Damaged rare coins, do you allow them into your collection?

Hi,


I like coins with some nice historic interest, such as my George II 1746 LIMA shilling.

The details on it are really clear, not much sign of circulation, I just has a large crease running through it.

How do any of you with similar interests feel?




I have a couple of other really interesting battered coins, I keep them but don't have them in my display case!

Yes I do I have a nice buckled Queen Anne shilling E mint
It's not been bent after minting but apparently they recalled the old Scottish issues and re-jigged them after Scotland united with us and thus damages are commonplace. I really want a Lima George I issue in my collection !

I collect world coins by year mint and variety.  So if I don't have on of the same coins in my collection I will add it but try to find a replacement.

A definite yes...until you can replace it with something better.

I'll even hang on to them if I have a better coin and if they are not that valuable. It's just interesting to see and be able to show what lengths people will go to, in order to alter a coin for their own strange interests (from jewellery to ???).

Jimpop, that's an amazing coin! I would welcome it into my collection!!

I wouldn't want it.. I don't like anything damaged and would rather a nice common coin than a damaged rare one, unless there was a story to the damage or the coin held a special interest in me

Verweis : eminemI wouldn't want it.. I don't like anything damaged and would rather a nice common coin than a damaged rare one, unless there was a story to the damage or the coin held a special interest in me

On the whole I agree, however when it comes to coins with a nice bit of age like the shilling I'm quite open to damaged examples if the price is right. I think even considering the damage its still a nice coin.

Genuinely rare coins, yes. There is no way I could afford a pristine example.

However the merely scarce, or low mintage, AKA "Numista Rare" I don't feel the need to compromise.

It also depends on the nature of the damage. Worn coins I don't mind, that's what a real coin should look like, same with a few rim dings and scratches. They are acceptable until something better comes along. Even old cleaning or very light recent cleaning I don't mind too much, the coins will eventually re-acquire a patina despite what purists claim. In short if it's a natural part of a coin's life I'm fine with it.

However if some dumbass has carved his girlfriends initials in it, painted it, polished it to a high gloss (as opposed to cleaning) or drilled a hole through it, then it's ruined. Modern coins go for ballast in my money box collection, silver coins go in my junk silver box, vintage copper and brass I sell in lots on Listia.

Phil, you couldn't have hit the nail on the head better! That shilling you have there mate would sit in my collection and I would be that happy with it I don't think I would feel the urge to seek out another unless one jumped out at me cheap !

I love my worn coins, like Phil said, if its part of a coins natural history I like it.

  https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces19958.html

  That's my coin in the photo, but someone wanted it in a swap and I offered them a 10 euro instead because I like this coin....for now.

What do you think of this?

Verweis : manxcat12What do you think of this?

Umm... eww.

Verweis : manxcat12What do you think of this?

Nothing wrong with the trime, barber dime, and the florin!

There is some keepers there and some to swap

Is there any hope for those bent ones?  

Verweis : manxcat12Is there any hope for those bent ones?  

Sure, melt them down and mint a shiny 2013 silver Eagle    

Verweis : scceda

Verweis : manxcat12Is there any hope for those bent ones?  

Sure, melt them down and mint a shiny 2013 silver Eagle    

Very good,

but on a more serious note imagine the things you could make with your scrap coins. All you need is a small furnace and you could cast small things in bronze and silver.

Verweis : Walder CoinsAll you need is a small furnace...

Verweis : Walder CoinsAll you need is a small furnace and you could cast small things in bronze and silver.

Melting point of silver is almost 1000 degrees C, what kind of furnace can we install in our house/garage in order to cast things as you've suggested? I used to work at aluminum foundry and it was damn hot over there. I can't imagine what it will like dealing with bronze or silver.  

Verweis : dptashnyNothing wrong with the florin!

Apart from that it's a gram underweight  
The seller has offered to refund it, so it's fine.

I think it's fine

I've just got this today that's my coin in the pic I had to add it. do would you regard this as not worth collecting ?

I would collect it but (and I dont know how much they cost) look out for a better one.  I do that with most of my collection I will get a damaged until I can find a better one.

You probably won't find a better one for less than £50 at the coin fair alot of these type coins were over £100 !  
Its probably the best I can hope for simply due to the fact it would cost me an arm and a leg to have my 1/2d collection any better especially with early examples like this, James II examples are tin and are ridiculously expensive for very poor grades !  And William and Mary are just as expensive, especially for Irish issues.

Then I would definitely add it to my collection.

I have, some coins are unobtainable to the normal collector and I am a person who would have a more pleasing lower grade than nothing at all, I think this has done quite well since it's copper and is from 1681 !

Verweis : sccedaMelting point of silver is almost 1000 degrees C, what kind of furnace can we install in our house/garage in order to cast things as you've suggested? I used to work at aluminum foundry and it was damn hot over there. I can't imagine what it will like dealing with bronze or silver.  

Furnaces are one of mans simplest and oldest inventions dating back to prehistoric times. I used to help out with charcoal burns for a Heritage trust; we would make charcoal the way the Romans would to educate people and to sell the produce in the gift shop.

One year one of the old boys decided we would make a furnace which would run on charcoal made in the previous burn. It was made using bits of old broken bricks and clay to hold it together and insulate it. We used bellows to blow air into it and although a lot of effort to get it to temperature it worked. I wouldn't use bellows again its too physically demanding but I have heard hair dryers work well.

Something old hat like that can be made nice and small and should definitely be used outdoors.

Back to the topic: definitely, price of good examples of rare coins are often prohibitive.

coins in that shape are often a gram or two under weight, no big deal.

  If y'all want to melt metal's is easy, just ask in another topic.