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 Replies: 21 / Views: 3,876 |
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New Member
United Kingdom
34 Posts |
If you like and want the coin and the price is not too far above the highest guide or lower, then buy it. None of them have a full grip on market pricing. Do your own research if you don't feel comfortable with the variance of reference book pricing. See what they sell for in auction, or look at dealers' lists.
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New Member
 United Kingdom
28 Posts |
Thanks for all the replies. I'm really wanting to start a collection od Tudor era hammered coins, a first for me, so any guide dealing with their prices would be ideal. What guide would people recommend regarding these coins?
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New Member
United Kingdom
34 Posts |
Look at past auction results as this is the best indicator.
Compile your own database.In the past couple of years, anything with a problem has often not sold. Anything better than VF is flying. Lower grade coins in the Fine to VF range will sell if attractive enough.
A huge gulf has opened up at the VF and higher level, so the price you pay really depends on what grade you want your coins to be. None of the guides do anything other than list a reasonable price for a common variety.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1351 Posts |
 Auction estimates are usually wrong for anything nice or rare. You have to do your own homework. The threads on a few forums following the recent DNW will be an eye opener for many. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
548 Posts |
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New Member
United Kingdom
28 Posts |
OK, another question please, where are the best sites to look at past auction performance for these coins. :)
And I also have to ask, what does DNW mean? :)
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New Member
United Kingdom
34 Posts |
DNW is Dix Noonan Webb, an auction house in London. http://www.dnw.co.uk/ Other London salerooms include Spink, Baldwin, St. James's, Morton & Eden & Bonhams. Most have websites with realised prices and archived catalogues. Alternatively, some can be found on mcsearch. From the comments above, I suspect some may be on a steep learning curve. The better items tend to be sold through auction houses and the lower grade bits on ebay, which has a virtual monopoly due to the huge numbers of low grade coins in existence coupled with the desire of the individual to realise something from what they have. The main salerooms will usually only accept a few lower grade items and these only as a bulk lot. If someone could link the above site it would help those in the dark. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1351 Posts |
Learn your subject. There are specialist forums,books and websites out there. Don't limit yourself to UK auctions. Have a look at Heritage Auctions for quality images.(Huge US prices as well  ) Once you know what you are buying (or want to buy) you will realise that pricing books are mainly for resting your coffee mug on. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
548 Posts |
Those auction houses seem only to deal in quite high value items and I don't like entering bidding wars for expensive stuff. I prefer to just consider a given price.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1351 Posts |
Use the quality dealers.(They often take a cheeky offer). Look at the BNTA site/members and you will see plenty have web sites. There are many excellent dealers who are not members.Rather than blatent advertising look in coin news. There are also many foreign dealers who retain a good stock of British coins....I won't divulge my contacts. Regarding ebay there are good dealers and good sellers but...........caveat emptor. Just enjoy the hobby. BTW many coin books including specialist books can be loaned from your local library. I've borrowed a few titles and returned them...others I have gone out and bought my own copy. |
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New Member
United Kingdom
34 Posts |
'Those auction houses seem only to deal in quite high value items and I don't like entering bidding wars for expensive stuff. I prefer to just consider a given price.'
Nobody is forced to bid the price higher than they want to go. If you are prepared to pay ten, a hundred, a thousand or whatever, if the price exceeds that then walk away. But equally you may find you have the chance to buy something cheaper than you were willing to pay.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
856 Posts |
Quote:
OK, another question please, where are the best sites to look at past auction performance for these coins. :) Amongst others (I have over 50 coin sites bookmarked!) I use mcsearch.info (which covers mediaeval - later coins). The companion acsearch deals with ancients. CoinArchives.com is good, but is limited to recent auction sales. Both are searchable and will give you an idea of prices realised for coins. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
856 Posts |
Quote:
Those auction houses seem only to deal in quite high value items and I don't like entering bidding wars for expensive stuff. I prefer to just consider a given price. It depends on what you collect. I suspect that if you really get into a particular area you will begin to find that to source better or scarcer coins auction houses start to win out over places like ebay. However I understand what you say about the convenience of a fixed price. It does make things easier buying directly from a dealer. I'd send a couple of recommendations but your settings don't seem to accept emails Demarco. If you want you could try to message me I guess? |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
856 Posts |
Quote:
You have to do your own homework. As Peter says, the best price guide is really your own knowledge and research. Unfortunately you can't buy a copy from a shop. Over the last few years I have saved images of coins that interest me with their prices, where and when they have sold. I just checked. I now have 1,428 such records! Now if I see a coin I can compare it with other similar ones. I can judge whether it is just average for the type or any better. And I can see what was paid for one previously, which is as useful as the price in a coin guide, sometimes better. After all, with true rarities the prices in books like Spink are only really adjusted when an example comes on the market. Yes it's taken time to build my records. But it's now perhaps the most valuable part of my collection! |
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New Member
United Kingdom
28 Posts |
Thanks for the feedback gents. I now have a copy of the 2013 Spinks guide. And have my own valuations spreadsheet under construction. I also collectt and trade in Investment Grade Scotch so the who principle isn't new to me. :)
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Replies: 21 / Views: 3,876 |
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First Page
Posted 11/14/2013 10:16 am
