Sarawak 1941H 1 Cent

[AardHawk]

Some years ago I won an ebay auction that contained various coins from the estate of an employee of a mint in Birmingham. Among them were two Sarawak 1941H 1 Cents. They were described as uncirculated but very dirty, due to the way they had been stored between then pages of an exercise book which had then been deposited in his garage.

My question is, how should I go about selling them?

[azda]

They don't look so bad to me. What do you mean "how should you go about selling them"?

[AardHawk]

Are there specialist auction houses, who might be interested in them?

[Red Riley]

Are there specialist auction houses, who might be interested in them?

I think it unlikely that they will have much value. The coinage of small countries is usually produced in small numbers and collector interest is usually very low as well. I can't think of any way to sell them other than e-bay, but don't be surprised if they sell for a pittance.

Edited June 20, 2010 by Red Riley

[AardHawk]

Out of a mintage of about 2,000,000 only about 50 are known to exist. The 2000 edition of Krause puts a value of $1000 on an UNC. There is one for sale on US ebay with a buy-it-now of $1600. I know that there is interest in them in the far east, I just don't know how to sell them there. I suppose that I could put them on Malaysian ebay, but the problem is that the Chinese are producing fakes of them, which may stop people bidding on them. Any ideas Red?

[VickySilver]

Not to butt in but this is why the grading services such as PCGS have good value in certification.

[Peter]

I agree with Vic that in this instance it needs slabbing then exposed on US Ebay with a good reserve.

[Red Riley]

Out of a mintage of about 2,000,000 only about 50 are known to exist. The 2000 edition of Krause puts a value of $1000 on an UNC. There is one for sale on US ebay with a buy-it-now of $1600. I know that there is interest in them in the far east, I just don't know how to sell them there. I suppose that I could put them on Malaysian ebay, but the problem is that the Chinese are producing fakes of them, which may stop people bidding on them. Any ideas Red?

Opps! Well that will teach me not to guess. For once I think slabbing would be a good idea and in this instance I think you need to go to the graders with whatever provenance you have.

[AardHawk]

Not to butt in but this is why the grading services such as PCGS have good value in certification.

I am not a fan of slabbing or grading services, but in this case I think you are right. I see that A.H.Baldwin are agents for PCGS. I think that I will get in contact with them.

Thanks all for your help.

[Red Riley]

I am not a fan of slabbing or grading services, but in this case I think you are right. I see that A.H.Baldwin are agents for PCGS. I think that I will get in contact with them.

I have a feeling that with such a rare coin, a genuine auction might be a better bet than e-bay. Check whether anybody has an auction of world coins coming up.

[VickySilver]

Yes, I think Baldwin would be a good way to go, or else Heritage in the USA with PCGS certification/slab. You might be able to get surprising money for such.

[AardHawk]

I have finally got around to selling these. They are both in Baldwins Hong Kong Auction 54 (items 780 & 871) on the 4th April 2013. I had them PGCS graded. MS63RD Lusturous with mint bloom.

We will see how they do.

[Peter]

I have finally got around to selling these. They are both in Baldwins Hong Kong Auction 54 (items 780 & 871) on the 4th April 2013. I had them PGCS graded. MS63RD Lusturous with mint bloom.

We will see how they do.

Good luck.