Results of my 10 lbs. of foreign coins

Some of you that follow CT posts regularly, may remember that back in May I purchased 10 lbs. of mixed foreign coins just for the fun of going through them. Well, I finally finished cataloguing all of them last night and here is the results.

Info on Foreign Coins


Total number of coins (10 lbs.) 412

Number of countries 104

Newest coin 2018 (several)

Oldest coin 1906 – Argentina 20 centavos

Most common metal nickel plated steel

Rarest coin (according to Numista) 1 centesimo 1950, rated 100 on Numista’s rarity scale.


Anyone interested in my entire list (Excel format) with Numista addresses for each coin, send me a PM and I’ll send it to you.


This has been a fun and interesting adventure, not to mention educational, event for me. I took my time and only went through the coins when I was bored and had nothing else to do, so it took me 5 ½ months to complete.


Aside from the fun I had searching this pile of coins, I learned how many countries use other countries mints for their coinage, sometimes more than one for the same year. Also, how many different metals are used.


The metal that seems to hold up the best, due the coins being from circulation, was stainless steel. The worst was zinc and aluminum, which is almost a given.


This experience was like taking an arm-chair tour of 104 different countries, and relearning my world geography, as I looked up where each country was. I would strongly recommend doing this for anyone, young or old, or together. A great learning tool not to mention appreciation of the art countries put on their coins. Grandmas and Grandpas taking their grandchildren on such a tour would stimulate their imaginations and put them miles ahead of others their age on learning geography and history.


I do not collect world coins, but love seeing and learning about them. If any members of Coin Talk are world coin collectors and see a coin they are interest in, please just let me know in a PM with your address and I’ll send it to them for free.


Now that this adventure is over, I just may buy more and repeat my adventure. One thing I’d recommend to anyone doing this is before you start, give all of the coins a good washing in mild dish soap, rinsing several times and then towel drying them, as they are really dirty from so much handling.


I will be happy to answer anyone’s queries about my adventure.

I know, I know, it didn't happen without photos, so here it is. LOL

 

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busy busy...

 

This paragraph specifically is important. Too many parents are neglecting the development of their children's minds.

They call them... iPad babies. By now, the 'babies' are entering high school!

 

I've told the story how i got turned on to coins. The short version.... wife in grocery store...i wander down the strip....in a coin shop and my world changed. Walked out with a few lbs of world coins. My wife thought i had lost my mind. That was in like 2010?

Now I collect world and U.S.

It goes like this
1. Family
2. My job
3. My coins and collecting

I've never bought bulk again but hiddendragon almost has me convinced to do it again with his latest post. If you've never done it i do advise it.

Glad you had a good time Mountain Man.

 

Does anyone know how I can attach the Excel form to messages in conversations? I haven't had luck with the two members that asked to see it. It won't attach to CT format.

 

Did you come across coins from countries whose names no longer exist or have changed? (For example, South Vietnam, East Germany, Ceylon, Burma).

 

@Mountain Man Sounds like you had quite an adventure!!

 

It was a fun one and I actually got my friend to buy some and go through them with his grandchildren. Pretty cool.

 

I don't believe you can, but you can use the conversation to exchange email addresses and you can attach the excel file to an email to them.

 

That's what I have ended up doing for several members.

 

Similar story, my father traveled the world with President Eisenhower, and had a box of coins that came to me when he passed. When I retired, I took the job of sorting, learning, cataloging his coins, I added many coins from my own travels and several friends gifted me with their world coins. I would love to see your list of coins, if possible. Here is how I organize my collection. Never stop traveling, never stop learning, never stop sharing.

 

WOW - DOUBLE WOW

 

Did you need a reference to help you with this?

 

I was able to use Numista for all of the coins. The ones with no English or identifiable country, I did use other sources but those sources usually had a link to the coin at Numista.

 

that is a lotta work! Thanks for sharing