Newbie Seeking Advice

[DEMONLEE]

Hi everyone, found this forum after a Google Search as determined to get some decent direction on Coin Collecting.

For many years I used to get bags of old QEII 6d coins, polish them, put them in little boxes and sell them to Americans getting married for a handsome profit.. then one day about two years ago in my haste at an auction, I bid on the wrong bag and won myself a very large bags of 'coins'. When I got home and took them out, I was frankly staggered at what I got for my £13 + 15% commission.

I got one Vatican Coin (1802), 2x King George III Cartwheel 2d and 3x Cartwheel 1d, the rest were a mixture of different value coins from QV to EII. I have no idea why, but seeing the old Vatican Coin and George III Coins, I decided to start collecting them having no idea really of what I wanted to collect, so I decided for now I would try and get at least one copy of each coin for each year of each Monarch and have been quite successful so far. When I got the opportunity to get a better quality version of any coin I have done so.

The problem is that although I have a large fantastic collection of coins from George II (without a date) up to 1971, the year of decimalisation, I feel this is going to take me more years to complete than I probably have left of my life and need to really be more selective about the coins.

So, my question to members is this..

What coins do you collect and why?

[Paulus]

A very warm welcome Demonlee! You will find lots of very good advice on here from some very experienced collectors and dealers, it is by far the best coin forum I have come across.

I collect English Milled silver from Cromwell to George VI (although I may one day add a milled Elizabeth I or Charles I!) I focus on types rather than dates or varieties, and on coins minted for circulation, as opposed to proofs, Maundy, patterns, etc.

Why? Well I started a little like yourself, without much focus, and trying to complete date runs, and decided (after a couple of years gaining some invaluable experience) that

• I could never hope to complete the date runs in many cases
• Having many examples of the same type (with different dates) did not excite me at all
• Gold coins were too expensive
• I preferred the look of silver to copper/bronze (although I do like them too!)
• I wanted higher grade examples so my budget forces me to narrow my focus

I am currently paring down my collection so that eventually I hope to have 1 quality example of each milled silver 'major' type from each monarch

[richtips86]

Hi demonlee, welcome aboard. I'm in a very similar situation myself having been given a load of coins by my dad at Xmas that my granddad collected. I've been doing lots of reading (this forum is immense) and had been tending towards George III period. However, I saw a comment on another thread that I had posted which suggested (or this is how I've interpreted it) that if you're new, you should just collect a variety to see where your interest lies. I quite like this idea because it means you can go for whatever you like the look of.

Either way, enjoy!

[Coinery]

...I saw a comment on another thread that I had posted which suggested (or this is how I've interpreted it) that if you're new, you should just collect a variety to see where your interest lies. I quite like this idea because it means you can go for whatever you like the look of.

Either way, enjoy!

Collecting broadly is a great idea for those who haven't a clear focus to begin with, but you seem to have a very clear idea of what you want to achieve. I'd definitely follow your first instinct...truth be told, you'll likely find yourself travelling down all sorts of coin roads, and will probably change your focus a few times before settling into something more focused, anyway!

Welcome aboard DL...I like a bit of Elizabethan Hammered myself!

[Peter]

Welcome 666

We are a friendly bunch.

Ask away we are mostly polite.

No question is too stupid.We are here for each other.

[TomGoodheart]

Hi Lee. I started collecting shillings. Partly because I remember spending them, so had a connection to them. Partly I liked the size of coin. And partly because I found a book about them (James Mays 'The Splendid Shilling') so I had a reference for what was available.

A year or so down the line I realised that I was never going to be able to afford an example of every different bust/reverse. Things like my Charles II and 'Northumberland' shillings bit into my budget and I had lot more to go.

So in the end I specialise in hammered shillings made at the Tower of London Mint during the reign of Charles I. That might not sound like much but there are around 30 portraits and 20 reverse types.

Recently it's been difficult to find new coins too add. Prices have gone up, I now prefer better condition coins and I have a fair few of the key ones. Plus good quality coins of most reigns have been scarce recently.

So I started a side-line collection of coins with Marianne/ Liberty / The Republic pictured on them (see here for thread, post 143 on-) I've never tried collecting by 'theme' before and I'm finding it an inexpensive and fun way to keep the collecting interest going!

Edited February 11, 2014 by TomGoodheart

[Accumulator]

Welcome!

I started in the days before decimalisation, collecting coins from change. I still have many of those coins and have been fortunate to add to them over the years. I've always been drawn to pennies, in particular, so have focussed my collection on the copper and bronze series from 1797 to 1970. I'm unashamedly a date run collector, keen to obtain an example of every known type of penny, including proofs and patterns… an impossible task of course! The link below will give you an idea of where I am with the collection.

[Peter]

You live on the edge.I like copper pre 1860.I collect everything pre 1860 to 1672 Costs me a fourtune..my girls are taking an interest...Wifie is a slapper like me

[Nicholas]

Hi

I collect Charles I and English civil war coins mostly. They're hand made and look old. I'm not sure whether it's about the aesthetics of these coins for me or the unfolding of this history of this time and how production methods started from the Briot machine made high point deteriorating to the cut pieces made at the final desperate royalist strongholds ...

[scott]

My focus is William III atm, but doing a monarch run myself, you can get a good distance back fairly cheaply, although James II and the Tudor Period (except lizzie 1) and the Commonwealth cost a bit more. then pre-war of the roses all the way back to the Norman Period, again cheap.

want to go back that far I recommend buying up bulk lots of Hammered, last lot i got contained Henry VIII possible Mary, Elizabeth , Edward I/II/III (even a scarcer mint)

Edited February 12, 2014 by scott

[Garrett]

Welcome DemonLee !

I am interested in a bit of everything pre-decimal (not so much gold but may get a gold coin or two down the track).

When I was a young lad there were still Aussie pre-decimal coins about (we went decimal in '66, I was born in '69) and a few of the older family members had small collections which got me interested.

Prior to 1910-20 Australia used English coins as far back to early milled so English pre-decimal collecting was just a natural progression.

[Rob]

Welcome to the forum Lee.

I started by collecting everythimg and anything I could lay my hands on when young, migrated to a collection of shillings and halfpennies when I finally found a focus, but after finding it difficult to fill some of the gaps in suitable grade plus the monotony of date runs, decided to go for maximum diversity within the British series from Celtic through to the modern day. By avoiding duplication of design wherever possible, it means that I have effectively become a type collector. However, old habits die hard, so I still have mini collections of George III pattern halfpennies and Freeman based halfpennies where I try to get an example of each Peck type and obverse/reverse examples respectively. Plus I often find myself buying an example of a reign/type that although strictly duplicating a design, is too attractive to ignore.

[Asumel]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

I would say I am quite a beginner as well, but I have found the guys on here to be really helpful and they always take the time to answer any questions you might have.

Personally I have collected things that appeal to me so I have quite a few odds and sods, but I go for military commemoratives because of my military family (the only decimal coins I own), myself being the only male member in over 200 years not to serve (as of yet).

I have taken a liking to shillings over the past few months, thanks to some beautiful examples posted on here and have bought a few nice examples.

[Red Riley]

Hi Lee,

Welcome to the forum. My advice is to suck it and see for a bit. I am actually quite old(!) and started to collect from change before decimalisation, initially pennies as they offered the greatest variety and the longest date run in circulation at the time. I then started to buy all sorts of stuff from a dealer down the Portobello Road and ended up, in addition to my pennies, collecting (or at least trying) to collect one of each coin type issued in the milled series since 1662. Didn't quite manage it but hey... Nowadays I no longer collect but deal in coins instead - so a kind of gamekeeper turned poacher so to speak...

[Peckris]

Welcome Lee. Like 'old' Derek, I began by perusing bags of pennies and halfpennies from the banks pre-decimalisation, and trying to complete date runs.

After periods of losing interest, then buying a few nice things at one time or another, I returned full-time to the hobby in the 90s and became a 'type' collector. This would normally involve collecting one of each major denomination type for each monarch, in the best condition possible.

But there's no hard and fast rule! I've still got a date run of pennies from 1887 - 1970 apart from the very rarest varieties, and unimportant micro-varieties (1905, 1937), and halfcrowns from 1911. For most other things I stick to 'types' (though I do have one Unc Ed VII halfcrown, plus 1903/4/5 in lower grades!).

However, early milled - 1662-1775 - in high grades is increasingly out of my reach financially, so I've put together a 'type' strategy based around the fact that there are few distinct reverses in early milled : most of the silver has the same reverse give or take roses / plumes, and there are only two different Britannias on the copper. As long as I have a high grade silver reverse, one plain, and one with roses and plumes, and a high grade for each of the two Britannias, then it only remains to get one decent obverse for each monarch.

From 1787 onwards it becomes generally a) cheaper, but c) more complicated as there are many different reverses across the board.

The thing is, to decide on what you like most, and go for it. As long as you get coins in the highest grade you can afford, and DON'T CLEAN!!!!!!, then you will get hours of enjoyment from this absorbing hobby. Members here will always give advice and help where needed, don't be afraid to ask.

[DEMONLEE]

Wow, what a great response, thank you all so much... (my first name is 'Demon', named after the Hawker Demon Bi-Plane FIghter - google it!)

Well every reply has given me something to think about, if I were to favour any particular coins, then it would be the 3d, 6d, shilling and half crown simply because as a child I worked on a milk round before going to school each day and used to 'dream' of having some of these lovely silver coins for myself. I used to earn 2 Bob a week and was once paid with a Florin instead of coppers and thought I was the richest kid in the world ha ha.

Thank you all, you have definitely given me food for thought and I will have to have a think about my direction and if I decide to specialise in certain coins or periods, it means a huge chunk of my collection will come up for sale.....

Demon

E Pluribus, Nulli Secondus

[Peter]

Sorry my humour is sometimes missed.

Welcome to the forum and just welcome

[TomGoodheart]

Wow, what a great response, thank you all so much... (my first name is 'Demon', named after the Hawker Demon Bi-Plane FIghter - google it!)

Well every reply has given me something to think about, if I were to favour any particular coins, then it would be the 3d, 6d, shilling and half crown simply because as a child I worked on a milk round before going to school each day and used to 'dream' of having some of these lovely silver coins for myself. I used to earn 2 Bob a week and was once paid with a Florin instead of coppers and thought I was the richest kid in the world ha ha.

Thank you all, you have definitely given me food for thought and I will have to have a think about my direction and if I decide to specialise in certain coins or periods, it means a huge chunk of my collection will come up for sale.....

Demon

E Pluribus, Nulli Secondus

To be honest Demon, it isn't compulsory to specialise. Nor is it necessary to actually "finish" a collection!

It's whatever gives you the most pleasure. If you prefer a structure and pattern when you look at your coins, fine. But as for example Rob says, sometimes it's fun just to break your own rules and buy something because it's nice!

So long as you keep up the grades/ upgrading it sounds like you're on the right track. Anyway, welcome again and keep us updated on what you decide!

[Accumulator]

Nor is it necessary to actually "finish" a collection!

That really would be just about impossible for any of us!

[Peter]

Nor is it necessary to actually "finish" a collection!

That really would be just about impossible for any of us!

That is what keeps me going .I've gone back to 1672 with farthings but still looking for varieties.I've still got gaps in my trays.

[DEMONLEE]

Well since I last wrote and took on board everything that was said, I think it would be right to concentrate on 'certain' coins to make life easier and whilst I appreciate it may be nigh impossible to 'finish' a collection, it will be fun tracking specimens down and funds being available, to purchase them.

I have gone through my collection and I have a predominance of silver coins anyway - I think what concerned me most about these were examples being sold as 'scrap' for their silver value that would be lost forever, even if some of them were not the best grades - the purchase of them will mean that when my own 'circulation' comes to an end, they will still be around for other collectors to buy should my descendants decide coin collecting and the collection are not for them.

I will still keep and collect the odd ones that take my fancy but will now sort out the rest and sell them that will raise funds to buy better copies of the silver coins I have and obviously to continue adding to them.

Thank you all for your feedback and comments - I took on board everything everyone said and it made perfect sense to be more 'particular' about some coins that took my interest as some of you are doing.. all the feedback about how and why you collect was exactly what I was looking for to help me make my own decision.

[Peter]

Demon

I would strongly mention a visit to a coin fair to inspect some nice coins and see what rocks your boat.

I don't know where you are based but I go to the Midland fair at the NEC motorbike museum.It is the 2nd Sunday every month.There is also a monthly fair at Wakefield.Regular fairs in London and occasional fairs at York.,Harrogate and a few other smaller fairs.

Happy hunting.