| Author |
 Replies: 10 / Views: 9,059 |
|
|
New Member
New Zealand
4 Posts |
Hello all,
I'm a rank newbie - I just got a bag of New Zealand coins from my dad. He told me to take them to a coin shop to get them valued because he feels that some of them may have silver content. From my research it doesn't seem very likely - most coins are from the 1940's to the mid-1970's. Would it be worth the time/trouble going to coin shops or should I just take them to the Treasury and get the exchange in current NZ dollars?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
oliveskinlover- Do not take them to the Treasury! There are many coins of New Zealand from the 1940s & 50s that are worth a pretty penny (Speaking of which, many of the penny coins are not too cheap in better grades). I say buy a reference book on coins and asses your own coins. Dealers will often try to give you as little as possible for your coins in order to make a nice profit. I recommend getting a book and reading up, and then deciding to sell on ebay or to a dealer once you know what you have. Of course, you could always keep the coins and join the ranks of an elite group known as "The Numismatists." Edited by Archraz
05/08/2010 5:41 pm
|
|
New Member
 New Zealand
4 Posts |
Hmmm - a reference book. Great idea! As I said, I'm a total newbie and hadn't even thought of this. I'll see if I can find one. Most of the coins are from the 1970's, but there are some from earlier as well.
Thanks!
|
|
Moderator
 Australia
16849 Posts |
You won't find much from New Zealand that's made of silver, unless you've got a few coins from the 1930s or early 1940s. New Zealand dropped silver from their circulating coinage the same time Great Britain did, in 1947. Anything "silver-looking" dated 1947 or later is going to be made of cupronickel. Being a local you may already be aware of this, but if you've got the time and think you might want to sell them yourself, check out TradeMe - the coin section there is far more popular than ebay NZ. Check the prices realised to see what certain coin types are actually selling for. Treasury (or a bank) is probably the worst place you could take them, since many of the older coins contain more scrap metal value than their current face value. Especially the coppers: a penny's got about NZ20¢ worth of copper in it, yet it's face value is only 5/6ths of a cent. And a coin dealer should give you more for old coins than a scrap metal merchant would. 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
|
|
New Member
New Zealand
4 Posts |
Thanks so much! Great idea. I'm an American living in New Zealand so any information you have on this is much appreciated. :D
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
I have a reference that you can use. Press the symbol with the letter envelope with your email address and I'll forward it to you.
Edited by wd1040
05/09/2010 03:42 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Luxembourg
588 Posts |
As you are new to this, maybe one more advice: do not try cleaning any of the coins you have. If there is anything of value you may just ruin that.
|
|
New Member
New Zealand
4 Posts |
wd1040: For some reason I don't have access to email on this forum, tried it twice and got a message both times telling me I don't have access. Thanks for sharing the reference with me!
And maudry - you must be a mind reader because I was looking on trademe at some of the coins and they looked so good I thought, "Hmmm I wonder if I should clean mine." Most of them are really nice though because my dad's had them in a clean dry box for the last 30 years.
Thanks again everyone! Any other hints or tips, I'd love to hear them.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Luxembourg
588 Posts |
Hi oliveskinlover, no mind reader, simply experience ;)
Maybe you will consider starting a collection?
I have started myself with a jar full of coins.
|
|
Formerly nancyc
Australia
5385 Posts |
oliveskinlover, PM sent re a NZ Coin Catalogue.  3 attempts to send PM, all failed.  Something amiss with the address you gave.  life is a mystery to be lived not a problem to be solved
Edited by Nevol
05/09/2010 4:47 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
oliveskinlover- Yes, you should NEVER clean a coin except under two circumstances:
1. If the coin is an ancient or medieval coin that was found in dirt and has been encrusted during the centuries. (this certainly does not apply to modern coins)It is expected that nearly all ancient coins have been cleaned, but there is a right way to do it and many wrong ways. So this is a delicate procedure.
2. If the coin has been damaged by PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). Back in the 1960s-the 1980s most coin flips and holders were made out of PVC plastic, which when exposed to humidity or changing temperatures leaches out green sticky slime on coins. These have really gone out of fashion during the past few decades, but were still fairly common on the market until even the late 1990s (though, shockingly, whenever I am in Spain I see nothing but PVC holders, which is just creepy). If a coin has PVC damage it is very obvious, and the coin is considered very damaged. Acetone is deployed to dissolve/ soften up the nasty green goo. So this is another acceptable instance for cleaning. But it should be noted in this latter instance the coin still is considered not quite right even after having the PVC good removed.
|
| |
Replies: 10 / Views: 9,059 |
|
Posted 05/08/2010 4:36 pm
