Newbie collector

[kchan1111]

Sorry yes HR = high relief. I thought that looks rather nice.

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?

[Coiny Chris]

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.

[kchan1111]

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.

[ausjack]

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:

[Nevol]

The 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

[Coiny Chris]

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

[ausjack]

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.

[kchan1111]

Thanks Chris. I have been checking out some eBay listing all morning. Hope no one noticed too much at work. 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. 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.

[kchan1111]

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?

[robbiegal]

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

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

[kchan1111]

Thank you very much. Hope I am not too much trouble.....

[robbiegal]

no possum
that is what forums are all about