Hiring A Cabinet

[Peter]

There is a new antique centre opening up about 10 miles away in a pleasant small town.

I have the opportunity of renting a coin cabinet.They are trying to get a reasonable coin section.

Has anyone had experience of this?

[Rob]

It could work for getting rid of all the polished bling that the masses find so atttractive - assuming you have some, that is. Not sure what the footfall would be like though. Collectors rarely find anything worthwhile in these places as they tend to be filled with Churchill crowns at a fiver each, but uncollectable novelties (for the non-collector) might do ok.

[TomGoodheart]

Wifey and I often frequent such places. Antique cellars and the like. I always look for coins, but tend to end up disappointed. Mostly because, as Rob says, most offerings are 1970-80s proof sets and commemorative crowns. Or a few very worn bits of 19th C silver.

But also because people have the habit of just throwing in a Lindner tray or similar, or you find a jumbled pile of plastic 2x2s. This mean you can't see the reverse of the coins, or even all of them clearly. Often there are no prices either. Yes, I could ask for the cabinet to be unlocked (normally the centre is staffed, but not by the actual sellers and staff phone the owners if haggling or price info is needed). But unless I can clearly see a coin I want, or similar coins suggesting there's the potential for there to be one I want, I'm unlikely to bother getting everything unlocked for a 30 second scan to confirm it's all junk!

So if you do go down this route Peter and aim to attract actual coinys, you'll need to consider how to display your wares!

This is assuming it's a glass tower type of display with several shelves. For one of the older wooden, lockable cabinets with the glass lid that hinges up, you can't stoop down to peer through the underside of the shelf. So either you'll need labels to help people or something like a mirror base, so the reverse of the coins displayed can be checked.

You might also want to decide in advance how much leeway to allow on prices. Usually there is a label, but often staff are given discretion to accept less within pre-set limit.

Let us know if you do go for it. And how you get on!

Edited March 6, 2014 by TomGoodheart

[Nordle11]

I spend a lot of time in antiques centres looking for coins, among many other things, and I can only really echo the above posts.. A plethora of commemorative crowns between £2-5 and tons of silver coins w/o silver content. The occasional hammered at a stupid price.

I did manage to find a full thruppence Whitman folder (1937 onwards) the other day and the seller had reduced it from £10 to £7. No missing coins and all were A/UNC at least. I've no need for the folder either so selling that brought the coins down to about £4.

I'm in the same boat as you at the moment, as there aren't many, if any, cabinets designated for coins in antiques centres. My local centre has a cabinet I'm looking to frequent but I'm trying to get hold of risers/mirrors etc and I'm going to mock up a display at home using the measurements of the cabinet first to maximise the viewing.

Like Tom says, I'm often put off looking at coins that you can only see the date, or the obverse, as 9 times out of 10 the lots are junk. So I'm really trying to think about the same question but I'm not yet at a definitive answer!

Someone needs to design a slab that can be locked/opened but that multiple coins can be stored in and viewed from back and front..

[TomGoodheart]

Someone needs to design a slab that can be locked/opened but that multiple coins can be stored in and viewed from back and front..

There are units that can be bought on ebay that are two sheets of plastic within a frame allowing coins to be dislayed. Ah, they are Lindner Nimbus apparently:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lindner-Nimbus-Flexi-Frame-Display-Case-White-45-x-45mm-Hammered-Coins-/321240160312?pt=UK_Coins_Ancient_RL&hash=item4acb67d838

Don't know if multiple coin ones are available ..

[Peter]

At another antique centre local to me I've bought several coins

1863 1/4d GF

Many Indian Head cents

1887 1d EF

Early Aussie silver

The beauty of it I never paid more than £1.50

As with Richard Mrs Peter enjoys a nose round....we pick up a few nice bits.

There is also a nice cafe adjacent.

[Nordle11]

Thanks Tom, that's a good starting point but indeed there is a necessity for a holder than can take 20+ coins at a time.

Peter - some good purchases there! My local also has a nice little cafe on the side. Some of you may have heard of it already as it was recently on Antiques Roadshow (G-Dad's Collectables - based in Old Wolverton, Milton Keynes)

I've already ranksacked the place for every coin of worth in there

[Gary1000]

Slightly off topic but why do dealer at shows display their coins observe up, most annoying.

[Rob]

Slightly off topic but why do dealer at shows display their coins observe up, most annoying.

Sorry, ever the contrarian, but I don't necessarily. I usually put them date up, but even that relies on the customer having binocular vision - very unlikely. Many are as blind as a bat!

[Gary1000]

Slightly off topic but why do dealer at shows display their coins observe up, most annoying.

Sorry, ever the contrarian, but I don't necessarily. I usually put them date up, but even that relies on the customer having binocular vision - very unlikely. Many are as blind as a bat!

Ah, but you are a collector, you realise the the date is important. Many of the dealers at the Midland's show head up with the coin in a flip and the label underneath. When there's a scrum at the table I often can't be bothered to ask.

[sound]

There is a new antique centre opening up about 10 miles away in a pleasant small town.

I have the opportunity of renting a coin cabinet.They are trying to get a reasonable coin section.

Has anyone had experience of this?

Peter,

Is it between me and you? Should like to have a look if not to far. Let me know if you go ahead.

Kind regards

Mark

[Peter]

Mark

Yes it is in Debenham

I want to find out a bit more.

[NRP]

Slightly off topic but why do dealer at shows display their coins observe up, most annoying.

I believe this is because many dealers think that the obverse side will wear more easily, I will guess that it is dealers that have their coins loose in trays and they can slide around in transit and wear more!!

[sound]

Mark

Yes it is in Debenham

I want to find out a bit more.

Ah not far at all. Let me know.

Regards

Mark

[Peckris]

There is a new antique centre opening up about 10 miles away in a pleasant small town.

I have the opportunity of renting a coin cabinet.They are trying to get a reasonable coin section.

Has anyone had experience of this?

Yes, I did. It was an interesting experience. From the start, I would ask them if you can take just part of the cabinet (after 12 months trial) at a reduced rent if sales don't match rent which is always a possibility.

I did find that Christmas was a boost. And that commemorative sets sold quite well to 'passing trade' (if you can get year set holders and coins to fill them, that's quite an asset; the coins don't have to be better than average as these are rarely bought by genuine collectors).

Apart from that, be ready to be surprised at what sells and what doesn't : there's very little prediction you can do, unless you're lucky enough to have a few regular punters who collect in a particular field.

Label your coins clearly, especially the price, and give each one a unique ID number in case there's any conflict at a later date. You'd be surprised how many sellers fail to read labels properly, so make sure yours are absolutely clear. Make sure they send you a monthly statement with a breakdown of every item sold, and be fastidious yourself in keeping good records.

Lighting and dispaly are also important, so spend some time setting out your wares to best effect. Your best items or the most attractive ones, should be near to eye level if possible.

Apart from that - good luck! It was a very up and down experience, but on the whole I'm glad I did it.

[scott]

when I went to york there were some nice coins in the Antiques centres, bit expensive but Identified properly (freeman numbers etc).

and as it is new, its a good chance to get it going with Quality rather then rubbish.

[Nordle11]

There is a new antique centre opening up about 10 miles away in a pleasant small town.

I have the opportunity of renting a coin cabinet.They are trying to get a reasonable coin section.

Has anyone had experience of this?

Yes, I did. It was an interesting experience. From the start, I would ask them if you can take just part of the cabinet (after 12 months trial) at a reduced rent if sales don't match rent which is always a possibility.

I did find that Christmas was a boost. And that commemorative sets sold quite well to 'passing trade' (if you can get year set holders and coins to fill them, that's quite an asset; the coins don't have to be better than average as these are rarely bought by genuine collectors).

Apart from that, be ready to be surprised at what sells and what doesn't : there's very little prediction you can do, unless you're lucky enough to have a few regular punters who collect in a particular field.

Label your coins clearly, especially the price, and give each one a unique ID number in case there's any conflict at a later date. You'd be surprised how many sellers fail to read labels properly, so make sure yours are absolutely clear. Make sure they send you a monthly statement with a breakdown of every item sold, and be fastidious yourself in keeping good records.

Lighting and dispaly are also important, so spend some time setting out your wares to best effect. Your best items or the most attractive ones, should be near to eye level if possible.

Apart from that - good luck! It was a very up and down experience, but on the whole I'm glad I did it.

Some good advice there, even though this isn't my thread, thanks all the same!