Collection Valuation Pt 1

[britcoinz]

As discussed in another thread ( http://www.predecimal.com/forum/topic/8701-shilling-grading/ ) I have a small collection of mainly British coins that I want to sell and would appreciate views on its approx valuation so that I don't get ripped off.

The largest part of it consists of a collection of the British Halfpennies, Pennies, Shillings, Sixpence, Florins & Half Crowns from c.1910 - 1970 that were taken out of circulation from the 1940s on and kept in stiff card collection folders like this one;

In addition there are also some coins in the following categories;

Commemorative Issues
Misc other separate UK
Medals - tatty
Tokens
Misc Other - foreign etc

I will detail each category in a separate thread to avoid confusion and cross talk.

[Chris Perkins]

Those shillings in the Whitman folder all look like normal used ones to me.

The best thing to do is to tell me the numbers of each silver denomination that is pre 1920 and the same for 1920 - 1946 and I'll work you out an offer based on the silver value.

The Whitman folders were produced in the 60s, so that's further evidence that the coins were accumulated in the 60s, by which time 99.999%+ of the pre 1960s coins were too worn to be classed as collectable.

I always advise people to simply send a few sample images of the fews coins in the best condition. If the best are in normal used condition, they it's easy to work out a value.

Ripping off is not something that is practiced on predecimal.com! (by me or any of the other members)

[britcoinz]

British Coins kept in Western Publishing Company Inc "Great Britain Coin" Folder Series

Halfpennies 1902-25, 1925-67
Pennies 1902-22, 1926-40, 1944-49, 1951, 1961-66
Shillings 1911, 1914-17, 1920-66, 1968-71
Sixpence 1914, 1918, 1920-67
Florins 1914, 1919-33, 1935-51, 1953-62
Half Crowns 1920-51, 1953-67

As you would expect the earlier ones are more worn and the newer closest to Unc. It has both English and Scottish versions and also some doubles for some years. If anyone wants piccys or info about specific ones I can post these.

[Chris Perkins]

As there are some doubles, it's more accurate if you tell me how many of each denomination there is (pre 1920 and 1920 to 46) so that I can be sure I'm counting correctly, rather than guessing 1 per year, or 2 per year in the case of Eng and Sco shillings.

The 60s coins are usually pretty good because they saw very limited use before decimals came along and were they hoarded in huge numbers. As a result, all are common even in perfect condition.... especially 1967!

There are a few dates that may be worth looking at in more detail. e.g. the 1952 sixpence and 1951 penny, 1930 florin, 1925 halfcrown as those are more likely to be slightly collectable if they are just over average in terms of condition.

[Paulus]

I'd like to see the 1933 Penny ...

[Chris Perkins]

Oh yes! Error on the date range, or it's a Jersey coin.

[britcoinz]

Alas, yes sorry no 1933 Penny so the list should be

Halfpennies 1902-25, 1925-67
Pennies 1902-22, 1926-32, 1934-40, 1944-49, 1951, 1961-66
Shillings 1911, 1914-17, 1920-66, 1968-71
Sixpence 1914, 1918, 1920-67
Florins 1914, 1919-33, 1935-51, 1953-62
Half Crowns 1920-51, 1953-67

The Halfcrowns are (as afar as my newbie grading skills allow me!) prob Poor up to 1927 and then miraculously switch to VF/EF from 1928 and increase up to aUnc.

[Chris Perkins]

From 1928 they had different designs which were struck sharper and generally look a lot better, despite usually being pretty worn. Often GVI coins (1937 - 1951) are near EF, but never quite good enough to be better than bullion as they are really only collected seriously when in perfect condition. Then EII 60s coins are often near to UNC but don't contain silver and are really only collected in BU.

Anyway, I won't keep jumping it here and getting on your nerves. Discuss your coins as much as you like with the members and once you know where you are and if you want me to make an offer on them, just email or send a PM through here.

[jaggy]

Alas, yes sorry no 1933 Penny so the list should be

Halfpennies 1902-25, 1925-67

Pennies 1902-22, 1926-32, 1934-40, 1944-49, 1951, 1961-66

Shillings 1911, 1914-17, 1920-66, 1968-71

Sixpence 1914, 1918, 1920-67

Florins 1914, 1919-33, 1935-51, 1953-62

Half Crowns 1920-51, 1953-67

The Halfcrowns are (as afar as my newbie grading skills allow me!) prob Poor up to 1927 and then miraculously switch to VF/EF from 1928 and increase up to aUnc.

I would be interested in sixpences for the following years but only if they are in UNC condition:

1925 1928 1929 1931 1934 1936

[rpeddie]

1930 halfcrown also is worth a look at

[declanwmagee]

1925 & 1932 florins...

[britcoinz]

I would be interested in sixpences for the following years but only if they are in UNC condition:

1925 1928 1929 1931 1934 1936

Sorry, they are more like F.

[jaggy]

I would be interested in sixpences for the following years but only if they are in UNC condition:

1925 1928 1929 1931 1934 1936

Sorry, they are more like F.

That is a shame but thanks for responding.

[britcoinz]

1930 halfcrown also is worth a look at

Here it is

[britcoinz]

1925 & 1932 florins...

And here they are

[declanwmagee]

1925 & 1932 florins...

And here they are Florins 1925 & 1932 T.JPG Florins 1925 & 1932 H.JPG

ouch! Nasty. Thanks for bothering with the photos though!

[Peter]

They are very low grade and be ignored by 90% of collectors...you might get a bite on ebay.

[britcoinz]

Florins yes. Half Crown? You can make out hair strands when you have it in hand and the obverse is crisp. When compared to the examples on

http://wybrit.com/info/Grading.html

it is better than their 1917 Farthing, F and, imo, comparable to their 1917 Sixpence, VF (heads slightly worse, tails slightly better)

[britcoinz]

I would say it was more like Heads - F and Tails - EF.

[Nordle11]

I would say it was more like Heads - F and Tails - EF.

I'd say that's a fair estimate, although I would look closer to VF or VF+ for the reverse (tails) as the lions' faces have almost completely merged with their manes, along with some minimal wearing elsewhere.

Don't forget to take Wybrit's guide with a pinch of salt as different denominations wear at different points. Even equal denominations with different designs cannot be graded in the same way purely due to the different high points that are in place on the obv/rev.

An invaulable book which I can recommend is Chris' 'Standard Guide to Grading British Coins' which is available online (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0948964839?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creativeASIN=0948964839&linkCode=xm2&tag=predecimalcoi-21)

This book has helped me grade many a coin since I've bought it!

[Chris Perkins]

Thanks Nordle, but it's not my book! I just publish it, it's by Del, who is on here as Red Riley.

The 1930 halfcrown is VF on the reverse and AF on the obverse. Difficult to sell like that, but it's a little better than bullion and could find a home I suppose, so I'd factor that in if buying the lot.

[Nordle11]

Thanks Nordle, but it's not my book! I just publish it, it's by Del, who is on here as Red Riley.

The 1930 halfcrown is VF on the reverse and AF on the obverse. Difficult to sell like that, but it's a little better than bullion and could find a home I suppose, so I'd factor that in if buying the lot.

I see! I was slightly confused as to who's book it acutally was, I knew Derek had written it and that you had published it, so I thought " Chris' " book would suffice

Either way, great book and a necessity for most!

[Peckris]

Sorry to disagree. The 1930 obverse is not a lot better than Fair - the hair detail is nearly all gone, and the top of the ear is missing completely. As for the reverse - the top left of the harp is fused into the shield quadrant edge, the adjoining thistle is flat, the lettering is worn - not away - but WIDE (look at an UNC specimen, you will see how fine the legend lettering is). There are certain designs which - even after a lot of wear - still retain a lot of detail; the obverse of George IV Crowns, and all George V halfcrown reverses, are cases in point. Just because a lot of detail has survived, it doesn't mean that the grade is therefore higher than on other designs.

I'd give that halfcrown a grade of Fine only, being an average of the obverse and reverse, which are a whole grade apart.

Here is my 1930 : strictly speaking it's GVF, but a more lax assessment might say NEF. See how much difference there is between the two coins? (The quality of photograph is not good, as it's a JPEG scan blown up 100%, but you see the point, I hope).

[britcoinz]

Ok Thanks for your help guys.

Edited March 18, 2014 by britcoinz