I posted the first set in the Paper Money thread. Figured I might as well start a new thread in the proper place and not hijack yours anymore than I already have
I also have the 1000, 5000, and 10000 won notes as well as all the various coins that are in circulation. Nothing special there though. Just your everyday change. While I was over there I was pretty friendly with the bar owner near the school and he showed me a 50000 won note that he had. I couldn't get him to part with it though. He said they aren't all that common.
That's largely the type of collection I'm aiming for. It will be something to mark my time there and hopefully help kill some time too.
Hey Jwt708, Hopefully this reply is not too "late" for you. I have a serious S. Korea coin collection, and I have uploaded both Youtube videos on good coin stores in Seoul, AND I've uploaded to webpages on Korean coin stores AND the history of S. Korean coins. Check these ouht, I think they may be of some help: http://www.dokdo-research.com/koreancoins.html http://www.dokdo-research.com/coinshops.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCHF_fuJrwE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWGvlgz-MiQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siHfdvFdyns&list=PL24551D13EFF104F3
Not too late at all! Actually I came across your website and thought it was a great help! In fact, I tried to email the site owner and thank them for putting it all together...so thanks! When I get to Seoul I plan on visiting several of the places you mentioned.
The "site owner" and video-uploader is yours truly. It took me several months of translating Korean articles and book sources into English to make that webpage on the S. Korean Won coins. I'm glad somebody could find some use with it! It seems that not too many non-Koreans (I'm assuming that you are) collect S. Korea. Well, I'm glad to be of help... If you follow the map on the Coin Stores page, you will be able to hit all the good little shops in the Hoehyeon Underground. Make sure to scroll all the way down to see Sujipbank and Sujipmol. These are the two best (and most serious) coin stores for buying Korean coins in Seoul. May I ask what you are looking for in particular? Key date coins? Commemoratives? Sets?
Btw Dansco I believe makes a Korean Type set album. Good luck filling it. From what I have read, late 19th and earlier 20th century Korean coins are tough to come by, even in Korea. A friend has a Korean wife and has been trying to put a set together for about 20 years now, and that includes trips to Seoul occasionally. Korean Cash is not as hard to find, but still much rarer than most Chinese and Japanese cash.
Thank you very much for all the great information! I lived in Korea for a few years in the mid to late '80s. I wasn't collecting at the time, but picked up a few modern (at the time) mint sets as they crossed my path.
Just curious where someone was able to find mint sets 25, 30 years ago in Korea? Of course, they were available. I'm just wondering if a souvenier store sold them, or if you went to a coin shop.
I had some rather wealthy Korean work acquaintances that shared my interest in collectible Korean porcelain. They helped me learn about it and acquire a few pieces. I don't recall where, but during that time I came across some mint sets that I bought as gifts. They didn't cost much and I really don't recall the years...I want to say 1983, but I'm not sure. I gave most of them away. I know I still have some...somewhere.
