Hi everyone,
I am a total newbie to coin collection. But it sounds like fun. So I am trying to get into it.
Just want to know what is fun to collect? I know the usual advice to collect themes that you like. But with no experience at all I really don't have a strong interest in anything. I do like the $1 MOR high relief silver coin though. Would that be a good one to start you collection with? (Looks so pretty.)
I also would like some advice where people go to buy coins (other than just look through their change.) For instance if I want to buy the $1 HR silver coin. Is it OK to just pick it from Aussie Post? Or some place better (perhaps cheaper?)
If anyone has any advice on interesting books to acquire some knowledge in this area that would be much appreciated too.
One last question - any opinions on Perth Mint vs. RAM?
Thanks in advance..... :)
Aust Post is an OK place to pick up coins, especially if they're RAM ones. I don't actually collect NCLT (Non Circulating Legal Tender) coins, but there are plenty here who do, and many of them are devotees of the MOR.
I'm sure there'll be some advice for you soon and meanwhile read some of the other threads and see if anything takes your fancy.
I actively collect quite a few different themes, Bird Coins, Tiny Coins (17 MM and under), coins dated 1943, and I have very small collections of Tortoise/Turtle Coin, Dragon Coins and coins with Knights on them, which are all pretty static.
Most of all, I love Error coins. :biggrin:
Ok, firstly :welcome: and hope you enjoy :)
Yes it is fun but like most things it's what you make of it :winkextra:
Now fun, yes you had it right what ever takes your fancy and don't worry I have been for a while and still can't work out what I want to collect so I'm what I like to call a collectic so everything is fair game for me.
Now it depends on how much money you have and how much your prepared to pay for things but for now I'd probably recommend to stay away from NCLT until you see what's around as it can be very expensive but in saying that you can pick up thing for less than issue price a few years after the novelty wears off. But the local PO can save you on post so that's one advantage to them.
Where to get coins, where ever you can, sorry :) well if you want circulated and looking for errors your better off getting bags from a bank and just keep rolling them over like we do and the there's a few avenuse to take so there's places (free adds here hehe) like our very own PPH here and dare I say her better half Markn who own and run the forum along with the Purple Penny and I have been very happy with what I have got from them, very helpful. Then you have Drakesterling who deals in slabs and also great to deal with, Walter from numisbid auction house, haven't bought yet but getting close. there'sa lot of other dealers and auction houses and then the usual feebay and quicksales and then after you have enough posts you can put things for sale or what you want in buy, trade, sell and you never know what might happen but there's a few places..sorry if I didn't get to mention all but just a few to get a start so no offence to anyone. But might help to know where you are and someone might point you to a local dealer.
Here for info or one of the pocket guides like Greg McDonalds guide is ok but don't go off the prices as they are a guide but a lot of handy info on errors and other things to look for and as you work out what you'd like to collect then get a book that covers that area as some can get a bit pricey to say the least.
Lucky last I think and I go RAM, Perth is getting more and more into the granny bait as it's a good money spinner.
Hope some of that might come in handy but please yell out if you have any questions and someone with give you an opinion that's for sure, normally me :ok:
Thanks Nevol. Yes I have been reading the forum all afternoon... the more I read the more I realise just how many different types there are.
I don't have a lot of money to spend tbh ausjack. May be around $100 every once in a while - like that HR MOR coin I was thinking about. I thought collect silver or gold could be interesting and may be even profitable. But gold coins are all way too expensive for me. Being inexperienced I am a bit worried about auctions since I don't know how to value them and know if I am getting a good deal or not. EBay especially since I have no idea what's genuine and what's fake. So I have been sticking to looking at ramint and also other mints around the world.
I took a look at Perth Mint website and to be honest I don't really like much of them. They all seem like you said like "granny bait". I didn't even know there are coloured coins until last week! I didn't think they look all that nice to tell you the truth. Thought the Doctor Who and Disney coins were terrible. :)
thanks for all the replies again.
Hello,
There are many Decimal coins in circulation you can get at face value. At a rough guess there would be about 70 coins in 20 cent, 50 cent and $1. Every so often a non released Coin will make it through. For under $100 you would have a good start, and you can then add Coins you like the look of or some other limited release Coins.
Regards Chris
Quote from: 'kchan1111' pid='50879' dateline='1401615264'Thanks Nevol. Yes I have been reading the forum all afternoon... the more I read the more I realise just how many different types there are.
I don't have a lot of money to spend tbh ausjack. May be around $100 every once in a while - like that HR MOR coin I was thinking about. I thought collect silver or gold could be interesting and may be even profitable. But gold coins are all way too expensive for me. Being inexperienced I am a bit worried about auctions since I don't know how to value them and know if I am getting a good deal or not. EBay especially since I have no idea what's genuine and what's fake. So I have been sticking to looking at ramint and also other mints around the world.
I took a look at Perth Mint website and to be honest I don't really like much of them. They all seem like you said like "granny bait". I didn't even know there are coloured coins until last week! I didn't think they look all that nice to tell you the truth. Thought the Doctor Who and Disney coins were terrible. :)
thanks for all the replies again.
Welcome ! Nice to see new collectors joining the hobby.. I started collecting coins accidentally.. I am a pre decimal coin collector.. regardless of what you collect , best thing to do is to enjoy collecting ! Love what you collect and you will be a winner !
Good luck collecting !
Quote from: 'kchan1111' pid='50868' dateline='1401606391'Hi everyone,
I am a total newbie to coin collection. But it sounds like fun. So I am trying to get into it.
Just want to know what is fun to collect? I know the usual advice to collect themes that you like. But with no experience at all I really don't have a strong interest in anything. I do like the $1 MOR high relief silver coin though. Would that be a good one to start you collection with? (Looks so pretty.)
Welcome to the forum. No-one can tell you what you're going to be interested in. Why do you want to collect? To get a nice little hoard together to look at? For future investment returns? Because you like the history behind certain coins? Or for some other reason?
I guess it's a bit of everything. I thought they were incredibly beautiful little objects to look at. I don't know... I always nice old things too. I like the history and story behind them. It might be nice to think I can make some money from a hobby too.
I had a stamp collection when I was a kid. And I enjoyed it a lot. My dad used to be a sailor and he would send me letters from all over the world and I would save the stamps. Coins sound a lot easier to keep. :)
Quote from: 'kchan1111' pid='50879' dateline='1401615264'I don't have a lot of money to spend tbh ausjack. May be around $100 every once in a while - like that HR MOR coin I was thinking about. I thought collect silver or gold could be interesting and may be even profitable. But gold coins are all way too expensive for me. Being inexperienced I am a bit worried about auctions since I don't know how to value them and know if I am getting a good deal or not. EBay especially since I have no idea what's genuine and what's fake. So I have been sticking to looking at ramint and also other mints around the world.
Mate I am on DSP so not much money but save and spend wisely and you can get some really nice coins pretty cheap and with help from the forum you'll pick up a lot of useful info like I and many other have so don't be afraid to ask.
I am slowly learning and getting more confident with grading and if you like the look of something but think it might be fake or whatever put a link up and you'll soon know and also look at other threads as they come in very handy but no try not to rush into anything.
Yes good advice. I am not about to rush out and spend several k on coins. :) Not that I have that kind of money to spare.
Quote from: 'kchan1111' pid='50903' dateline='1401622499'Yes good advice. I am not about to rush out and spend several k on coins. :) Not that I have that kind of money to spare.
Money alone won't get you the best coins.. keen eye for details would get you the best !
So don't think you have to spend $$$$$ to get good coins. . You will learn this very quickly . .. I know a guy who picks up $2500 - $3000 coins for less than 1/10 th of the cost.. so be patient and you will get there. .. best thing to do is to narrow down your interest and focus on one type to start with. . Then you can slowly build your collection ....
what the heck is the " HR MOR coin "???
plze of course!!
and g'day kchan1111 ... welcome to the forum and being a collector - any more than 4 of similar items is a collection you know!
Start with small $$$ and collect a few different things, you will find a design/series you like. For example you might like the look of pennies and from that you decide to make up a penny set (which can e found for $300 or around that mark, minus the 1930, however you may aim to collect a series coin y coin).
Also, each to their own, however I don't get all the recent RAM issues and nclt in general. I personally like the pre-decimal coins, the reason for that is potentially that you are also collecting a part of history, just my 2 cents.
You have come to a great place to get some good knowledge. I certainly have learned a lot listening to others here.
I actually started back in 2000 with Decimals by taking the coins that I had in change and building up a complete set of circulating coins. Then one at a time I would upgrade them to something better. Soon my upgrades were getting upgraded - and so began my collection.
So pick something that interest you and start from there. Start little and begin to work your way up.
One thing that I have learned along the way is to buy the absolute best that your budget will allow for. Better one good coin than two that are only so-so.
Above all else - enjoy what you do!
I completely agree with everyone else - stay away from the Perth Mint.
Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='50913' dateline='1401624853'what the heck is the " HR MOR coin "???
plze of course!!
and g'day kchan1111 ... welcome to the forum and being a collector - any more than 4 of similar items is a collection you know!
High Relief Mob Of Roos Coin (I think).
Sorry yes HR = high relief. I thought that looks rather nice. :D
Couple of really stupid question:
What does it mean to "upgrade"? Get another one of the same coin of better quality?
How does one get hold of pre-decimal coins??! Since the mint doesn't make/sell them any more and it's not in circulation?
How does one get hold of pre-decimal coins??! Since the mint doesn't make/sell them any more and it's not in circulation?
Hello,
Look at Ebay, you can buy them by the Kilo to make a start. Many people have stashed them away / found a quantity at an Estate sale. Not hard to get a bag of Pennies with some over 100 years old. I wonder about the old ones and who had them. 2 World Wars and the depression. Many of the rare ones you will have to buy as a " one off " The 1937 Crown is a nice big Coin, you will pay about the price of a carton of Beer. Still plenty of nice Commemorative Florins, you should be able to get the 3 " special " ones for around the same price. Depending on your age, a Florin from the year of your birth. All nice silver Coins to display.
Regards Chris
PS Dont look for Assie Coins from 1965, none were made getting ready for Decimal.
Quote from: 'Coiny Chris' pid='50926' dateline='1401658482'Look at Ebay, you can buy them by the Kilo to make a start. Many people have stashed them away / found a quantity at an Estate sale. Not hard to get a bag of Pennies with some over 100 years old. I wonder about the old ones and who had them. 2 World Wars and the depression. Many of the rare ones you will have to buy as a " one off " The 1937 Crown is a nice big Coin, you will pay about the price of a carton of Beer.
Wooow! That sounds a lot more affordable than I thought. I thought you have to pay $k for those. The only coins within my financial resources would be the more recent coins.
:blush: Goes to show how ignorant I am. Also excited by how much there is to learn.
Personally I think the only stupid question is the one that doesn't get asked..how can you get an answer and gain knowledge if you don't ask, so never a stupid question..stupid people, now that's a different story :)
Oh and an upgrade is exactly that, a better coin :good:
QuoteThe 1937 Crown is a nice big Coin
Aust Pre-Dec silver coins were actually 92.5% silver from 1910 - 1945.
From 1946 - 1965 the silver content dropped to 50%.
Threepence, Sixpence, One Shilling, Two Shillings and Crowns.
So the 1937 Crown actually has around .8411Oz of silver.
A few very good sites for calculating Silver content etc.
http://www.australian-threepence.com/silver-coin-values/australian-silver-coin-values.htm (our own Purple-Penny member's Site)
http://currencydebasement.com/high-silver
http://www.silverrecyclers.com/Calculators/auscoin_calculator.aspx
Hello,
There are many Dealers, and " Stealers " that sell bulk Coins. You will get a good range, but a Dealer will not let any Rare ones slip through. For $93.50 delivered you ca get 2.4 Kilos of Pennies. ( an example from a quick look at Ebay ) Normally all will be in good order, and you will have head start on a collection. It will often be cheaper to buy a near complete set and then buy the rare ones, as buying bulk coins will leave gaps that will cost a lot more to fill than buy the set. Bit of a lucky dip and some fun. Having some spare through a range of years means you can put them in a Capsule and make something for a friend / relative with a coin from their birth year. If you buy them by the 10, the plastic display capsule will cost around $3 for the 10 with free Post. It will keep the Dust and fingerprints off when you look at them or show them to friends.
Regards Chris
and remember that coins use troy and not the standard once so 1 troy = 31.1034768 grams where as the standard once is 28 grams.
Thanks Chris. I have been checking out some eBay listing all morning. Hope no one noticed too much at work. :D There are quite a few listings... so many coins!
I originally thought to build even a modest collection of old coins would cost tens of thousands. No doubt the rare ones do but for $100 I get kilos to start with. :D Even if they aren't going to make me a millionaire I think I would enjoy looking at and reading about them.
And thanks for the links to the silver calculation. Very handy.
You guys are really broadening my horizon. Thanks. :)
Hi sorry one more question if I may... any tips on avoiding fakes on eBay? Other than simply make sure the seller has good eBay reputation and history?
here area couple of sellers who I bought sets off and the first one, was over all good coins, I still have some from his set and that was years ago that I bought it
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Penny-Set-Missing-Three-coins-1930-1925-and-1946-BARGAIN-/291155983884?pt=AU_Coins2&hash=item43ca3fbe0c#ht_377wt_1365
this guy too is a good solid honest seller
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/complete-set-of-aust-pennies-ex-1925-1930-1946-/281351549452?pt=AU_Coins2&hash=item4181dbf20c#ht_921wt_1365
Quote from: 'kchan1111' pid='50977' dateline='1401711484'Hi sorry one more question if I may... any tips on avoiding fakes on eBay? Other than simply make sure the seller has good eBay reputation and history?
you can always post the link here and ask for comments
some sellers are well known for listing fakes etc
and most experienced collectors can spot the fakes
additionally for the rarer coins we have a few dealers who pop in and go WARNING FAKE/s
see ya
Thank you very much. :D Hope I am not too much trouble.....
no possum
that is what forums are all about