? (Sounds like a 50's cartoon sketch!)

[Weaver 41]

19 hours ago, Rob said:

Good

You come across as a pretty seasoned expert in the numismatic field Rob!

Can I ask, are you a dealer or collector?

And if a collector what do you specialise in?

[Weaver 41]

21 hours ago, Paulus said:

One good reference book on Charles I coins is Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles (SCBI) Vol 33 - The John G. Brooker Collection

My favourite period is pretty much the whole of the 17th century

Hi Paulus (Are you actually called Paul in the material world?)

I forgot to thank you for the book recommendation!

Cheers mate!