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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,491 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
591 Posts |
My local dealer has a big plastic tote full of World Coins and tokens etc etc. Sells them for 20 cents each or $6.00 a pound.
I pulled out 16 different coins as a starting point. Big ones and a few small ones. And one wore so bad all I can see is the date of 1862. I grabed that one just because it was wore smooth and I can't tell what it is (pics comming).
I pulled a 1913 Italy 20 cent piece that looks to be almost UNC.
I couldn't believe how much fun it was trying to figure out what was what and from where.
I don't think I could do it without the net but it sure was fun.
Now my next question is how do they grade world coins?
As on one page all I see is F XF and UNC
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Moderator
 Australia
16810 Posts |
Sounds like we have a new "darksider".  Glad you're finding the foreign coins enjoyable. As for your question. World coins are graded on much the same scale as US coins: Poor, AG, G, VG, F, VF, EF, aUnc, Unc. The TPGs use the Sheldon numeric scale. The Krause catalogues only list a couple of the grades, to try to save space. If you've got a coin with an "in-between" grade, all you can do is try to interpolate a guess as to the value. 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 States
790 Posts |
Great to hear. I started my extensive foreign collection at 20c each in a dealers junk bin. If you can pick the coins, $6 per pound is a great price. Unfortunately, I have not found a dealer with a junk bin since I left NY. I am NOT going back to NY no matter how much fun the junk bin was.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
591 Posts |
Well I'm not an experienced grader by any matter of means. I tend to be hard on my coins as far as grade. But I have noticed that most of what I have that is listed is worth more than the 20 cents even in AG or G.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
581 Posts |
Oh, the joys of pulling stuff from the Bargain Bin. You're right - it's a blast finding out about the coins once you get home. Of course, with time, you'll start recognizing more and more....
Concerning values - don't get too excited. The prices listed in world coin guidebooks are just that - guides. With world coins, demand is much, much less than most US issues. So you also have to find someone who wants to buy it!
Personally, I wouldn't be concerned with values unless you find one that goes for over $3-$4. Then you got lucky. Of course, you will probably get more accurate info by trying to see if some have been sold on e-bay.
It is an adventure and it really doesn't cost much. Great fun. My dealer's junk bin is about the size of three cigar boxes, so it's a bit limited. But I always pick out all the coins that are smaller than a dime for my "Itty-Bitty" coin collection.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
591 Posts |
This was my favorite pull out of the bin. The pics aren't the best. Image:  Italy.gif29.96 KB Image: ITALY1.gif45.44 KB Edited by insideout
03/27/2008 12:41 pm
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
I have posted bdfore in similar veins but "junk" bins can turn up some valuable coins. I like to collect coins from infamous or other historical eras of countries in addition to coins depicting historical figures. I have found Nazi 0.5 and 5 mark coins in a junk bin, numerous Canadian silver coins, and high denomination British (20p, 50p and 1 pound), Canadian, and Mexican coins for far below the exchange rate. For example, yesterday I got a current 5 peso coin for 0.25 US...exhange value is approximately 0.5, numerous 20 and 50 pence coins for 0.25 US a piece...valued a 0.4 and 1.0 USD each and have gotten Canadian dollars for 25c a piece. Also picked up some USSR coins and a Peoples Republic of China coin. If you travel internationally you may find these bins a great way to get a small deal on exchange rates. the search is what is fun but the good deals make it worthwhile. Can't wait for the next coin show.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
Once I bought a bunch of Japanese 100 Yen in a junk bin for 20c each. I brought them with me and was able to feast during a layover in Tokyo. Alright, not feast, but I was able to buy all I wanted in the food court!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
If your 20 centesimi is Unc it is worth considerably more than 20 cents. BV is $40, but you can find them for as little as $20.
Can you tell what the 1862 coin is? Typically you find a lot of old, well worn British 1/2 pennies and pennies in junk bins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
591 Posts |
Okay I figured out what the worn coin was It was a Half Penny from Great Britain.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,491 |
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Posted 03/26/2008 01:35 am
Italy.gif
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