Old Coins

Anonymous

I've just inherited a load of old coins from my father and I have absolutely no intention on hanging onto them.

I am planning on selling them and from a cursory Google some may be (allegedly) valued up to £2K (something dated 1661, can't remember exact details now).

What's the best way to get rid of this 'portfolio'? I reckon there are about a total of 100 coins, some specimen sets, a few commemorative coins and a few various others. I think some need a clean which I am told NOT to do.

I'm based in London if that helps.
Cheers

tangled_metal

Check out nearest coin dealer. I used to live near a town with a combined stamp collectors and coin collectors shop. They'd be able to value your haul and buy/sell them for you. I know you'll not like the feeling they could be stiffing you but since you don't know what is what in coin collecting and it sounds like an unexpected thing to get anything is better than unwanted coins sat doing nothing. Shop around for other offers too.

arthur_scrimshaw

Take them to an auction house that specializes in coins. They will be able to give you an idea of the value, and help you to realize the value. There's a cost but if you go on eBay you'll get robbed blind if you don't know what you have.

graham.

As you say, don't clean them.

finchy

Does you local reference library not have a book on coin valuation? Just so you can get a rough idea before you speak to anyone.

RDW

You could try here: http://www.baldwin.co.uk/free-valuations/

sungod

as above, auction house that specializes will be best - there should be more real collectors bidding, giving proper competition for anything special

don't clean or even touch them with fingers as it can mark them, as a kid i was given various special edition crowns etc. in protective cases, which of course i opened so i could play with them, in later years i found that this reduced their value to essentially nil vs. mint, no big deal in this case, but shows how little it takes to make a big difference to a collector

Anonymous

Right so I have had the coins appraised and they are off for auction some time in September. Valued between 700-1000 which isn't too bad.

I also had a few gold coins in the collection which the valuer said were better off taking to be sold for their gold content. Can anyone recommend where to get this done (in London). I should probably start reading up on the price of gold. (I have a '35 sovereign, South African half sovereign and an old US 1 dollar)

rjsterry

Pretty sure there is some sort of specialist coin dealer opposite the front of the British Museum - yup: Coincraft.