Beginner collectors, what to collect, your opinion?

[Greg]

Hi,

I know this is an overused question as with any other hobby etc. But the oldies are always a good one, plus don't ask don't get.

Anyway, in your opinions what in the British currency would be best as a starter range to get into?

Would you say just start with ones that are in the range of between 40 years ago and now?

[azda]

It would depend on how much you have to spend on the hobby weekly/monthly

[Greg]

It would depend on how much you have to spend on the hobby weekly/monthly

Him, I was thinking for the time being, possibly around £50-£100 per month as a starter if I continue getting carried away.

[Paulus]

It would depend on how much you have to spend on the hobby weekly/monthly

Him, I was thinking for the time being, possibly around £50-£100 per month as a starter if I continue getting carried away.

Purely personally I would go a lot older, then it would depend if you prefer silver or bronze/copper coins ... my own advice would be the best pre-1920 silver coin you could afford each month as a starter, or better still, wait for 6 months and buy a medium-high grade Charles II - George II coin. a joy to own!

[azda]

Maybe look around first and see what floats your boat. It may be bright and shiny silver, it might be copper, or a design or Monarch that you might like. Only you can decide, but take your time.

[Coinery]

If you read the 1939 proof thread, you might find many good reasons to start with KG6, it would certainly be financially forgiving of the early mistakes you are inevitably going to make!

My recommendation is collect the entire series of KG6! You'll experience .500 silver, CuproNi, Bronze, Proofs, Gold, Patterns, Slabs&Raw, etc. From there you could easily work backwards with your new found knowledge, in a denomination, metal, series, that you feel attracted to!

I'd say you have the combination of financial forgiveness, and a pretty series on the brink of the climb, in KG6!

It's also possible for a new entrant to collect at the very top level for most types, which is always the holy grail in coin collecting!

[Paulus]

If you read the 1939 proof thread, you might find many good reasons to start with KG6, it would certainly be financially forgiving of the early mistakes you are inevitably going to make!

My recommendation is collect the entire series of KG6! You'll experience .500 silver, CuproNi, Bronze, Proofs, Gold, Patterns, Slabs&Raw, etc. From there you could easily work backwards with your new found knowledge, in a denomination, metal, series, that you feel attracted to!

I'd say you have the combination of financial forgiveness, and a pretty series on the brink of the climb, in KG6!

It's also possible for a new entrant to collect at the very top level for most types, which is always the holy grail in coin collecting!

Very good advice and interesting take Stuart, for my part I started 4 years ago and was only interested in coins with silver or gold content ... If I was starting now I think for learning G6 is an excellent place to start, and for small money you will have coins that shouldn't depreciate, I have seen the decent G6 pre 47

half crowns double on eBay in the last 2 years regardless of the silver price, it is still a fun low-risk hobby unless you get interested in high grade coins!!!! Then it is the same but expensive!!

[declanwmagee]

I'd start in 1967 and march your way back. Then you really can only buy top grade coins right from the start (which is what I'd do if I had the chance to start again, would have saved me about 5 years!), you can learn grading with coins costing a few quid, make a few mistakes, only costing you a couple of quid, and move up slowly. Then on to £10 coins as you progress through G6 and G5, learning what's easy and what's trickier, throw in as many varieties as your patience can bear, so by time you're thinking about spending £100 on a coin, you've had a few hundred through your hands and you will know what you're doing a bit by then.

[Coinery]

I'd start in 1967 and march your way back. Then you really can only buy top grade coins right from the start (which is what I'd do if I had the chance to start again, would have saved me about 5 years!), you can learn grading with coins costing a few quid, make a few mistakes, only costing you a couple of quid, and move up slowly. Then on to £10 coins as you progress through G6 and G5, learning what's easy and what's trickier, throw in as many varieties as your patience can bear, so by time you're thinking about spending £100 on a coin, you've had a few hundred through your hands and you will know what you're doing a bit by then.

Aye (With one eye, that is) ! Happy New Year, Declan!

[Paulus]

I'd start in 1967 and march your way back. Then you really can only buy top grade coins right from the start (which is what I'd do if I had the chance to start again, would have saved me about 5 years!), you can learn grading with coins costing a few quid, make a few mistakes, only costing you a couple of quid, and move up slowly. Then on to £10 coins as you progress through G6 and G5, learning what's easy and what's trickier, throw in as many varieties as your patience can bear, so by time you're thinking about spending £100 on a coin, you've had a few hundred through your hands and you will know what you're doing a bit by then.

Aye (With one eye, that is) ! Happy New Year, Declan!

Happy New Year everyone here, agree with Declan, better starting point than my suggestion, and thank goodness we don't start counting back from Decimals, or where would it ever end!!!!!

[Generic Lad]

Depends on how much time you want to put into the hobby and if you're concerned about having a "complete" collection or not.

There are of course the "traditional" routes, a coin a year, a high grade collection of a certain denomination, a coin from every monarch, maundy sets, etc.

Less popular, but still rewarding would be topical sets. For example, you could collect British coins with Lions on them. Or you could collect less-documented coins such as counterstamped coins.

The important thing is that you collect what you find interesting rather than what someone else finds interesting. If you've got no desire to spend hours looking for tiny varieties of Victorian bun head pennies, there's no need to collect them. If you love decimal, or even private mint issues, collect them! And it is important that you separate investment and collecting. A good bullion coin is seldom a good collector coin. And a coin that might increase in value over the years may not fit your collection.

At the end of the day, collect to have a collection that YOU enjoy, no matter if you are collecting high grade hammered gold, Victorian bronze, decimal or even Churchill Crowns! If you are happy with your coins and happy with the time/money invested in it. It is a good investment for you.

[Coinery]

Depends on how much time you want to put into the hobby and if you're concerned about having a "complete" collection or not.

There are of course the "traditional" routes, a coin a year, a high grade collection of a certain denomination, a coin from every monarch, maundy sets, etc.

Less popular, but still rewarding would be topical sets. For example, you could collect British coins with Lions on them. Or you could collect less-documented coins such as counterstamped coins.

The important thing is that you collect what you find interesting rather than what someone else finds interesting. If you've got no desire to spend hours looking for tiny varieties of Victorian bun head pennies, there's no need to collect them. If you love decimal, or even private mint issues, collect them! And it is important that you separate investment and collecting. A good bullion coin is seldom a good collector coin. And a coin that might increase in value over the years may not fit your collection.

At the end of the day, collect to have a collection that YOU enjoy, no matter if you are collecting high grade hammered gold, Victorian bronze, decimal or even Churchill Crowns! If you are happy with your coins and happy with the time/money invested in it. It is a good investment for you.

I never considered this before, so maybe it's also about personality, then? As I would never have got very far if, after 4 years of collecting, my collection was still only 4 coins in size and, due to my lack of experience, already half my collection were not my best buys!

I do think that driving a few old bangers around first, before buying that Ferrari, can only be a good thing!

Edited January 1, 2013 by Coinery

[Peter]

Buy a few books and just buy the best you can afford.One in Kate Bush is worth two in the hand...although she hasn't weared well.

[Peckris]

Hi,

I know this is an overused question as with any other hobby etc. But the oldies are always a good one, plus don't ask don't get.

Anyway, in your opinions what in the British currency would be best as a starter range to get into?

Would you say just start with ones that are in the range of between 40 years ago and now?

Until you decide what you want to specialise in, I would start by collecting by 'type' - as a beginner, perhaps you could start with one of each denomination of each major issue, in each reign. That's halfcrown down to farthing for Elizabeth 2 - 1953 (one year type, and very affordable), and then 1954-1967 ("BRITT OMN" omitted) to choose the other type from (or else buy the 1970 proof set and one BU farthing from 1954-56).

George VI : 1949-1952 ("IND IMP" omitted - halfcrown to sixpence, brass 3d, penny to farthing)

George VI : 1947-48 (silver replaced by cupro nickel - halfcrown to sixpence, brass 3d, penny to farthing)

George VI : 1937-46 (50% silver - halfcrown to silver 3d, brass 3d, penny to farthing)

George V : 1927-36 (last issue - halfcrown to silver 3d, penny to farthing)

George V : 1920-1926 (50% silver - halfcrown to silver 3d, penny to farthing)

George V : 1911-1919 (sterling silver - halfcrown to silver 3d, penny to farthing)

That's a very simplified plan of course. The important thing is to buy only BU coins from 1937 so avoid scarce/rare dates for now. Before 1937, go for minimum EF and again, concentrate on the commoner issues.

Buy and study two books first : the latest CCGB catalogue which has a wealth of extra information in, and Grading British Coins - both can be got by clicking in the banner advert above.

You may never become a 'date run' collector, but if you do, make sure you know your subject and the series in question, before you begin. Good luck!