First Purchase Update

[richtips86]

Hi All, in my newbie excitement I saw what I thought looked like a lovely 1787 Sixpence (with hearts) on ebay last week, when I saw it, it was closing in 10mins so no time to ask for advice. The price seemed ok compared to what I've seen in books (£39) and the coin did look a "bute" to me and I saw no one else had bid so thought why not?? Today was the first time I could collect from the PO and in hand, again, it looks a stunner. However there's always been that niggling doubt of "why did no one else bid". Have I been rinsed or not? Thanks

[declanwmagee]

No, Rich, I don't think you've been rinsed! It's a good price, but not a steal, and the coin looks OK. If it still looks OK in the hand then I think you can be pleased.

There's no substitute for experience, and the only way to get it is to to buy coins!

There were probably no other bidders because people tend not to like it when sellers use high starting bids. I have picked up some bargains myself that way. If he had started it at 99p it may well have gone over £39.

[Paulus]

I agree with Declan, that looks to be a fair price for a decent, good looking example.

And I would echo eBay bidding behaviour (although it is not totally predictable!) ... it can be a bit scary listing a decent coin at 99p start with no reserve, but it will often sell for more than the identical coin with a high starting price or reserve, or listed as Buy It Now (BIN) ... just a bit more risky for the seller!

[Paulus]

I agree with Declan, that looks to be a fair price for a decent, good looking example.

And I would echo what Declan says about eBay bidding behaviour (although it is not totally predictable, like any auction!) ... it can be a bit scary listing a decent coin at 99p start with no reserve, but it will often sell for more than the identical coin with a high starting price or reserve, or listed as Buy It Now (BIN) ... just a bit more risky for the seller!

[Accumulator]

Not my area, but I'd be proud of that as a purchase. A nice grade piece of history for what sounds like a very reasonable price indeed.

[TomGoodheart]

I seem to remember that sixpences are slightly less common than the shillings. And it looks to be a decent example to me, so well done!

[Coinery]

Welcome to the dark side, Rich!

Looks like a no-problem coin to me! Re bids...as Declan and Paulus explained, people so very often move on when they see the bigger starting prices!

[Garrett]

Nice coin Rich !

Be a little wary of the prices you see in a single book though. When I am researching a potential new purchase I compare books (both Spink and CCGB if modern milled), past results at auction sites (London coins, Noble), and other dealers where possible.

cheers

Garrett.

[declanwmagee]

Nice coin Rich !

Be a little wary of the prices you see in a single book though. When I am researching a potential new purchase I compare books (both Spink and CCGB if modern milled), past results at auction sites (London coins, Noble), and other dealers where possible.

cheers

Garrett.

Absolutely, Garrett!

I use an average of 4: CCGB, BCMV, CYB, and Spink (everyone OK with those acronyms?), then chuck my own sales records in for good measure. Quite often all the books are miles out from what I think I could reasonably get for a coin. Any eBay coinie who has been playing this silly game for a while now would no doubt say the same.

[Peckris]

Hi All, in my newbie excitement I saw what I thought looked like a lovely 1787 Sixpence (with hearts) on ebay last week, when I saw it, it was closing in 10mins so no time to ask for advice. The price seemed ok compared to what I've seen in books (£39) and the coin did look a "bute" to me and I saw no one else had bid so thought why not?? Today was the first time I could collect from the PO and in hand, again, it looks a stunner. However there's always been that niggling doubt of "why did no one else bid". Have I been rinsed or not? Thanks

No, you weren't rinsed. Admittedly there are a LOT of 1787 silver coins out there in high grade, but yours is no disgrace and I'd certainly be pleased to get one at that price.

Nice coin Rich !

Be a little wary of the prices you see in a single book though. When I am researching a potential new purchase I compare books (both Spink and CCGB if modern milled), past results at auction sites (London coins, Noble), and other dealers where possible.

cheers

Garrett.

Absolutely, Garrett!

I use an average of 4: CCGB, BCMV, CYB, and Spink (everyone OK with those acronyms?), then chuck my own sales records in for good measure. Quite often all the books are miles out from what I think I could reasonably get for a coin. Any eBay coinie who has been playing this silly game for a while now would no doubt say the same.

I used to get very sour with BCMV as their prices were always considerably lower than everyone else's, and I never quite understood where they were getting them from? I'm not sure if that's still the case though - they may have got more of a reality check these days.

[Rob]

I'm not sure why anybody gets particularly exercised with any price guide given we all accept that they aren't perfect and that the numbers are a vague fictional approximation. It's a case of doing your homework.

[richtips86]

Hi everyone, I've quoted a description attributed to a 1787 Shilling that I've seen from a website below:

1787 Without Hearts. No stop over head. ESC 1218 S3744.

The S3744 I'm assuming is the Spink reference, but what does the ESC 1218 mean?

[Coinery]

That's a reference taken from a book called English Silver Coinage (ESC), CGS use it a fair bit for their referencing!

Edit: not sure about which year is the latest edition?

But this is the book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0900652284

Edited February 19, 2014 by Coinery

[declanwmagee]

English Silver Coinage by Seaby & Rayner

Shameless plug here: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Declan-Magee-Coins/Standard-numismatic-reference-works.html

[Coinery]

English Silver Coinage by Seaby & Rayner

Shameless plug here: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Declan-Magee-Coins/Standard-numismatic-reference-works.html

I think that's the latest edition, isn't it?

[Peckris]

Hi everyone, I've quoted a description attributed to a 1787 Shilling that I've seen from a website below:

1787 Without Hearts. No stop over head. ESC 1218 S3744.

The S3744 I'm assuming is the Spink reference, but what does the ESC 1218 mean?

It's rated by ESC as "N" (meaning 'Normal') i.e. between Common and Scarce.

[richtips86]

Thanks guys

[Paulus]

One thing you will get from this forum, we won't say it's a nice coin and/or a good price if we don't really think it is (unlike certain other forums I could mention!)

[Peter]

Ahhh Paulus I'm just going to make a sandwich.....would you like one?

[richtips86]

Have I seen somewhere that people use acetone (from pharmacists, not nail varnish remover) for their coins prior to storing them. I've finally got around to ordering some 2x2s and am going to start sorting things out and want to make sure I follow the correct procedure. Is there anything else to do?

Cheers

[Peter]

I bought my acetone from ebay.

Use a cotton bud on tarnished areas if you are not happy with the coin.Rinse and pat dry.

Best to experiment on some junk coins.

Don't clean your 6d...looks nice.

[Peter]

I would go for the adhesive 2x2's after trying the cheaper staple ones.

Especially if you intend to put into folders which take 2x2's

[richtips86]

Thanks Peter. Yeah I love the sixpence, my favourite so far! Ok so don't do acetone as default on the whole coin? And yes my adhesives arrived today, proper excited! ??????

[Peter]

Now just the neat handwriting.

Mine is neater after a quaff of red...well it seems to be.

[richtips86]

Alcohol, the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems!! Seriously though, I gott best mark at uni after 3 beers and my French becomes exponentially better with each quaf of the vino! ?