A collection amassed by a wealthy lawyer prior to 1945 . . .
ColonialCoinUnion
Posts: 10,087 ✭✭✭
. . . was what I had the opportunity to view the other night.
A Canadian friend inherited the collection from a great uncle, in the UK, who had accumulated a few hundred English coins years ago. They were stored in an ancient and very expensive looking custom cabinet fitted with wooden trays, all filled with all sizes and shapes of English coins dating from 1560 to 1940, big, small, copper, silver and plenty of gold.
Many early 19th century coins looked like proofs, and most had developed attractive toning around the rims that appears to have developed over decades of sitting in their little trays unbothered by grabby collectors.
I took some notes, but I'm no expert in this area and so need some advice:
Whats the best source of info on the web for English coin values?
A Canadian friend inherited the collection from a great uncle, in the UK, who had accumulated a few hundred English coins years ago. They were stored in an ancient and very expensive looking custom cabinet fitted with wooden trays, all filled with all sizes and shapes of English coins dating from 1560 to 1940, big, small, copper, silver and plenty of gold.
Many early 19th century coins looked like proofs, and most had developed attractive toning around the rims that appears to have developed over decades of sitting in their little trays unbothered by grabby collectors.
I took some notes, but I'm no expert in this area and so need some advice:
Whats the best source of info on the web for English coin values?
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Comments
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Ebay name: bhil3
09/07/2006
On the other hand, I do know old, original coins when I see them, and I can say with some confidence that anyone who kept them in a cabinet like I saw must have been 'serious'. Clearly these are coins of some meaningful value.
The heirs want to place the coins in an auction, but I thought it prudent to get some grasp on what they have here so they can negotiate intelligently with a few auction houses and make the best deal possible. And they have agreed.
So, my intention is to review recent auction results for similar pieces and all that, but I'm looking for a simplistic starting point to determine if this is a collection worth tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or 'a lot'.
I tried to send you a PM, and apparently you do not accept them which is fine. Let me be blunt...You are now in a tough situation... Just from what you have said, this has the potential to be huge and that of course depends on the dates, denominations and condition of the coins. Some of these coins are mostlikely worthy of certification, if for no other reason, to verify authenticity and condition. The owners of these coins need to hear their options...
Perhaps the best option is to consign them, however, before that is even considered, they need to know if these coins are among the finest examples known... and that seems to be a possibilty at this stage. Does the collection start with Elizabeth I?
There are auction houses... but for this type of collection, the best source maybe across the pond. Best of luck and I feel confident that there are others here willing to help if help is needed.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Look at the results for the two Terner sales (Goldbergs), go to Spink-online, and try Dix-Noonan-Webb especially, as they have a large archive of past prices realized.
<< <i>ColonialCoinUnion:
I tried to send you a PM, and apparently you do not accept them which is fine. Let me be blunt...You are now in a tough situation... Just from what you have said, this has the potential to be huge and that of course depends on the dates, denominations and condition of the coins. Some of these coins are mostlikely worthy of certification, if for no other reason, to verify authenticity and condition. The owners of these coins need to hear their options...
Perhaps the best option is to consign them, however, before that is even considered, they need to know if these coins are among the finest examples known... and that seems to be a possibilty at this stage. Does the collection start with Elizabeth I?
There are auction houses... but for this type of collection, the best source maybe across the pond. Best of luck and I feel confident that there are others here willing to help if help is needed. >>
I'm PM-able and have received PMs from others within the last 5 minutes, so not sure why you were unable to reach me.
I appreciate your input, but I'm not sure why I'm in a 'tough situation'. My friends, the owners, have asked me to assist them to determine the value of this collection and to then advise them where and how to sell it. Which is what I'm doing. Wouldn't this be a 'good situation'?
For example, what would you do with a 1720 1/2 crown that looks as if it could grade MS65 or higher? Does it go off to PCGS or ANACS, NGC? Does it go to Spink or heritage raw to be auctioned? I'm sorry, but that seems to be a tough call from where I am sitting... Is the coin worth 3500 or 15000?
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Hockey set! Always looking to buy, trade or upgrade 1966 Topps to 1969 OPC.
<< <i>My friends, the owners, have asked me to assist them to determine the value of this collection and to then advise them where and how to sell it. Which is what I'm doing. Wouldn't this be a 'good situation'? >>
Oh boy!! Wouldn't I love to be in a situation like this......
As to the TPGs, they are still on a learning curve on any material which is pre-1800. They don't have a specialists breadth of knowledge on the early milled coinage which spans from 1672 through the early 1900s. This is akin to the knowledge of mints/strikes/ lustre they possess for say, Indian Head nickels. When it comes to assessing the 1720 1/2 crown lets say, the TPGs are not as privy as a UK specialist.....they just don't see that much of it.
Music in my ears.
DPOTD-1
I haven't met one Third Party Grader that can grade any of the Early Milled series with any accuracy whatsoever. I see lots of GVF's going as AU and GEFs as MS63s etc. Looks like some overgraded coins are going to be on the market.
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