What coins do you collect

[choolie 0]

Hello

I got into coins from buying bullion gold sovereigns and silver coins, I now think gold is too expensive. I then bought roman coins and some hammered because I like a bit of history. I then decided on crowns and shillings mostly milled from fairly recent history. I then found I was sticking to shillings. My view was to collect all the different dates, I am finding I am ammassing a collection of coins which are much the same (from different dates) so that is one problem with this method. Another is that There always comes up a rare date which means the coin will cost ten times as much as the others. I have ammassed a collection of shillings, but now I think my favourites 17th and 18th century milled coins. so once again I think i may change my style and just concentrate on that period. I also thought it would be useful to do something like collecting with my demented obsessive streak

I would be interested to hear from all collectors what structure you base your coin collections around. dates, reigns or however and what led you to this method. What you say >><<

[Peckris 579]

Hello

I got into coins from buying bullion gold sovereigns and silver coins, I now think gold is too expensive. I then bought roman coins and some hammered because I like a bit of history. I then decided on crowns and shillings mostly milled from fairly recent history. I then found I was sticking to shillings. My view was to collect all the different dates, I am finding I am ammassing a collection of coins which are much the same (from different dates) so that is one problem with this method. Another is that There always comes up a rare date which means the coin will cost ten times as much as the others. I have ammassed a collection of shillings, but now I think my favourites 17th and 18th century milled coins. so once again I think i may change my style and just concentrate on that period. I also thought it would be useful to do something like collecting with my demented obsessive streak

I would be interested to hear from all collectors what structure you base your coin collections around. dates, reigns or however and what led you to this method. What you say >><<

Good topic of discussion choolie!

I started as a schoolkid, collecting stuff from change, then strayed away.

Then when I returned some years later, I bought some things I never dreamed of as a boy, e.g. high grade Geo V and Ed VII, and filled in some gaps in my date series of pennies and halfcrowns.

When I began low-key dealing, it led me to getting a few really nice coins, and completing my series of pennies and halfcrowns. That was when - like you - I became disillusioned with date series (after all, a rare date is exactly the same design as the others, so buying one in a high grade is not only hellish expensive, it's a bit of an anti-climax in the end). So I decided to concentrate on type collecting instead, and that's where I'm at : I'm a bit stuck on many types from Charles II to George II because given the choice bewteen low grade or nothing, I'd rather nothing! And most of those types are frighteningly expensive - there is NO cheap Geo I silver, and Geo II crowns and halfcrowns are ... gulp.

I also have a small ancients collection, and a few reasonable 18th Century tokens.

But I've never regretted moving away from date runs and into type collecting.

Edited March 25, 2010 by Peckris

[declanwmagee 122]

for us it's only:

British (no islands or colonies, except I do like fractionals and threehalfpence)

Predecimal

Currency - can't get excited about proofs or commemoratives, or even Crowns really

Every date, every denomination up to double florin

Any variety I can see with the naked eye - I like pointings like '53 farthings, but I can't be doing with measuring things so I won't do most of the Golden Hind halfpenny varieties, but I will do the Calm Sea. They have to be deliberate though, errors do nothing for me. A badly made coin is a bad coin as far as I'm concerned. Even overdates seem a bit close to that.

I'd rather have high grade common coins than acres of gap fillers, and I don't mind duplicates because I can play shopkeepers on eBay with them.

I started when I was 9 by finding an 1873 halfpenny in a stream I was playing in. Green, and smooth, but still legible, and I still have it. Slowly built up a collection as a child by blagging off relatives who had tins of old coins lying around, and only started buying coins systematically when I was about 17. Didn't occur to me I might be able to sell them till 2004, but since then have gone hell for leather, upgrading everything many times over. I haven't managed to get that far back in time, but my obsession is completeness, so I won't be venturing too far into Victoria till 1902-1967 is pretty much there. "There" meaning a high grade example in our personal collection, and a second best in the Shop. I love the idea of having one of everything in the Shop, even if it is only back to 1902.

and I like to draw grids and graphs, lay the coins out in date order and do ridiculous analyses in ridiculous spreadsheets...

[7255carl 0]

Hi guys,

i was always interested in my grandads coin collection thats where it started for me, which i eventually inherited, since then i have expanded by first filling in date gaps, but now i concentrate on UNC's, i just think there is something nice about bright shining coins with a little age, especially copper.

Carl

[davidrj 194]

Hi guys,

i was always interested in my grandads coin collection thats where it started for me, which i eventually inherited, since then i have expanded by first filling in date gaps, but now i concentrate on UNC's, i just think there is something nice about bright shining coins with a little age, especially copper.

Carl

I collect pennies, and similar 30mm copper and bronze worldwide, and yes, I like date runs and die varieties

I tend to go for GVF/NEF if I can = I like real coins that actually entered circulation, and I can pick up without donning gloves

Mine is a hobby/fun collection, rather than an investment portfolio

[Colin G. 147]

As many of you may have gathered, it is farthings for me, I think they are a collection that can started at a reasonable price, and I do love the designs.

I had an interest in British Colonial coins as well, but I am slowly clearing these out other than a couple of series and colonial farthings which for some reason kept me fascinated, they are:

Guernsey predecimals - I just love the simplicity of the design, and there is some correlation to farthings with the 1 & 2 doubles

British West Africa 1/10 penny - This really is a gap filling exercise in UNC coins, but for some reason an addiction I can not give up.

Regarding the farthings, I love studying die varieties, that are a clear indication of the fallibility of both man and machine, but when considering the numbers prodcued, and the small percentage of errors, it is quite astounding.

I collect anything to do with farthings (Love tokens, encased farthings, unusual farthings) and have gradually worked my way back on the currency issues, but the George II variety collection starts to get a bit expensive, so I moved onto the farthing Tokens of Charles I and James I, and thanks to the coins constantly shown by Clive from Historic Coinage, I now have my first couple of hammered farthings - I could not resist!!!

Proofs just don't so it for me, but I may get tempted to bag a couple of proof farthings one day when the budget allows!!

Re-reading this I think I have noticed I may need mental help!!

Edited March 26, 2010 by Colin G.

[Guest reluctant_numismatist]

Interesting question.

Having sorted through my late Father's collection I'm mainly concentrating on British coins (reasonably complete farthings to half crowns 1935 to decimalisation plus various earlier) mostly filling gaps and upgrading, EF+ preferably but VF if a nice example. (The heaps of very worn Edwardian and Victorian coppers just don't do it for me though, so they will probably get shovelled through eBay.)

Not sure where I stand on the French, Luxembourg, German, Belgian, Swiss and Dutch collections he put together though, not particularly my area of interest... (Nor the bucket of assorted world coins, haven't even looked at that yet.)

One thought is that I might like to specialise in decimals, they will of course be worth millions in the future as collectors items once we finally adopt the Euro!

[£400 for a Penny ? 0]

Like most, I've flitted about. I started with silver proof crowns then went onto shillings before diverting to sovereigns. At some point during my sovereign period a unite and some solidi appeared from somewhere, but for the last 3 years I have concentrated solely on uncirculated bronze pennies with as much lustre as possible (90% if possible)

I'm pleased to say that I have been very disciplined to date - I had a life moment and realised that scattergun was making me unhappy at some level and that I needed a bit more order, not just in my coin collection either.

I got lucky, when I bought most of my sovs, they were for £60/75, the gold price hike helped me out no end.

Got stuffed on the unite and solidi though.

I sold pretty much everything, bar a few Denari (cos they're pennies really, right?) and a small collection of colonial bronze. There are certainly some coins I miss and regret selling, but what's done is done and I feel a lot happier in my more focussed collecting.

[Beebman 2]

I've been lurking for a while without posting, I keep meaning to introduce myself, this thread has finally got me to do that!

Like quite a few people I started in the last couple of predecimal years when as a schoolkid I started to take an interest in the coinage which was about to disappear. It was the occasional appearance of Bun pennies in my parents' change which really sparked my interest and I managed to save about a dozen or so (all of scrap quality of course, but I still have them).

I started to save my pocket money to buy a few coins from a local dealer but they were mostly of Fair or at best Fine quality. The pride of my collection was a VF 1853 halfpenny!

But soon after D-Day I lost interest - until last year. I found myself having to look after my elderly mother who had become terminally ill and that meant many long evenings staying in and browsing the Internet for something to do while she slept. One night I decided to look and see what sort of coins were selling on eBay - and within a short time I found myself a collector again after a gap of nearly 40 years!

I decided to keep to themes and to collect as many examples as I could of my favourites - copper YH and bronze Bun Head Victoria pennies, Gothic florins and Edward VII florins. I tried to keep to around VF quality but better if I could afford it (although of course I had to make do with lesser quality for rarer stuff). However I got diverted somewhat by 'discovering' early milled silver! I mostly used eBay but I did get to a couple of London coin fairs.

Sadly my mother passed away a little while ago and since then my collecting has come to a complete standstill while I've been sorting out things. I think I'll continue to take a break from collecting for a while longer while I decide my way forward. I mentioned early milled silver and I wish now that maybe I hadn't decided to go for date ranges of pennies and florins and instead bought more examples of 17th/18th century types. I also acquired a couple of Victoria shieldback sovereigns and one day I'd like to have a few more gold pieces in my collection.

[Peckris 579]

One thought is that I might like to specialise in decimals, they will of course be worth millions in the future as collectors items once we finally adopt the Euro!

Of course - just like the 1967 penny eh?

I've been lurking for a while without posting, I keep meaning to introduce myself, this thread has finally got me to do that!

Welcome to the forums Beebman, and welcome back to the hobby

[Fubar 71]

I've never thought of myself as a coin collector but I realise that I've actually collected coins all my life.

Saved the odd interesting coin out of my change while in the Merchant Navy and bought a few odd boxes at auction that took my fancy.

Not really a collection but a box of coins that lives among all the other collections.

Needs sorting and it's future deciding which is why I joined the forum.

I suppose the attraction is in nice looking coins in good condition.

A lot of times there's a story to be told when buying odd lots at auction.

I have a small bag of wartime dated coins from various places along with some buttons and enjoy imagining how they came to be together.

Just a bit of a romantic.

[davidrj 194]

I have a small bag of wartime dated coins from various places along with some buttons and enjoy imagining how they came to be together.

Just a bit of a romantic.

Quite! I have a small collection of battered copper from the French Revolution, I often wondered who handled them and what events they witnessed.

No romance in a collection of silver proofs in my view

:-)

David

[declanwmagee 122]

One night I decided to look and see what sort of coins were selling on eBay - and within a short time I found myself a collector again after a gap of nearly 40 years!

you see, you can say what you like about fleabay, but there's no doubt it's put a rocket under the hobby.

[£400 for a Penny ? 0]

Certainly got me started.

It is over 14 years old now, hard to imagine life without it, never mind the internet. Pre internet, if we wanted to chat like this, we would all have had to wear cardigans and convene in a village hall somewhere.

[Guest reluctant_numismatist]

One thought is that I might like to specialise in decimals, they will of course be worth millions in the future as collectors items once we finally adopt the Euro!

Of course - just like the 1967 penny eh?

Exactly, but not forgetting 2p's with NEW PENCE on them and 20p's without a date - they're worth millions apparently.

[Guest reluctant_numismatist]

you see, you can say what you like about fleabay, but there's no doubt it's put a rocket under the hobby.

Hmm, but I think it's put the skids under philately, I started looking at the gaps in my Dad's British & Empire stamp collection, had a shuftie on eBay and stamps are selling for a fraction of the Stanley Gibbons catalogue value, even taking the prices from my old 1986 copy. Stamps with a 1986 catalogue value of £10+ go for 99p, and even high values are as little as 1/10th of the catalogue; stamps with values in the hundreds go for a few tens.

On the other hand, banknote catalogue values have gone up by a factor of as much as 7 to 10 in the past 10 years and eBay prices reflect this.

[Peter 615]

I used to collect everything but now just concentrate on quality....hence I'm selling a lot of my collection.The one area i won't sell is my early copper although I will shift a few duplicates/poor examples.

Pre 1792 French currency is appealing together with pre 11C hammered.....I'm just keeping good examples of all denominations and periods.

I wish I had concentrated on Gold a few years back when you could pick up sov's for £60 equally Colin Cooke was selling a hoard of Cnut pennies in VF+ for £60 a pop.

I did make a few star buys though

[Fubar 71]

Hmm, but I think it's put the skids under philately, I started looking at the gaps in my Dad's British & Empire stamp collection, had a shuftie on eBay and stamps are selling for a fraction of the Stanley Gibbons catalogue value, even taking the prices from my old 1986 copy. Stamps with a 1986 catalogue value of £10+ go for 99p, and even high values are as little as 1/10th of the catalogue; stamps with values in the hundreds go for a few tens.

On the other hand, banknote catalogue values have gone up by a factor of as much as 7 to 10 in the past 10 years and eBay prices reflect this.

I've noticed a distinct rise in the prices achieved at auction for stamps and associated items recently. A couple of years ago you couldn't give first day covers away but now there seems to be some competition.

Older stamp collections are improving all the time.

Maybe it's just people hoping for the treasure at the bottom of the box. Don't we all.

Only our local auction house but it has a wide catchment area and appears on t'internet.

The same seems to apply to odd boxes of English commemorative crowns. Usually can't give them away. Probably down to inexperienced bidders or a false impression of values.

[Guest reluctant_numismatist]

I've noticed a distinct rise in the prices achieved at auction for stamps and associated items recently. A couple of years ago you couldn't give first day covers away but now there seems to be some competition.

Older stamp collections are improving all the time.

Hmm, back in the 80's the George V "Seahorses" were always the gold-standard for me, I could never afford any of these apart from a manky 2/6 as prices were in the stratosphere. Now however (even away from eBay) one dealer alone has multiple sets up to the 10/- with good light cancellations on his website with a catalogue value of £355 being sold for £35. (But still can't afford the £1 green though, grrr...)

[choolie 0]

This is making fascinating reading.

Personally I think anything after 1900 is too recent to be interesting, but still I am trying to get a date run together of shillings up to 1970. At least this satisfies the collecting impulse and these coins are cheap enough that I might actually succeed. Once I have completed the run from 1900 to 1970 I will probably sell them and use the money to buy 1 Nice georgian Coin. Thats my demented way of saving up

[1949threepence 3,366]

I collect 19th & 20th century coins up to and including 1952, but nothing beyond, save for the threepny bits I collected early on in my coin career.

Currently engaged in collecting Victoria pennies. A very protracted, detailed, expensive but exceedingly intersting process.

[declanwmagee 122]

I may need mental help!!

We're house sitting for the minor gentry this week, and they've got this long thin table in their huge kitchen. As soon as I saw it I thought "ooh look, denominations down the short dimension, dates on the long dimension, I could get my whole collection on that"

that's one evening taken care of this week! But I'll have to put empty 2x2s in the gaps that are supposed to be there (like 1941-1943 pennies) so it doesn't look like I have coins missing.

are we collectors because we're mental, or are we mental because we're collectors?

[1949threepence 3,366]

One night I decided to look and see what sort of coins were selling on eBay - and within a short time I found myself a collector again after a gap of nearly 40 years!

you see, you can say what you like about fleabay, but there's no doubt it's put a rocket under the hobby.

Couldn't agree more, Declan. Sure, there's a lot of rubbish on there, but there's also plenty of very good stuff, and I woulodn't mind betting that it's re-sparked long dormant interest in many, Beebman being a typical example.

[Red Riley 2]

are we collectors because we're mental, or are we mental because we're collectors?

We're not mental, in a mad world we're the only sane ones - or most of us are, we have had one or two fruit cakes posting on here from time to time!

I have two collections amassed in fits and starts over the last 40 years;

1) Date/major variety collection of pennies, initially bronze only but now extending back to 1797 with every available date covered (bar the 1933 syndrome pieces) - 120 bronze, 27 copper - average grade of bronze coins c. EF+. It's actually a nice collection but took ages and a lot of wonga to put together;

2) Everything else. I started out trying to collect one example of every English/British 'type' since 1658. Well I never completed it, and probably never will now. Aside of this I have examples of Roman, Greek, Celtic, mediaeval, tokens, coins from the major European nations and the U.S.A.

I am now reconsidering not only my collection but my position within the hobby, nothing decided yet but may post in greater detail when I've had a good think...

[£400 for a Penny ? 0]

[i am now reconsidering not only my collection but my position within the hobby, nothing decided yet but may post in greater detail when I've had a good think...

Is some kind of Epiphany imminent ?