Selling old coins or a full collection? Most buyers assess coins purely on metal content — ignoring the collector value of rare dates, key varieties, and quality graded examples. Fair Vintage's specialists assess every coin individually, identifying pieces that carry significant numismatic value above their silver or gold weight. Free insured postage. Written valuation on every piece. Paid within 72 hours.
Farthings, halfpennies, pennies, threepences, sixpences, shillings, florins, half-crowns, crowns, and sovereigns. Pre-decimal silver has melt value — key dates and grades carry collector premium above it.
English hammered silver from Henry II through Charles II — groats, half-groats, shillings, and crowns. Even worn examples can be significant. Rare mints and varieties assessed per coin.
Victorian, Edwardian, and 20th century sovereigns in all grades. Proof and specimen sovereigns in original cases assessed for collector premium. Shield and St George reverses identified.
Proof sets, presentation sets, and commemoratives in original cases. Complete sets command a premium over individual coins. Condition of the case and certificate assessed alongside the coins.
American, European, Commonwealth, and world gold and silver coinage. US Morgan dollars, French Napoleons, South African Krugerrands, and Commonwealth gold all considered.
Albums, folders, tins, and boxes of mixed coins from estate clearances. We assess the whole collection — not just the obvious highlights. Fair value for everything, not just the key pieces.
A pre-decimal silver coin weighs approximately 5–28 grams of sterling silver. At current silver prices, that's a base value of £1–£8 per coin for common dates. But a 1933 penny — in any grade — is worth £70,000+. The difference lies in date, mintmark, and variety, which requires specialist knowledge to identify reliably.
General dealers, jewellers, and even many antique buyers assess coins by weight alone. They will offer you spot silver or gold prices and miss the numismatic value entirely. Our specialists approach coin collections the way a numismatist would — date by date, examining grade, variety, and collector demand.
Coin collections are one of the most commonly mishandled items in estate clearances. A tin of old pennies can contain common low-value coins — or it can contain a key date Victorian penny worth £100–£500. Never sell or dispose of inherited coins without specialist assessment first.
We buy all British and world coinage: pre-decimal copper, silver, and gold coins; hammered coinage from medieval and Tudor periods; gold sovereigns and half sovereigns; silver crowns, florins, and shillings; proof and specimen sets; and complete albums and collections. We also consider foreign gold and silver coinage and modern commemorative issues.
Many are — often considerably so. Pre-decimal silver has intrinsic silver value above face value. Key dates, rare varieties, and coins in high grade carry significant collector premiums. A Victorian proof sovereign in its original case can be worth £500–£2,000. The grade, date, and variety determine whether collector value exists above metal content.
Yes — we prefer to assess whole collections rather than individual pieces. Albums, folders, tins of loose coins, estate collections, and mixed bulk lots are all assessed in full. We identify the key pieces within a mixed collection and value the whole, giving you a fair overall price.
If you have old coins to sell — inherited from a relative, discovered while clearing a property, or a collection you have built over decades — you have several options. Not all of them are equal, and the gap in what you receive can be very large depending on which you choose.
Cash-for-gold and general dealers will offer you metal value — typically 50–70% of spot silver or gold price on a good day. For coins with any numismatic value, this is almost always a significant undervaluation. They cannot assess what they do not know.
Auction houses can achieve high prices for exceptional individual coins, but charge 20–30% seller's commission, require items to be catalogued and lotted (a process that takes months), and are generally not suited to mixed collections or bulk inherited lots.
eBay can work for common coins but requires knowledge to list accurately, takes 12–15% in fees, and leaves you exposed to disputes, non-payment, and the risk of selling a rare coin cheaply because you did not know what it was.
A specialist coin buyer — who assesses every coin individually, provides written valuations, and has no commission to charge you — is typically the best option for most people selling old coins. You receive a considered offer on every piece, with the reasoning explained, and you choose whether to accept.
For old coins, photograph both sides of each coin in natural light (not flash, which creates glare). Note any album or folder details — maker and condition can matter. If you have any original cases, certificates of provenance, or purchase receipts, include those in your photographs. This allows us to provide a much more accurate preliminary estimate before your parcel arrives.
For most people selling a mixed collection of old British coins, a specialist postal buyer that assesses every coin individually gives the best combination of convenience, transparency, and fair value. Auction houses are better for single exceptional coins worth £500+; eBay works for common lower-value pieces if you have the time and knowledge to list them accurately. Cash-for-gold shops and general dealers are almost always the worst option for coins with any numismatic value, as they assess by weight rather than by collector demand.
Date, condition, and variety determine whether a coin has value above its metal content. Key dates for Victorian pennies (1869, 1882 without H, 1933), rare 50p designs, and proof coins in original cases all carry premiums. Without numismatic knowledge, the safest approach is specialist assessment before selling — it costs nothing and ensures you do not inadvertently sell a rare coin at scrap value.
Yes. Certain modern commemoratives have collector value, and rare 50p pieces (Kew Gardens, Olympic sports) trade at significant premiums. We assess modern coins alongside older ones and will identify anything with collector value above face. Common circulated commemoratives have little value beyond face, but we assess each piece so you know exactly what you have.
No — never clean old coins before selling. Cleaning damages the surface patina, removes the original luster that collectors prize in uncirculated coins, and can destroy a coin's numismatic value. Even gentle cleaning with a cloth removes microscopic layers of metal. Send coins exactly as you find them. Our specialists will assess them in their natural state, which is always the correct condition for valuation.
When you decide to sell old coins with us, you begin by uploading photographs of your collection to receive a preliminary estimate. This is free and carries no obligation. If the estimate looks promising, we send you a prepaid, tracked, and insured postal label — you pack the coins carefully and drop the parcel at any Royal Mail or DPD collection point.
When your parcel arrives, it is opened live on our YouTube channel in front of our audience of collectors and dealers. Your parcel is assigned a unique code that you can use to watch the broadcast. Each coin is examined by our numismatic specialist, who assesses grade, date, variety, and any signs of cleaning or damage. The assessment is visible on camera.
You then receive a written itemised offer: every coin listed, with the reasoning behind the price offered. Accept all, some, or none — anything you decline is returned free of charge. Payment is made by bank transfer within 72 hours of acceptance.
Photograph your collection — albums, individual coins, any certificates or original cases — and send them for a free written estimate. No obligation to sell. No pressure. Every coin assessed individually.
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