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 Replies: 9 / Views: 5,192 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5417 Posts |
So I have a friend on whose behalf I'm buying a Commonwealth Groat. I was wondering what you think the value of the coin is? What would you pay for it?     Does have a wavy flan. but they were issued in a time of war, so they're mostly not available in High-Grade problem-free. Coin may have been used as a love token and flattened out later on to be spent. Thanks. -zx Edited by zxcccxz
07/09/2014 6:29 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1351 Posts |
I couldn't buy that.It is basically scrap silver.
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Moderator
 Australia
16832 Posts |
Many hammered coins are found bent. This is due to the mediaeval practice of carrying money around by folding and bending the coin onto a piece of string. When you wanted a coin off the string, you simply pulled it off the string again; people didn't seem to care if they were given bent coins in payment. Many of the mediaeval coins found today were lost when someone's coin fell off their string with an accidental tug or perhaps when the string broke.
Pricing bent and damaged coins can be tricky, but I would disagree with peter that it is only worth melt. At least in America and here in Australia, dealers can easily get $25-$50 for such damaged pieces. I think that's about what I paid for my Commonwealth halfgroat, which is not bent like this one but does have a huge torn hole on one side (again, from being carried on string by someone).
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1351 Posts |
Sap
Why would anyone want it.?
It is scrap.
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Valued Member
United States
199 Posts |
Every piece holds some value to someone.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
5417 Posts |
I agree. The piece is pretty worn out and isn't exactly problem-free. But it's a 350-Year Old Silver Coin from a time of war that played a large part in England's history, I'd say it'd be worth more than scrap lol.  I'd love to hear more opinions. |
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Moderator
Australia
16832 Posts |
Quote:
Why would anyone want it.?
It is scrap. Yes, but it's still-identifiable scrap. If you couldn't see any of the original design at all and could only tell what it was from the size and weight, I'd agree with you, but for this piece you can still clearly tell that it's a Commonwealth halfgroat. Even if such things are simply tossed in the melt bucket in Britain itself, I assure you they aren't here, and almost certainly aren't in America either. Call me a crazy colonial if you like, but if I didn't already own a Commonwealth halfgroat or any other Commonwealth coin and I saw this for sale from a local coin dealer asking in the $25 to $50 price range, I'd buy it. Especially when I see that undamaged examples sell for $100-plus. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1351 Posts |
I would not want it in my collection.If it was £5 I would walk past it.
Each to their own.
We all have different opinions...(thank goodness)
I'm a type collector and scrap silver does not do the business.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I would happily pay $15 to $20 for it. It would NOT be a 'star' in my collection, however.
I have bought ancient coins in much worse condition than this one.
To buy the half groat for silver value only would make a great buy! I would snap it up at any time!
NOTE: With a bent coins such as this one, I like to straighten them, between two small, thin, hard flat sheets of rubber, and squeeze the coin flat in a vise. You don't get rid of the very obvious and uneven wear, but I think the coin is better for it.
Edited by sel_69l
07/11/2014 06:00 am
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
109 Posts |
Having seen similar examples on ebay over the past few years, I can safely say this would not sell for its scrap value. It would not demand any real premium either however. Considering how many Commonwealth groats come to market and the condition (which is below that which we would normally see on the market), I would say a price of £10-£15 would be good for the seller. I myself would not pay in that range but I am sure someone who is after a commonwealth coin may buy it on a punt. As they are not THAT expensive in good condition, it cannot possibly command that high a price, even with its history. It is a shame but that's about what the market can grant it at the moment - still, way above the scrap value |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 5,192 |
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Posted 07/09/2014 7:31 pm
