Any issues to be aware of for Americans bidding on Baldwin UK auctions

Slade01

I'm looking at a couple of coins that Baldwin's has in its upcoming UK auction. Any particular issues to be aware of, I assume that they are used to selling to US buyers. Thanks

Bailathacl

I have purchased 3 coins from them in the last year. No issues whatsoever, quick and safe shipping on each of my shipments.

threefifty

Do you know if they prepare export licenses for you for coins won? I thought about bidding on a few lots from them last year, but their conditions make it seem like you would have to figure that out as a US buyer. I am familiar with the export license process for metal detecting finds but didn't know if it is different for this situation.

Bailathacl

If they had export licenses I was unaware, and they did not share them with me. I don’t believe any were required, I’ve bought similar items from another London firm without licenses being mentioned.

Sapyx

Unfortunately, British regulations regarding export of antiquities do not specifically mention "coins".

British law requires an export licence for "archaeological finds", no matter how valuable they are. Which would logically extend to any coin in the Detector Finds Database, or otherwise found by metal detector.

There is some debate in the archaeological community as to whether or not old "coins" without such archaeological provenance should always be included in the "Archaeological finds" category or not. But with no unambiguous government guidance, the consensus amongst coin dealers is that no, they don't. This would see "coins" filed under "miscellaneous items over 50 years old", and would therefore only need an export license if the value exceeds the curiously specific £34,300. Coins less than 50 years old would not, of course, need any license.

threefifty

Thank you, Sapyx! That makes sense.

7Jaguars

I have bought coins from them for about 30 years and although there have been occasional delays, no major problems. Not that it probably matters but adding up all the "juice" and shipping, etc. does add a fair amount to the bidder's costs...

threefifty

The pound is lower than it has been which is nice though. I first went to the UK about 10 years ago and remember getting a rate of 1.76 dollars to the pound...ouch.

Slade01

Thank you all for those great comments!

John Conduitt

@Sapyx said:
Unfortunately, British regulations regarding export of antiquities do not specifically mention "coins".

British law requires an export licence for "archaeological finds", no matter how valuable they are. Which would logically extend to any coin in the Detector Finds Database, or otherwise found by metal detector.

There is some debate in the archaeological community as to whether or not old "coins" without such archaeological provenance should always be included in the "Archaeological finds" category or not. But with no unambiguous government guidance, the consensus amongst coin dealers is that no, they don't. This would see "coins" filed under "miscellaneous items over 50 years old", and would therefore only need an export license if the value exceeds the curiously specific £34,300. Coins less than 50 years old would not, of course, need any license.

"Under UK law there is an Open General Export Licence (O.G.E.L.) covering the majority of categories of antiques, works of art and collectors’ items over 50 years old, if the value per article, or matching set of articles is less than £65,000."

"The OGEL is available for use by any exporter in the UK; it is a valid export licence and the conditions attached to it are binding. No prior authorisation is required from the ELU to use an OGEL, no licence need be applied for from the ELU and no licence has to be presented to Customs. Customs officials at ports and airports should be informed that the goods are being exported under the OGEL (Objects of Cultural Interest) by quoting its title in the export documentation."

ELuis

I have bought many coins from the UK, In the very little that I know it does not matter the value of a coin, let say one that you will end up paying a $100 bucks if the piece is registered with the Portable Antiquities Scheme as a metal detecting find it will require clearance in the form of an export licence. Just one example, HTH.

pruebas

Also remember that the Baldwins of today is not the Baldwins of three years ago. And that Baldwins wasn't the Baldwins of 10 years ago. I believe it has changed hands a few times over the last few years.

That said, I have no recent (<5 years) experience with them other than being outbid.

Boosibri

Neil Paisley has been the Managing Director for stage last 5 years or so. He owns/ran Colin Cooke previously.

I used to have beers with Neil every so often as we lived in the same town in the UK. Solid guy.

The weight of the owners taking bets on investment items was one of the downfalls of the most recent iteration.

harasha

No problems with the timing of shipping. I have had problems with the way winning lots may be packed.

wybrit

No problems working with Baldwins. I have a few nice rarities from them. The biggest hassle can be paying for the purchases, but that's the case with just about any overseas auction house. Neil Paisley is a class individual, and the staff are easy to work with.

JohnnyCache

I won 2 lots back in February of this year and other than finding it somewhat difficult to contact customer service directly, as, at least at that time, all phone calls to the listed Baldwins customer service phone number were inexplicably being directed instead to Stanley Gibbons (stamps). Other than that I had no issues. I would use (442079306879) if CS needed.