Tuesday 27 December 2016

New website

Hi, the Amateur Coin Collector is moving over from blogger to a new dedicated site.

Monday 26 December 2016

Two Pound Coin Charles Dickens

In this post we look at the two pound coin from 2012 commemorating the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens.

This coin is unusual in that it features a profile portrait of Dickens' head made up from the names of his books on the reverse. This rather interesting image was designed by Matthew Dent (who also designed the new post 2008 reverses of the 1p - £1 coins and the commemorative WWF 50p coin reverse).

Charles Dickens £2 coin reverse
2012 Charles Dickens £2 Reverse


The obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Her Majesty and the edge inscription reads "Something will turn up" - a quotation from the character Mr Micawber in David Copperfield.

This is not a particularly rare coin (despite what you might read on some eBay listings) with over 8 million being minted and I have come across a few in my change (of which the above is one). For specifications visit the royal mint's entry HERE. You will appreciate that this coin is very much a circulated example (I posted an article a few years ago about an almost uncirculated example I found) but to me sometimes this is actually more satisfying to have in your collection to a BU example that you dare not take out its packaging and has no history to it. Coins like these still have excellent levels of detail but carry with them an unknown history and are very satisfying to spot in circulation. Of course they are not worth as much to sell but that's not really the point of collecting is it!

Monday 12 December 2016

Coins comeback (in South America at least)!

I heard about this story on the radio this morning and thought it interesting. Quite a complex issue but at least it shows that coins have perhaps a bigger role in the modern world than some people would have us believe!
Replacing notes with coins in Venezuela (BBC)

Thursday 8 December 2016

Kew gardens... I know, i know, I know!

I have seen some astronomical figures for the kew gardens 50p coins recently on ebay. As I'm sure you know, this coin has captured the imagination of the public at large and by the prices being asked for (and in some cases received) many other circulating coins of dubious scarcity. I am in two minds about this as I do think it reflects the impression I have gained in day to day life that many hitherto numismatic novices have developed an increased awareness of the hobby but on the other hand I am concerned that some younger enthusiastic newcomers to the hobby will have their fingers figuratively burned by 'investing' in some of these supposedly rare and hugely over priced coins. I hope these beginners will perhaps focus on a cheaper and less glamorous collection to start their hobby career such as something simple like a date range of pennies or perhaps even just the dates of cupronickel and plated 5p and 10p coins currently circulating before the royal mint withdraws all the cupronickel 1990s types. My philosophy on coin collecting is that it should be for pleasure, fun, pride and interest. I don't think it is an investment for most amateurs!

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Charles Dickens in B&Q

Yep, the title says it all! I found a Charles Darwin 2012 £2 coin in my change in B&Q yesterday and I must say, its is in spectacular condition - I'm not one for over-grading coins, but it is hard to find a flaw on this one even under magnification. I don't collect these coins as a primary collection, but can I recommend savouring the beautiful artwork on some of the modern £2 bimetallic coins and slipping them into a little wallet in a drawer.

The pound coin collection has to be the best way to collect an affordable and easily accomplished set of coins. For £30, one can save the whole history (1 per year) and if you want, break it down into very easily spent change! It allows for an addition in the form of collecting the various alternate designs of the latter coins. A very amateur collection for the inquisitive potential coin collector!

Saturday 30 November 2013

Lord Kitchener 2014 coin

Possibly the most striking of the new 2014 collection from the Royal Mint is the £2 coin featuring Field Marshall Lorn Kitchener. The design is draws inspiration from the iconic "Lord Kitchener wants You" poster that encouraged huge numbers of Britain's young men to join the "New Army".
http://www.royalmint.com/shop/The_100th_Anniversary_of_the_First_World_War_Outbreak_2014_UK_2_pound_Brilliant_Uncirculated_Coin
 I, for one, am looking forward to owning one of these dramatic coins!

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Possibly the simplest coin collection ever

Here's an idea for the budding numismatist! Every coin collector must start somewhere and I firmly believe that plucking coins from everyday circulation is the cheapest way to get started. What could be less expensive than picking out the current year's coins from your wallet and your change? If you decide coin collecting is boring after all (more fool you!) then you can just start using them as you would have anyway.

The obvious choice for the UK coin collecting novice these days are the 2011 olympic 50p coins but how about picking these attractive shiny new coins that have probably only seen 1 or 2 hands in their near virgin life? They are definitely more attractive than your run of the mill '92 issues and if properly stored should keep their shine for years. A 2013 collection of all  circulating denominations will cost you the grand total of £3.88 - how about that for a cheap hobby? I bet you will be hooked and branching out to other ranges before you know it!

Thursday 25 July 2013

A mini glut

After my moans earlier in the week, I have managed to find a few more 2013 coins in change today. All bar one of them so far have been 10p coins though. This is probably because the 5 and 10p coins are being replaced with nickel plated steel from this year (like the 'coppers' were a few years ago). I would venture to suggest that some almost uncirculated 2012 coins in 5pand 10p denominations might be worth the amateur coin collector slipping away for posterity - they aren't going to be worth a fortune but they are the last of their kind and it's always nice to keep good examples of such coins.