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Valued Member
United States
265 Posts |
Greetings from the states. I was considering starting a decimal coinage collection from Australia. I prefer uncirculated coins. I am planning on getting a world coin catalog and was leaning on putting these coins in an album. Are there any other things I should consider? What would be the best way to acquire pieces since I am so far away?
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
Should have read this one first. I would recommend getting a copy of Greg McDonalds Guide to Australian Coins and Banknotes. If you want to buy from Australia, you will need it, as the prices in the Aussie catalogues are very different to Krause. One way to do it would be to buy mint sets if you want all the denominations. The early years only have our circulating coins in the sets, but from 1985 on, you need a catalogue to see what went into circulation and what didn't. The most expensive sets are around $120, with most being around the $50 to $60 mark. ebay USA has a pretty good Aussie coin section where you can find sets for better prices than you can here. You will also find plenty of singles broken out of sets on ebay Australia at any time, and most Aussie dealers will have plenty of uncirculated singles. You could also try the trade section here on the forum. Edited by latman100
10/29/2009 12:29 am
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Moderator
 Australia
16806 Posts |
If your local coin dealers are clueless about Australian coins and either can't or won't stock them for you, then your only option is the Internet: either ebay, Australian dealer sites or trades with forum members. One of the differences you should be aware of between the American and Australian coin series is the issue of circulating commemoratives. Until very recently with coins like the Lewis & Clark nickels and the Lincoln Chronicles cents, the United States had only issued one "true circulating commemorative": the 1976 bicentennial quarter - the " State Quarters" don't count since they don't really "commemorate" anything. Australia, on the other hand, has a long history of circulating commemorative coins, going back to predecimal times. Australians generally consider these circulating commemoratives to be part of the regular circulation series and don't exclude them from their "circulation coins" collections. We've also issued a large number of non-circulating commemorative coins, that in many cases appear to be identical in size and composition to circulation issues. While intended for collectors, these coins occasionally wind up in circulation, too. So if you happen upon an Australian commemorative coin, it's not always easy to tell whether it's an NCLT or circulation issue. The best way to tell them apart is to look up the mintage: a mintage in the millions was (with a few exceptions) intended for circulation, while a mintage in the thousands was NCLT. Collecting the NCLT coins is generally considered "optional", and albums and holders made for housing circulation coins don't normally leave spaces to put the NCLT coins. 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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Valued Member
 United States
265 Posts |
Why in the world are the Aussie mint sets so expensive? Even the most expensive ones here are in the $30 dollar range, most are under $10. I guess my idea was to try and collect the series that circulate commonly in Australia. That is what I have done here in the states. I planned to use ebay and this site as none of the local dealers would have any of the stuff. They say buy the book before you buy the coin...I guess that holds true anywhere. I will need to check to see what I am getting myself into before starting something I cant finish. Do most collectors use the Dansco style albums or is that just something here? |
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Moderator
Australia
16806 Posts |
Australian mint sets post-1985 are pricey because most sets contain at least one coin that wasn't issued for circulation that year; the only way "full set" collectors can get a coin of that type for that year is to buy a mint set. As for the reason behind the excessively high sale prices of current mint sets, I think the answer is, "Because they can".
The RAM also decided not to produce vast quantities of mint sets from about that time, too. Mint sets from the period 1977 to 1984 are still pretty cheap, though the plastic used in the wallets was heavily plasticized and the bronze coins particularly have fallen victim to the bad plastic.
You can buy whatever albums you wish in the predecimal series, but I don't recall ever actually seeing any "Dansco style albums" for decimal coins. No doubt such things do actually exist, but very few collectors here seem to use them.
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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Valued Member
United States
265 Posts |
Would either of you have an extra copy of the McDonald book? I found one on ebay for around $30. I would trade you a copy of the Red Book(US equivalent) if you are interested? |
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Moderator
United States
23475 Posts |
Australian Coins are getting much easier to collect in the US and Maccas is now easier to obtain.
although I still purchase from the Australian Mints and a few Australian dealers there are some good on-line stores.
I will not give them free advertising here but if you email me I will send you their links.
Be careful when you say you want to collect Decimal coins from Australia
Are you talking about circulating coins or NCLT - The Perth Mint produces a vast variety of coins each year. May of them quite beautiful.
Lots of decisions.
for basic information check out my website see my signature below.
If you want further information please feel free to contact me.
you will find many others on this forum with an interest in Australian coins.
In fact the Australian thread was the first non Us section added to the forum.
rggoodie
aka Richard
"catch em doing something right"
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Valued Member
United States
265 Posts |
I wanted to go after circulating coinage. I have never been a huge commerative coin fan. I like the circulating commeratives here in the states, so I imagine the same would be true there. I will try and find a few albums to fill once I research this more.
Other suggestions would be much appreciated.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
Dansco albums are available for our circulating decimal coins. If you can hold off for a month or so, the new edition of Macca's will be out and I would be more than happy to trade for a Red Book. I am sure there will be members here who can get you off to a good start as well. Send me a PM with your address and I will get some things in the mail for you. |
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Rest in Peace
Australia
661 Posts |
Good on you Sean, good help for a new collector. regards. Muckeye.  |
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Valued Member
United States
265 Posts |
Sean has been a great asset to have and been great to work with so far. I cant wait to keep working on my newest projects!
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1014 Posts |
Haha, Sean's gotta be the most generous person in the world. :)
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
Gee, you guys are going to give me a big head.  Thanks for the compliments though. Justa, is your address still the same? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
 you've got the best helping you out, Erwindoc! (and welcome back, justa  ) |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1014 Posts |
Yes Sean, it is the same. Are you living at the same place still?Thanks xshift for that, nice to see you around too :)
Edited by justabeginner
11/13/2009 10:32 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
Still at the same place, but I have just started to build a new place. Hopefully it will be finished by the middle of next year, if Dim doesn't change her mind too many more times on the design :)
And xshift, thank you. I found something quite nice I forgot I had that you might like. It will be in your next package.
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Replies: 16 / Views: 3,489 |
Posted 10/29/2009 03:35 am
