Mongo

I went to the local fried chicken place for lunch today, ordered a Big Meal.. £3.99 bargain! When I went to pay, I noticed a shiny thing in my hand... It was an immaculate 2010 Pound coin! I realised that I had under a fiver in change total, so I quickly said to the bemused looking shop owner.. "one sec, I have to go to the cash machine!". Off I went to get a tenner out, returned, paid, enjoyed my grub! Long story short... It is all your faults!... For encouraging me, you are bad influences!

Dear Will, My name is Dr Zunami Bumambi, I am the leading medical detective for the armed forces of Nigeria, due to an unforseen curcumstance, my uncle, the Prince of Zimbabwe has been arrested in Somalia. Before his arrest, he deposited $56,000,000 USD in the car boot of a taxi. If you could help me recover these monies, I will compensate you with $4,000,000 USD. All I need from you is your name, address, bank account details, social security number, telephone number, mothers maiden name and your shoe size. Regards Dr Zunami Bumambi.

Thanks for all your advice! It is most helpful. I think I may have come accross a bit wrong... until now I have only purchased coins that I like, and that is what I intend to do with this purchase too. I am not looking to buy a coin for a quick profit! What I was more concerned about, was losing BIG on my first expensive coin, should I have a rainy day and need to sell it on. From all your advice, it seems that I can not go too wrong if I stick to a coin with good eye appeal, the best grade I can afford, and to make sure the price I buy it at is a good one! For this purchase, I may actually go the old fashioned route and visit a coin or antique shop! That way I can see it up close and personal before I commit.

Thanks Tom. My budget is anything up to 2500, but I will not go top end of that just for the sake of it. If I find a beautiful coin for 500 quid then that will be just as special to me! Good idea about asking here for opinions before I part with any money, If i find a coin I am seriously considering I will be sure to do that.

Thanks for the tips guys! I will take my time with this one, and be sure that I do not rush into it. From what you have said, It seems it would be the best option to stick with a coin that has nice eye appeal, and also to go for a coin in the best grade possible. I think I am turning into a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to grade, so I guess that is a good thing! I will continue to buy my little £10-£50 coins, as that gives me alot of enjoyment. At the same time, I can keep an eye out for that "special" coin. I am sure it is out there somewhere!

(Please excuse the long winded post!) I only have a small budget to build my collection with, which is fine, as I can find many coins I like at reasonable prices. At the moment, I am thinking of purchasing a coin which I would consider expensive, this will be done using some of my personal savings. As such, I would be happier purchasing a coin that would not depreciate in value, "investment" is not really as important, but it would be nice if the coin had a chance to increase in value too (long term). This coin would be the "Star" of my collection! (I hope), so my question is... Are there any coins, that you experienced collectors would say are a "safe" investment? I know nothing is guaranteed, and what I like about the coin would also add value for me personally. I am seeking advice really, on a type of coin that has a low chance of losing me money. I will not be buying the coin to make a quick profit, but If times get hard, I would like to be secure in the knowledge that I could sell it. I am in no rush to chose a coin, so will take a month or two to be sure I am happy with my decision. I have my eyes on some 18th Century Gold Guineas, early 19th Century Soveriegns and 17th Century Shillings, as these have much eye appeal to me. I am also aware of the fact, that the price I can aquire the coin will be important too. Thanks forum! Over to the experts!.....

That looks like a squashed bottle top... Bargain at £50!

Thanks Tom!

It is London mint.I haven't got my reference books handy. Thanks Peter!

I sent you a PM with some that I have found pies! I did not post them, as I do not know if it is against the forum rules or not.

I forgot about this post! Was I correct in my identification of this coin?

Whoa!! 1983 packaging containing 1984 coins? That will be rarer than the 1983 "NEW PENCE" 2p. You must put it on eBay - "excessively rare, possibly unique" That is what I thought! It must be one of a kind... as I can not find the value listed anywhere! I will list it as a mint error, unique, extremely rare, one of a kind.. One Billion Dollars starting bid!

Well I received my lovely unc 1983 set! Exellent. All the 1983 packaging, then when I had a look at the coins, they were all the 1984 UNC set! So I guess I will be breaking this one up!

Another reason for me not to give in, and go buy an iphone! I will stick with my knackered old sony aino

BUMMER!!! I have not been to the forum for a few days, and I miss the chance to make you an offer for the maundy sets! Please do not tell me how much you got for them, Im scared it will make me cry

I may look into getting a cabinet, later on. For now, my shoe box will have to do! If I can pick up the sets really cheap, then I will grab them, as I do like the look of modern coins too, although I know they will never be worth a fortune. So I guess It does not really matter if the cheap modern sets are broken up or not...

Thanks! that was quick Listed at 99p it will not cost me anything in fees, so I will put it on for a giggle! I just can not bring myself to throw a coin in the bin! Its strange.

Some nice coins there darren! Everyone else is lying, they are not worth much at all, I have over 3 weeks experience in coins, and I will give you £5 for the lot... Cash!!! If you do not need the money, then I say keep em, take up the hobby and see if it captures your imagination. You can always sell them later on, if you decide collectiong is not for you

I personally do not like this coin, so I will give it a go on eBay, will stick it on for 99p and see what happens... I will list it as "George III evasion coin 1771 or 1777" (and let the buyer decide the date) Could someone please confirm what denomination it is please? I do not want to mislead potential buyers. If I get a couple of quid, I can put it towards another coin

With sets that contain "sets only" or "proof only" coins, it is an observable fact that selling those coins individually will generally bring in more than the whole unbroken set would. I've split cheap 70s proof sets before now in order to supply demand for individual coins, and never regretted it (financially). The same is true of 1953 'plastic' sets which can be bought absurdly cheap sometimes - yet you could sell the BU penny for near on a fiver, the halfcrown for £3-£4, the halfpenny £3, etc etc. If keeping for your own collection, then if you really don't want them in the packaging, then go ahead and break it. Just remember that the coins MAY degrade quicker once out of their protective shells, unless stored carefully. However, do bear in mind that (e.g. 1983) coins that aren't "sets only" issues, will have little more than face value for years to come, so you must make that calculation yourself. Thanks Peck, (everytime I type Peck it reminds of the film Willow!) I will be sure to look into the values of each coin before I decide to break any sets up. If any future value decrease would be negligible, then I will probably store them the same as the rest of my collection and break them up. Are the self adhesive holders trustworthy for long term storage?

There are fingerprints on the reverse though, which will count against it. Let me have a go at that Rob! I need to practice... Is the finger print at the top left, between the head and the E? Yes, and also between the N & Y of penny, but they only show up on the photo. In hand they are completely invisible, even through a magnifying glass. Thanks threepence, I can see that one too, now you have pointed it out.

There are fingerprints on the reverse though, which will count against it. Let me have a go at that Rob! I need to practice... Is the finger print at the top left, between the head and the E?

I grabbed an UNC 1983 coin set for a fiver and I was wondering what your views are on breaking them up? Personally, I am only interested in the coins, as the packaging does not really appeal to me. I would like to store the coins the same way as all my others, in the little self adhesive holders, so I can house them and display them all neatly. What effect could this have on future value? Judging by the price guides, they may actually be worth a little more as single examples of BU coins, so it seems it would not matter. I know there will probably be some rare sets that should not be broken up, but for these cheap decimal sets is there really any serious harm in doing it?

Thanks for taking the time to post all your advice and the pictures threepence! It really is helpful to me, and greatly appreciated If I had not joined this forum and listened to the advice everyone has given, I would probably be dismissing alot of coins I have come accross as dirty, stained etc. When in fact they are lovely! I am becoming more confident in making good decisions with each coin I purchase, and with every coin I decide not to purchase, such as those with big carbon spots, verdigris, EK's, dents etc. I have also seen many coins with tiny carbon spots etc. that I now think look really nice, when before I would maybe think it detracted from the coins appeal, so I think my observation skills are improving too. I know I will make mistakes, but I intend to learn from each and every one when I do!

I sat through the whole thing - I must say that for me, the best thing was the amazing projections on the front of Buck House, especially when Madness were playing on the roof. Yeah, that looked amazing!.. how the layers of projection seemed to peel off the palace, good stuff.