got the bug

[Guest phillip boot]

hi everyone, just a few words from a newbie. I've enjoyed reading your topics for the past week or so, nice to see that there are quite a few young people collecting. Although I've collected coins since I was about 9 or 10 it's only now, many years on that I have got both the time and the funds to start collecting properly (formally, anything and everything just chucked in an old tin, shame on me!!). I've decided to start with farthings and halfpenny's as they are reasonably priced and should get my collection of to a good start. The trouble is both grading and pricing seems to be a mine field. It makes me wonder whether half the sellers are pricing and grading the same coins that they have put up for sale, especially on E-Bay. Am I being paranoid or are the prices being pushed up by some of the sellers using different names ?.

I sure nearly found out the hard way by getting caught by the bidding bug, thank god I got out bid by someone worse than me.

Anyways, I've purchased some coins now in the grades which I wish to collect from Chris (hope his grading is reliable ha ha!!!) and now at least I'll have some comparison for my future buys.

And I must get myself a decent book, any suggestions guys would be appreciated.

Oh and a clue to my age, my earliest memory of pre-decimal was being given a 'thrupenny bit' to buy my sweets for the week.

[Sylvester]

Right halfpennies and farthings are as good a place to start as any.

For newbies i'd advise against ebay (too much junk being sold on there), once you've got you're footing and a bit of experience in the grading and you've got an idea of the prices of your chosen area then by all means ebay can be alright.

As far as books go i'd like to recommend either Collectors' Coins (owned by our good friend Chris here), or the Spinks catalogue, which will be good for the grading tips.

Ideally i'd say buy both and away you go.

Welcome to the hobby (or perhaps welcome back!), and good luck with your chosen course of action!

[Chris Perkins]

Phillip,

You'll find my grading's usually pretty good. Did you get the farthings yet?

There is a lot of rubbish on ebay being sold by a lot of people that haven't got a clue. You'll be alright with the well established websites like this one, and, oh I couldn't possibly name any others!

[Half Penny Jon]

Halfpennies are great to collect ! I collect 1900-1936 halfpennies, but if you can afford to collect before about 1895 then you will have a great collection! Welcome to the forum by the way.