As long as I have been doing swaps I have had a problem trying to put a value on common coins from around the world. These are the coins you get when buying them in bulk (by the pound) as most of the world coins are found (my opinion).
You work up a good collection , maybe 1 or 2 thousand of them and start to swap the extras you have accumulated. Now comes the tricky part, trying to put values on them. We are dealing with coins that have a value of most probably not more than $3.00 . We will not be dealing with silver here. Grading does not really come into play here because of the low value. Of course there a some exceptions. So as I do I apply a bin value to most of the coins because, as I will explain below, you have to put something down. They are not worth zero so I arbitrarily put down 20 cents. It adds to the total value of my collection, which I am curious about without inflating the books
So now you want to fill in those Canadian dimes, Hong Kong dollars, Mexican pesos, or German marks that are missing to your collection .
There are no key dates, again under $3.00 coins. You find someone willing to swap , choose some of their coins , post it, then wait.
You get a reply" my 20 coins are worth much more than your 20 coins". They explain, your bin value is 20 cents ergo $4.00 worth of coins. My coins are worth far more (no silver, no key dates, no 200 year old farthings).
Get it all the time. I have come up with an explanation to give these people
Lets pretend you are at a coin show. The dealer has in front of their booth a bin filled with a thousand miscellaneous coins that he has marked $200.00. he also has 1000 coins in sleeves in 2 x 2 holders. They are basically the same coins only individually priced. They range in price from $ .50 t0 $3.00. So the total value of the sleeves is let's say $1500.00. Do you buy the bin to find the 75 coins you need or do you buy the 75 sleeve coins you need for $100 (after dickering ?
That is why I give them a bin value because I bought the bin (actually many bins) and separated them for you to choose from in Numista. I have and you as well have put up for swap your second and thirds. You have not bought that India-Republic 1/4 Rupee KM# 5.1 XF-40 for $2.50 (NGC value) you found it like I did in a 5 pound batch of world coins from Jack (Chiefs Coins) that I paid $25.00 for. So actually I paid 5 cents for that coin .
The guy (or girl)I am swapping with probably has done the same thing. We are talking 20 coins (maybe 50 coins) the point is on average all the coins are worth about the same. There might be a difference of 1-5 dollars but they balance out from trade to trade.
When you are swapping with me you are looking through my sleeves not my bin and I am doing the same with you. Again we are talking coins with subjective values of 50 cents to $3.00 not silver, not key dates, and not 200 year old farthings.
Please tell me were I am wrong
Ray Muniak Retired artist/sculptor . 79 years old. 4 children 10 grandchildren 2 great grandchildren. Also worked as a wood patternmaker (Foundry industry) for 27 years before becoming a full time artist.
Married, father of 2, grandfather of 4. Retired Navy - 25 years. Been to 45 Countries and know how to ask for beer in 135 languages and dialects. Passions: My wife of 49 years, Coin Collection, Woodworking, Photography, and being Politically Incorrect.
Quote: "rmuniak" As long as I have been doing swaps I have had a problem trying to put a value on common coins from around the world. These are the coins you get when buying them in bulk (by the pound) as most of the world coins are found (my opinion).
You work up a good collection , maybe 1 or 2 thousand of them and start to swap the extras you have accumulated. Now comes the tricky part, trying to put values on them.
Food for thought! Why waste your time? If you are going to buy bulk lots, you most likely will get the value out of it with the coins you want to keep. If you are chasing down a few specific dates, it could take forever buying bulk lots. You will end up with thousands of extras and do you really care if they are worth 1 cent or 3 Dollars? If making a profit on bulk leftovers is your thing you will be greatly disappointed someday soon. If you are in it for the money, then buying bulk lots is not really a smart option unless you see something in it that is worth buying the lot. Still after you shouldn't care on the value of the leftovers, that's why they are sold as bulk lots. Personally, when I see trade lists where common coins are all valued, I tend to move on to the next collector. Coins are a fun thing for me, I don't want to ruin that with quibbling over 20 cents. In all honesty, I am mostly into banknotes and if I do a nice trade, those requesting less than 6 coins usually get them free because its not worth valuing a few common coins when trading notes that are worth $5 and up.
I would suggest listing your extras and be glad when you can swap for stuff you don't have.
I do a lot of "noodling" of the UK 50p's & £2.00's. When I come across commemoratives or anything that isn't too beat-up, I keep it to swap later.
an example :- If somebody wants a 50p commemorative from me , I will let them have it at face value if they are willing to swap it for their countries current circulating coins that I need. That is to say the 50p comm. for say 59 or 60 Euro cents (depending on the exchange rate) whether it is all in 1 cent coins or 5 x 10 cent coins and 9 or 10 1 cent coins. Another example :- Any £2.00 commemorative that I have from circulation I may expect to get a 2 Euro comm. & about 20 cents of other coins. Or maybe for the £2.00 about 11 US quarters (depending on exchange rate)
I have some uncirculated from sealed bags & would not expect to get rich from trying to exchange any of them. If I want to make profit I'll put them on ebay & try to sell them.
I have a few "special" coins that I will expect more for but they would bet listed as "special" and we would then have to negotiate a swap.
Quote: "rmuniak" As long as I have been doing swaps I have had a problem trying to put a value on common coins from around the world. These are the coins you get when buying them in bulk (by the pound) as most of the world coins are found (my opinion).
You work up a good collection , maybe 1 or 2 thousand of them and start to swap the extras you have accumulated. Now comes the tricky part, trying to put values on them. We are dealing with coins that have a value of most probably not more than $3.00 . We will not be dealing with silver here. Grading does not really come into play here because of the low value. Of course there a some exceptions. So as I do I apply a bin value to most of the coins because, as I will explain below, you have to put something down. They are not worth zero so I arbitrarily put down 20 cents. It adds to the total value of my collection, which I am curious about without inflating the books
So now you want to fill in those Canadian dimes, Hong Kong dollars, Mexican pesos, or German marks that are missing to your collection .
There are no key dates, again under $3.00 coins. You find someone willing to swap , choose some of their coins , post it, then wait.
You get a reply" my 20 coins are worth much more than your 20 coins". They explain, your bin value is 20 cents ergo $4.00 worth of coins. My coins are worth far more (no silver, no key dates, no 200 year old farthings).
Get it all the time. I have come up with an explanation to give these people
Lets pretend you are at a coin show. The dealer has in front of their booth a bin filled with a thousand miscellaneous coins that he has marked $200.00. he also has 1000 coins in sleeves in 2 x 2 holders. They are basically the same coins only individually priced. They range in price from $ .50 t0 $3.00. So the total value of the sleeves is let's say $1500.00. Do you buy the bin to find the 75 coins you need or do you buy the 75 sleeve coins you need for $100 (after dickering ?
That is why I give them a bin value because I bought the bin (actually many bins) and separated them for you to choose from in Numista. I have and you as well have put up for swap your second and thirds. You have not bought that India-Republic 1/4 Rupee KM# 5.1 XF-40 for $2.50 (NGC value) you found it like I did in a 5 pound batch of world coins from Jack (Chiefs Coins) that I paid $25.00 for. So actually I paid 5 cents for that coin .
The guy (or girl)I am swapping with probably has done the same thing. We are talking 20 coins (maybe 50 coins) the point is on average all the coins are worth about the same. There might be a difference of 1-5 dollars but they balance out from trade to trade.
When you are swapping with me you are looking through my sleeves not my bin and I am doing the same with you. Again we are talking coins with subjective values of 50 cents to $3.00 not silver, not key dates, and not 200 year old farthings.
Please tell me were I am wrong
Quote: "Merv"I do a lot of "noodling" of the UK 50p's & £2.00's. When I come across commemoratives or anything that isn't too beat-up, I keep it to swap later.
an example :- If somebody wants a 50p commemorative from me , I will let them have it at face value if they are willing to swap it for their countries current circulating coins that I need. That is to say the 50p comm. for say 59 or 60 Euro cents (depending on the exchange rate) whether it is all in 1 cent coins or 5 x 10 cent coins and 9 or 10 1 cent coins. Another example :- Any £2.00 commemorative that I have from circulation I may expect to get a 2 Euro comm. & about 20 cents of other coins. Or maybe for the £2.00 about 11 US quarters (depending on exchange rate)
I have some uncirculated from sealed bags & would not expect to get rich from trying to exchange any of them. If I want to make profit I'll put them on ebay & try to sell them.
I have a few "special" coins that I will expect more for but they would bet listed as "special" and we would then have to negotiate a swap.
I collect circulating coins from each country. Some of these can be pretty inexpensive, while some can be very expensive - depends on the coin. I try to swap by value of the coin, which I have found is determined by the coin's owner. I try to make equitable swaps and wouldn't think of trading a 'bin value' common coin for an expensive coin one on one.
Like you RMuniak, I get a lot of my swap coins from bulk lots - I get a lot of lower valued coins that way while still finding gems to fill the holes in my collection. Doesn't mean they aren't available to be swapped. I just try and find coins I want to swap for and hope the other person wants some of my coins too. It doesn't always work out, but between the thousands of collectors on this site, you should be able to find some swap partners for your bin value coins and your high end coins and vice versa.
Communication and compromise towards the most equitable swap possible are the key. Most of all, have fun while exploring your hobby and trying to reach your coin-collecting goals.
Quote: "JRo69"I collect circulating coins from each country. Some of these can be pretty inexpensive, while some can be very expensive - depends on the coin. I try to swap by value of the coin, which I have found is determined by the coin's owner. I try to make equitable swaps and wouldn't think of trading a 'bin value' common coin for an expensive coin one on one.
Like you RMuniak, I get a lot of my swap coins from bulk lots - I get a lot of lower valued coins that way while still finding gems to fill the holes in my collection. Doesn't mean they aren't available to be swapped. I just try and find coins I want to swap for and hope the other person wants some of my coins too. It doesn't always work out, but between the thousands of collectors on this site, you should be able to find some swap partners for your bin value coins and your high end coins and vice versa.
Communication and compromise towards the most equitable swap possible are the key. Most of all, have fun while exploring your hobby and trying to reach your coin-collecting goals.
I only have a few coins but 99% of them were bought at LCS & I also bought a few UNC rolls. Mostly I have UNC banknotes (& some of these are "gems" truly centred with eye-grabbing embossing). It can be frustrating to go through members' banknote lists & not see one graded (not even given an estimate). I appreciate those who have taken the time with comments like "maybe EF or VF+" & admit that their grading skills aren't that great (etc). These people tried to assess the condition of their coins/notes & value other collectors' time.
In the past year, I've had requests to swap 20-25 notes/coins combo & then I go to the person's list (requesting a swap) and that's about all the notes they have available like 20-30 (with mostly cheap 'dealer stock' or circulated travel examples) & a massive amount of circulated coins (which I'm not looking for). I have wrote what I am interested in but I don't think one collector has read it. It doesn't seem to be very realistic (IMO).
