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UPINSMOKE

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Posts posted by UPINSMOKE

  1. Posted

    47 minutes ago, Paulus said:

    A few comments / observations from me, some of which are purely a reaction to your current spending spree! :)

    • Have you bought a book on basic grading yet? By far the best / simplest is this one

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Standard-Guide-Grading-British-Coins/dp/0948964561/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468273444&sr=1-1&keywords=grading+coins

    • None of these are UNC, so don't go by price guides for UNC, at or around EF looks more likely from the pics (even less in some cases perhaps)
    • You have 14 days to return them for a full refund, whatever the listing states. Ebay will back the buyer in any dispute over that, for distance selling BINs (it's the law)
    • I would want better / bigger pics of each coin when spending the sort of money involved here
    • There maybe under 3 hours left on this listing, but in all probability it will be unsold and relisted
    • (Nearly) every coin / coin lot has a value worth paying, if you got them all for a tenner then that's obviously a bargain, £550 is obviously too much. What is their counter-offer?

    I hope that helps a bit! :)

    Hi yes this is a great help. Will look the book you suggest up right now. The counter offer was £400 but for me that was too much.

    Oh and thanks to everyone for their help with this matter. Perhaps I should give you all a shopping list and let you do my shopping for me. I am a bit impetuous at the moment. I need to calm down a bit. 

  2. Posted

    1 minute ago, Paulus said:

    A few comments / observations from me, some of which are purely a reaction to your current spending spree! :)

    • Have you bought a book on basic grading yet? By far the best / simplest is this one

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Standard-Guide-Grading-British-Coins/dp/0948964561/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468273444&sr=1-1&keywords=grading+coins

    • None of these are UNC, so don't go by price guides for UNC, at or around EF looks more likely from the pics (even less in some cases perhaps)
    • You have 14 days to return them for a full refund, whatever the listing states. Ebay will back the buyer in any dispute over that, for distance selling BINs (it's the law)
    • I would want better / bigger pics of each coin when spending the sort of money involved here
    • There maybe under 3 hours left on this listing, but in all probability it will be unsold and relisted
    • (Nearly) every coin / coin lot has a value worth paying, if you got them all for a tenner then that's obviously a bargain, £550 is obviously too much. What is their counter-offer?

    I hope that helps a bit! :)

    Hi yes this is a great help. Will look the book you suggest up right now. The counter offer was £400 but for me that was too much.

    Oh and thanks to everyone for their help with this matter. Perhaps I should give you all a shopping list and let you do my shopping for me. I am a bit impetuous at the moment. I need to calm down a bit. 

  3. Posted

    2 minutes ago, Rob said:

    The uniformity of colour suggests they have been dipped or cleaned in some way, and the absence of fine veil detail says there isn't a single uncirculated coin amongst them. Yet again, the number of genuinely uncirculated coins is a very small percentage of the total available. Yes, they should be desirable simply on rarity alone, but less than uncirculated deserve better acceptance than is currently the fashion. Historically people used to collect in all grades, but grade inflation has helped many people to assume that only high grade is good, and that low grade is the new high grade.

    Thanks Rob for input any Idea on what price would be a good offer please. 

  4. Posted

    Just now, jon said:

    Wow you are certainly on a mission.  Can't comment on grade or value sorry but if it was me spending that sort of money I would want to see them before parting with my money. 

    Note that seller says returns not accepted

    Just my opinion but your call at the end of the day :)

    Just wanted an indication on price really did offer £300 for them but has come back with counter offer so not sure if I should go for it.

  7. Posted

    Thanks again for all the info. Can you recomend a good eye glass as my eyes aren't as good as they were. So I think I may need one. And what do you use to handle your coins tweezers or gloves.

    Just bought this would be interested to know what you would grade this and an aprox price you would pay that way I can compare it with what I actually paid this time 

    3 Pence Silver.JPG

  8. Posted

    7 minutes ago, DaveG38 said:

    Examine the tiny St George and the Dragon at the base of the reverse and you can see that George's lance has been worn into the body of the horse, meaning that the coin has had limited but clear wear in its life.

    Well your eyes are better than mine, I can't even see the lance. :huh:  Well the damage has been done now. Although they do give a 30 day money back if not satisfied so will wait till it arrives.

  9. Posted

    Well I am a bit late in seeing these comments as I have jumped in and bought it. :o I did not pay the asking price though got it for £140 including postage. I may have well paid over the odds but I liked it. 

    Perhaps someone could explain why you go for toning in coin and not a bright one. I would like to know if this effects prices  or is just a personal preference, very green when it comes to this. Still waiting on a book for  reference.

  10. Posted · Edited by UPINSMOKE

    Well have finished buying my bulk of coins some 120 in total so that will keep me quite for a while. Most were farthings some 50 odd will post some pics when I get them to get some feedback on if I am on the right track with conditions. I also did take your advice and bought some coins from too of the website you gave me. But tonight I spotted a 1899 Half Crown  UNCIRCULATED WITH LUSTRE  for £175 is this a correct price for such a coin was think I would get it, but would like some guidance please.

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1899-HALF-CROWN-VICTORIA-OLD-HEAD-HIGH-GRADE-/381672378315?hash=item58dd724fcb:g:eK0AAOSweW5U8HOC

  11. Posted · Edited by UPINSMOKE

    48 minutes ago, azda said:

    1887 is the commonest year of the Victoria era, it was her jubilee year but at least you're not breaking the bank at £13.50. As i've said before on these boards, a collection doesn't have to mean 100 coins in lower grades, you can also buy 2 or 3 in high grade, better to have 1 coin in high grade than 10 in lower grades, just my opinion

    I take your point as regards having better grades, but what do you do when you cannot find the grade you would like. Myself I would like them all UC but that's not going to happen. So I go for whats available at the time. As you say the 1887 is the commonest year, so there is plenty about of coins about. I am no expert so when I fine similar coins I find it difficult to know what is the best one to go for.

    Couple of examples on eBay at the moment which one would you go for, one looks bronze in colour ant the other silver.

     

    $_57 (1).JPG

    $_57.JPG

  12. Posted

    8 hours ago, Stuntman said:

    Wow, lots of new acquisitions!  Plenty of good advice regarding dealers and coin fairs too, I'd highly recommend the same and have bought from all four dealers Paulus mentioned.

     

    Another very fitting coincidence of 1899 and 1951 is that the 1951 Crown was actually struck from an old 1899 Crown die, with a suitably modified date.  Seems very apposite given your Grandmother's influence on you.

     

    Thinking further, it might be worth you also considering collecting a year set from other monarchs once you've finished your 1899 and 1951 sets.  I'd suggest 1902, 1935 and 1953 because there will be a Crown in each of those years too.  Given they are coronation/jubilee years, many coins will have been kept, so it's relatively easy and inexpensive to find nice ones.  I might then consider doing a year set for 1887 which would give you Jubilee Head silver, Bun Head bronze, plus some more interesting coins (withdrawn sixpence, double florin).  Beyond that I'd consider collecting a type set (i.e. different designs
    the same denomination) back to 1816 of whichever coin(s) tickled your fancy the most.  

     

    Most importantly, have fun!

    This was most interesting to read. Thank you so much for the information, your ideas seem rather good to me will have to look into what you suggest. I must admit I have jumped in feet first or should I say head first you choose. I have been buying like mad of eBay and have probably spent in the region of £500 not all on coins but storage as well. So far and not got my grubby hands on any of it as yet. After today I will slow down take stock and sort what I have and try and keep to the straight and narrow.

    I did manage to buy an 1887 sixpence and a 1887 shilling these were the best I could find on eBay they cost me £13.50 for both. So hope I did not spend too much on them, I bet I will change them later if I can find better ones. 

    Sixpence 1887.JPGShilling 1887.JPG

     

    Shilling 1887.JPG 2.JPG

  13. Posted

    8 minutes ago, Paulus said:

    Having connection problems sorry, as I said I wouldn't buy that particular example (unless you get a chance to see it in hand, as Rob points out)

    Oops too late I have made an offer on it. But did ask if they could supply pictures of the reverse sides. Will have to see now how it goes. As for coin fairs I am limited to my area i'm afraid. But will check the East Sussex area to see if there are any.

  15. Posted

    49 minutes ago, Paulus said:

    Welcome Mick

    I like the theme of collecting 1899 and 1951 and in between, gives you some focus. Silver George VI Half Crowns (like the one you pictured) are plentiful, and cheap and easy to find in high grades - you did fine with that one. The challenge for these very often is to find examples without bag marks (like those 2 tiny nicks on the left edge of the shield).

    For 1951 there is a Festival of Britain proof set (crown to farthing), which is extremely nice and not expensive as pre-decimal proof sets go.

    This is my only 1899 coin (I collect types rather than dates)

    1899_cr_lxii_02_01_cgs__uin_36860_1300.p

     

    Hi that coin really does look good where would I look for a similar one any good dealers. Also the 1951  Festival of Britain proof set (crown to farthing) where would I find one and what would I be looking to buy a decent one.

  16. Posted · Edited by UPINSMOKE

    24 minutes ago, jon said:

    That said I do have a 1951 boxed crown if you are interested would sell for  £10 if you are interested 

    I may well be interested does that include postage if so I will take it please. Any Pictures please

  18. Posted · Edited by UPINSMOKE

    1 hour ago, Stuntman said:

    Hi Mick - I suspect your storage needs will also depend on how many coins you intend to collect.  Note the word "intend", perhaps the siren call of certain coins might lure you to collect more than you originally suspect... ;)

     

    For what it's worth, I've got one of the Lindner Coin Transport Cases with 6 trays. I think it's an inexpensive and convenient solution if you collect a bit of everything (i.e. different denominations of different sizes).  My coins are all raw - i.e. unslabbed - and are in various grades from less than Fine up to BU.  

     

    I think it's a really nice idea to collect all circulating denomination for 1899 and 1951, thankfully nothing should be too expensive (good job your Grandmother wasn't born in 1905...).  I also think it's nice to be able to handle your coins (carefully, of course) and think about the various people who may have used them over the decades/centuries rather than have them 'imprisoned' in some way.  

     

    I like the Victoria Veiled Head coinage designs, particularly the Shillings and higher denominations.  Happy collecting!  

    Thank you for all the information so far. I have decided to go for the Lighthouse Intercept Box for 100 Quadrum Snaplocks and the Lighthouse Square Coin Capsules Quadrum. I think these will suffice for my needs. All I need to find now is some labels to add to them so I can sort everything correctly.

    I certainly have been busy buying this weekend far more than I should. I have fallen into the usual trap diving straight in and buying a bit of everything that takes my fancy. But have bought rather a lot of Farthings that were up for grabs on eBay I must have bought around 40 of them. I have decided to go and collect these and try and complete as many as I can. I have also bought some Half Crowns, Florins, Shillings, Sixpences. Perhaps will add some pictures on here to see what peoples opinions are on what I bought and paid for them. It would be good feedback to see if I am on the right track.

    Farthing 1956 UNC.JPG

    This is one of the farthings I bought paid £4 for it not sure if this was to much but I liked it.

     

    Farthing 1956 UNC.JPG 2.JPG

  19. Posted

    47 minutes ago, Colin G. said:

    Welcome to the forum Mick, you are in good company, plenty of knowledgeable and friendly collectors on here. As with many aspects of coin collecting there are varied opinions on every subject but I will try and start you off. Storage depends on how you want to present the coins and how often you want to view them, do you intend to show them to people or are they likely to be tucked away? Are you hoping to collect average grades or higher grade coins? These are all factors that would influence your decision.  

    A collection of two specific years would give you a look at different coin types and would not be a bad start in my opinion because it will give you the chance to see a different range of coin types and therefore you can get a feel for what denominations take your fancy. Many will advise you be careful buying off eBay there are some bargains to be had, but they are few and far between, but it is also full of pitfalls from forgeries to cleaned/damaged coins.

     

    Hi Colin thanks for your input, I intend to try and collect the highest grade I can afford for the two years I have mentioned. As for the other coins likewise if I can. As for storage would like to be able to show my family and friends but only with the lower grades perhaps the quality one I would like to keep away out of site. So what storage would be best.

    Thanks for any help.

  20. Posted

    Hi Everyone my name is Mick, I am new to coin collecting or should I say I have not collected since I was a boy so 50 years ago. I have just retired and need another hobby, I have been a collector all my life from Royal Doulton, Stamps, Cigarette Cards, Cigarette Packets. I now want to try coins, this will keep me occupied during the winter months when I cannot get out doing my other hobbies Fishing and Photography.

    I will probably be asking loads of questions. But my first one is what is the best way to store a coin collection and can you give me any links to said storage options please.

    I am planning to only collect pre decimal and my first goal is to collect coins of 1899 the year my Grandmother was born and the lady that brought me up from the age of 2. I then will be jumping to 1951 to collect the coins of my birth year. After that anything that takes my fancy I think. But do like the silver coins from Victoria to 1951 perhaps will go for 1899 to 1951.

    I have already taken the plunge and bought a few coins off eBay my first being a 1899 farthing.

    Any advice would be greatly received thanks 

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