TomGoodheart

151475029300 151475041077

I think for me the problem is knowing what's available. Plus I don't have the budget to only buy top quality material, nor perhaps patience! OK, I know where a number of what I'd consider to be 'star' coins are. Ones that could be considered to be amongst the better examples for the type. I guess I could just talk to the current owners and wait until they are prepared to do a deal. But of course, there's limited enjoyment in only buying one coin every few years! So the majority of my purchases tend to be 'happy finds'. ie regular coins in better than average condition, most of which are not provenanced and which I'm lucky enough to spot in my searches. The problem is that I am beginning to suspect that most collectors are currently in the same boat as me. I'm certainly holding on to the coins I like most and only aiming to dispose of the ones that no longer appeal. But of course, they often also fail to appeal to others, being coins I picked up early on before I knew better could be found. Which perhaps explains why I'm passing over almost all the currently available material. It just doesn't 'do it' for me any more. Even the A2/3 in the upcoming London sale. A few years back I'd have bitten someone's hand off for an example. Now I look at it and go ".. meh .." Just filling a gap no longer gives me the thrill it used to. Now I want a coin I will enjoy looking at too! And when the options are limited (such as the Cornwall halfcrown Rob recently posted) I'm beginning to think a gap is more acceptable than a coin in which I see more minuses than pluses. Oh, and dream coin? Right now (tomorrow it might be something different!) I'd just like a decent D1/1 (S.2789, currency coin, not fine work) to go with my D1/2 Anyone? .

Investment? No idea. From a known collection more desirable? To me, yes. I enjoy the fact that I have coins with tickets from know collectors and collections. That have been illustrated in articles or auction sales catalogues. However I know of a few provenanced coins that haven't sold. So my impression is that, for most collectors, condition is still the most important factor. Coins in poorer condition, even if rare and with provenance, don't seem to be attractive to the majority of today's collectors. Which I don't think was the case 10 years ago ... though I could be wrong. So perhaps from an investment pov the key thing about decent provenance is to provide reassurance that the coin is genuine? .

I think those are eBay pics Peck. Probably best to wait until you have the coins to photograph yourself Arthur! And welcome!

Interestingly it made me revisit my '65 crowns. I actually like the Nemon design better, now a few years have passed. And certainly better than the Richards' portrait. .

Wasn't Chris going to invite him?

Personally Mynki (and bearing in mind I don't generally collect milled coins) while I quite agree that different dates and denominations vary considerably and it requires knowledge to know which ones can be easily found looking perfect and which will be a struggle, I think a coin in the hand is worth two in the book!. As it were! A photo or even video just isn't the same as having a coin you can weigh up, tilt in the light, inspect at all angles. In fact I have a 'jolly nice' 1916 halfcrown. If ever I do get round to visiting a coin fair I shall take it along and seek out one of the dealers here (or several!) and ask their opinion of it. I'm sure it will help me learn more about grading than all the photographs, auction listings and so on I've relied upon to date. And if my coin turns out to have been cleaned, not in the grade it was sold as or otherwise different from the description, I shall have gained by the experience just as much (or perhaps more so) as if I had got a bargain! As for your son, I'm sure he'd like to hold a piece of history more than see a picture in a book! .

Not me. But I do think that's a brilliant idea Mynki! Well done that (wo)man(?)!

It has been interesting to hear your thoughts Marvin, so thank you! When I say 'nice' about a coin I simply mean would it give you enjoyment if it were yours? Now for some, that enjoyment is dependent upon whether the coin in question can be considered rare. For others it's the grade, or where in the population of similar coins it sits. Or who has owned it before ... value or pleasure in owning a coin can be added (or lost) through many diverse factors beyond the simple appearance of the coin itself. For myself I largely rate on 'eye appeal' although I freely admit this is a bit like admiring paintings. Some instantly draw me and others leave me cold ... but ask me to explain quite why and you'll probably end up an hour later no wiser, beyond realising I can talk a lot while saying little! Yes, it's fun to find someone else who appreciates a coin I like. But that's because I enjoy talking about coins! But to have some third party (grader, auction house or even dealer) tell me what they think of a coin (grade, condition or rarity) is of little interest to me. As for collecting, I just like being able to handle my coins. I simply wouldn't enjoy them as much if I couldn't. I know, I know. I've gone on about it again! But I do like to try to explain my reasoning in case anyone is interested!

Happy birthday Paul! Hope it's a good one and adding coins to the collection is included somewhere in the celebrations! We should have a Birthday Cake smiley, shouldn't we? :birthday: Oh well, I tried!

Perhaps I should change my name to Old&Hammered ... just a thought.

I don't particularly disagree Marvin. But it's very much an individual thing I think. As you said earlier: My coins cost mostly under £500, in fact the majority quite a bit under! I like to be able to pick up my coins. After 300+ years most are not going to be much affected by careful handling so as long as I don't drop one or rub it with something abrasive I think they should be OK. As for authentication, an increasing proportion of my coins come with provenance. I suspect that the majority of people I might sell my coins to will be reassured enough knowing it came from a named collection or reputable auction house. So far UK based 'investor' type buyers, who might be comforted by a coin being checked by a TPGS, don't seem that interested in the sorts of coins I own. Is this a nice coin? I suspect those that find it appealing will be prepared to pay for it without needing someone else's endorsement. Those that don't aren't likely to be interested at any price. .

I get emails saying "congratulations and where's the money?" I rely on those to know if I've won, unless I'm actually online at the time the sale ends. Of course, I don't have a fancy phone with ebay apps and so on. But it will let me check for emails. Does nobody else do it like that?

To be honest, I'm like Jaggy. I see little point in asking CGS to slab any of my coins because it sounds as if their standards mean that few hammered coins would be accepted. Bent, scratched, surface damage, cleaned, edge knocks ... too much scope for rejection to waste my money finding out. Whereas I know PCGS and NGC do slab hammered coins in similar and worse condition than mine. So were I intending to sell a coin in the US this might help get a better price. So for me the only possible reasons would be if I was thinking of selling, or for amusement value to see what grade it might receive. Basically concern about likely rejection (I know relatively it's a small amount of money but I could potentially buy another coin for the price of slabbing two with CGS). Apart from that I don't feel the need for someone else to tell me if one of my coins is nice or not, what they would grade it, or for it to be protected any more than they are at present ... .

That's certainly possible. I've definitely moved away from the idea of collecting all possible varieties, irrespective of grade for the rarest, to just coins that I enjoy looking at. I've even got a few duplicates of types where I've seen another coin I liked. Previously I would have left it or upgraded and sold on the earlier one. Yeah, I occasionally get sidelined a little - I still have my collection of 'Marianne' themed coins and have recently been looking at hammered pennies, but right now the budget is small so I'm trying to learn to be patient! marvinfinnley's idea of not making lots of lesser purchases but waiting for something with real appeal is a good one. Though it does require discipline. Something I am still working on!

This one .. less so: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Old-Hammered-Coin-/301380299931?pt=UK_Coins_BritishHammered_RL&hash=item462baa6c9b A rubbish photo (which I've had to edit) but the plugged hole is still clear. 301380299931 .

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Great-Britain-Shilling-Charles-I-1629-1649-/201210022823?pt=US_World_Coins&hash=item2ed90d4ba7

Undoubtedly it's a challenge to find nice looking late hammered. But the same could be said for high grade George V silver ... better (by which I mean with eye appeal) pieces are generally snapped up quickly irrespective of reign. However to my mind, price is not always the deciding factor. Luck in finding the 'right' coin is often more difficult than paying for it. Decent Chas I shillings can be had for a fair bit under £100. And I have certainly found I've become more demanding as time has passed. Coins that used to do, now won't and a bit of lop-sidedness or uneven strike will mean I pass over a coin that, five years ago, I would have bought without hesitation. But maybe that's a good thing? Means we are developing a better idea of what is and isn't desirable in a coin. Maybe! .

So bad it's almost tempting ...

It's certainly interesting. That part of the legend could easily persuade someone it's genuine. But then the softer areas to the left, the 'rolled edge' near HIB and the file marks on the edge between 4 and 5 o'clock make you go ..'hmmm..' Goes to show how it's not always easy to spot something dodgy. Particularly based on a photo .. .

Do we not get to see a pic then Dave?

251702076916 will look familiar to those following copies of Chas I shillings I think ... .

It seems to me that the history behind such items is of major importance for serious collectors. From noticing occasional listings it seems to me that the major interest is in scarce awards (particularly for bravery, such as the Victoria Cross) as one might expect. More common medals and the like sell for relatively little, unless accompanied by additional material which tell the purchaser about the individual to whom the medals were awarded. I for example have no real idea what to do with my Dad's medals (which combining British and Polish awards are a relatively scarce group) or my Grandfather's memorabilia from the ORP Błyskawica (of little interest outside of Poland I expect) ... Which isn't to say that there aren't those who collect any sort of order or decoration (including masonic and civil) in the same way there are coin collectors who aim to find an example from each country or century or whatever. There are 'completists' in any area of collecting after all! I guess masonic regalia is perhaps a separate specialist interest... Either way, I suspect all collectors find others' areas of interest a bit odd! I can't imagine many fans of Beanie Babies see the appeal of old disks of metal people haven't used for years any more than bottle caps or marbles! Each to their own I guess! .

Um ... Does this look a bit dodgy to anyone else? Or is it just me? (Sorry can't do links atm) 321562823917

Are you on an iPad Peck? Just I always have problems with the one at work. With that I can see all of Scott's pictures but very few others, including ones I have posted myself using my laptop! There's just a blank space where the image should be. Also some of my admin abilities which depend on being able to hover over an image or link don't work. Now using my laptop, in the post above I can see Dave's halfcrown without clicking anywhere. It's just there in the post. Though if I did click it would apparently take me to photobucket, as the useful 'hover' feature that seems to be missing from the iPad tells me. I've wondered before what others see when I post an image. Appears that maybe we all see different things, depending on what software we're using? .