Old coin -- Worth?

[Trinique_Fire]

I have a George V penny from 1928. It's from Great Britain. I had some luck finding basic information about it here (you have to click on the year 1928 at the bottom)

Does anyone know what the worth might be?

 

[Katyusha]

I have a George V penny from 1928. It's from Great Britain. I had some luck finding basic information about it here (you have to click on the year 1928 at the bottom)

Does anyone know what the worth might be?

It depends on how rare the coin was when it was in circulation. If that was THE penny that was being circulated at the time, then it may only be worth a few cents, even in good condition. At most in this case it'll be worth a dollar or two. If it was rare, as in, say, something the government only ever minted 100 of and then never produced again, then it'll be worth a lot more because there were hardly any back then so they are really hard to find today.

 

[neonlyte]

Not a lot. £2 - £4
You need a 1933 - only 8 minted

 

[Trinique_Fire]

I didn't think it would be worth very much, but I wasn't sure since I saw other places where people were selling my same coin for close to $100. Must be suckers buying them.

I don't plan on getting rid of it...I have a small box of coins from different countries and this is a nice addition to my little collection.

 

[oggbashan]

In that condition it is worth about 10 pence or twenty pence - except if you buy it from a coin dealer.

I have been supplying my local museum with such coins that I buy in bulk from boot and yard sales. They put them in labelled packets for each decade and sell six mixed 1920s coins for 2.50 (about 5 dollars). It's a rip-off but a cheap souvenir and can get younger people interested in history.

Og

Edited for PS. 2007 saw a massive number of 1967 pennies being sold on eBay as 40-year-old pennies in mint/perfect condition. Of course they are. In 1967 people bought bags of them from their banks at face value (240 pennies to the pound. That's about 120 to the dollar at current exchange rates). Most people bought five-pound bags (1200).

 

[Trinique_Fire]

In that condition it is worth about 10 pence or twenty pence - except if you buy it from a coin dealer.

I have been supplying my local museum with such coins that I buy in bulk from boot and yard sales. They put them in labelled packets for each decade and sell six mixed 1920s coins for 2.50 (about 5 dollars). It's a rip-off but a cheap souvenir and can get younger people interested in history.

Og

Coins are fun. Mine's in better condition than the one in the picture, just tarnished. Any way to safely polish a coin this old?

I never knew that museums bought coins that way! Wish I'd known when I still lived in the city. I would have had quite a bit to provide them with!!

 

[Katyusha]

Coins are fun. Mine's in better condition than the one in the picture, just tarnished. Any way to safely polish a coin this old?!

You can look online for coin polishes, but I would imagine that since it's copper, tin and zinc (if I read that right), regular copper polish would be okay.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

You can look online for coin polishes, but I would imagine that since it's copper, tin and zinc (if I read that right), regular copper polish would be okay.

I've used vinegar to polish American pennies...but never with one this old...should I stay away from vinegar and stick to real polish?

 

[oggbashan]

Coins are fun. Mine's in better condition than the one in the picture, just tarnished. Any way to safely polish a coin this old?

I never knew that museums bought coins that way! Wish I'd known when I still lived in the city. I would have had quite a bit to provide them with!!

NEVER polish a coin!!! You lose its patina which is part of its history.

Coins can be cleaned with a very soft cloth but never with any abrasive or cleaner. Specialists can improve a coin but their cost is usually more than the coin is worth.

However, your 1928 penny is not collectable. You could be drastic with it without depriving the world of a valuable item.

Try it first on a modern bronze coin:

Immerse it in clear vinegar for a couple of hours, turning a couple of times, then rinse under running water. Coca-Cola will have a similar but lesser effect.

Og

 

[oggbashan]

I've used vinegar to polish American pennies...but never with one this old...should I stay away from vinegar and stick to real polish?

1928 isn't old. It was still in circulation until 1971.

Vinegar is better than polish. Polish removes some of the surface and you will gradually lose detail.

In one of my local museums I can buy Roman coins from 300AD for about 3 dollars. Age doesn't affect value. Condition and rarity dictate the price.

I have a collection of several thousand old coins but my interest is mainly French coinage. I have a couple minted during the French Revolution that were made from the melted-down church bells of Paris.

Og

 

[Katyusha]

1928 isn't old. It was still in circulation until 1971.

Vinegar is better than polish. Polish removes some of the surface and you will gradually lose detail.

In one of my local museums I can buy Roman coins from 300AD for about 3 dollars. Age doesn't affect value. Condition and rarity dictate the price.

I have a collection of several thousand old coins but my interest is mainly French coinage. I have a couple minted during the French Revolution that were made from the melted-down church bells of Paris.

Og

Listen to Og...he knows a lot more than I do.

 

[Weird Harold]

1928 isn't old. It was still in circulation until 1971.

...

I have a collection of several thousand old coins but my interest is mainly French coinage. I have a couple minted during the French Revolution that were made from the melted-down church bells of Paris.

Og

I have a silver sixpence dated 1958 that I keep in my wallet (so I'm never completely broke) -- I suspect it's probably worth more for the silver content than for the numismatic value.

(I also have a canandian penny, a US Lincoln Penny that's as old as I am, and a silver(ish) "Un decima de Bolivar" that I have absolutely no idea where I acquired it. (It's the same size as the sixpence which I got from an english "slot machine" that took "6D" tokens after the new money changeover, so I probably got it the same place.)

 

[oggbashan]

I have a silver sixpence dated 1958 that I keep in my wallet (so I'm never completely broke) -- I suspect it's probably worth more for the silver content than for the numismatic value.

(I also have a canandian penny, a US Lincoln Penny that's as old as I am, and a silver(ish) "Un decima de Bolivar" that I have absolutely no idea where I acquired it. (It's the same size as the sixpence which I got from an english "slot machine" that took "6D" tokens after the new money changeover, so I probably got it the same place.)

Pre-1947 "silver" British coins are worth more than later ones because of their genuine silver content. Post 1947 British "silver" coins aren't silver.

Og

 

[bisexualsmoker]

Even English pennies from say 1850 aren't worth anything.The reason probably
being they didn't change the currency for decades until the early 70's.I
grew up there so I know a little about the place.

 

[The_Fool]

Got a silver coin, about the size of a silver dollar somewhere. Dated 1803 with a King George III head on it.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

Listen to Og...he knows a lot more than I do.

Og knows alot more about just about everything than just about anyone I've ever met.

When I grow up, I want to be just like him. (minus the hat. )

 

[Trinique_Fire]

1928 isn't old. It was still in circulation until 1971.

Vinegar is better than polish. Polish removes some of the surface and you will gradually lose detail.

In one of my local museums I can buy Roman coins from 300AD for about 3 dollars. Age doesn't affect value. Condition and rarity dictate the price.

I have a collection of several thousand old coins but my interest is mainly French coinage. I have a couple minted during the French Revolution that were made from the melted-down church bells of Paris.

Og

It's old to me...I don't see many American coins that old!!

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I recently sold a 1928 Silver Dollar for $850. But you have to be very careful because dealers will try to screw you. One dealer insisted the coin was a forgery, another dealer offered me $10 and swore the coin was common (it isnt). I finally found a dealer who was honest.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

I recently sold a 1928 Silver Dollar for $850. But you have to be very careful because dealers will try to screw you. One dealer insisted the coin was a forgery, another dealer offered me $10 and swore the coin was common (it isnt). I finally found a dealer who was honest.

That is reason in itself why I stick to collecting foreign coins. Good thing to keep in mind though if I ever deal with coin appraisals!

 

[oggbashan]

I don't know much about US coins.

I've just been checking my small collection of them.

I have a one-cent from 1838 and a 2-cents from 1864.

The one-cent is fairly worn but the two-cents is in a collectable state.

Anyone care to give a value?

Og