I got the same deal as last time: I could look through some partly sorted bags bound for the 10 cent bin and get them for a little over 10 cents each. I think bags that haven't been picked over much by other customers have a much higher hit rate of interesting coins, so it's usually a pretty good deal. Will try to post a couple photos and descriptions as I work through and ID them. My entire coin collecting philosophy is basically: Cheap coins can be fun. I like to get my hands dirty. My notes by region: Japan: 10 Yen (reeded edge) Showa 29, 27, 27, 28, 29 All common dates. 50 Yen (older type) Showa 30. About 40 cents face, worth a dollar or two. 1 yen (older type) Showa 23
Canada: Large cents: 1911 George V (without DEI GRA), 1912, 1914, 1914, 1917 The 1912 is in decent shape. Any readable Canada large cent for 10 cents US seems like a pretty good deal. Prince Edward Island 1871 cent 1932 George VI small cent
Lots of good ones in there. Coins no one has picked through are the greatest thing about collecting. My favorite shop will let me look through the coins they've purchased but haven't sorted through yet and I find so many good ones.
Latin America and the Caribbean: Brasil 200 Réis 1923, 1000 Réis 1938 British Caribbean Territories, Eastern Group, 2 Cents 1957, 50 Cents 1955 Guatemala, 1 Centavo de Quetzal, 1936 Venezuela, 12 1/2 Centimos, 1958 Mexico, 1 Centavo, 1923 Honduras, 10 Centavos de Lempira, 1956 Haiti, 20 Centimes, 1956 Belize 1 Dollar, 1990 ($0.50 face value)
Africa and Oceania New Zealand, 1982, 50 Cents (Not scarce or old, but 31 cents face value) Australia, 1943 Half penny (Some nice luster, but has green corrosion on obverse) Fiji, 1980 20 Cents Samoa 20 Sene, 1967 and 1974 South Africa, 1943, 1 Penny (nice condition) Kenya, 1975, 1 Shilling
Those ancient enemies, France and the UK UK: Penny, 1896, 1902, 1934 Half Penny, 1900 2 Shillings, 1947 France: 10 Centimes (Napoleon III, date worn) 5 Centimes 1917 25 Centimes 1918 1 Franc, 1921 (Nice condition) 2 Francs, 1938 100 Francs, 1955
Asia: Republic of China Year 38 (1949), 1 Jiao Qing Cash, Jiaqing, Qianlong, Xianfeng (20 mm) Ceylon, 10 Cents, 1944 Hong Kong, 50 Cents, 1951 India, 1/2 Anna, 1944 Siam (Thailand), 1 Satang, Rama VII, 2469 = 1926 AD. Not sure about the date
Last set: the rest of Europe. Thanks for following along! Italy, 10 Centesimi, 1866 N (Naples) Not in bad shape. Italy, 20 Centesimi, 1894 KB Switzerland, 20 Rappen, 1943, 1987, 5 Rappen 1931 Belgium (Dutch Text), 1908, 25 Centimes Netherlands, 1 Cent, 1915 Netherlands, 1 Cent, Wilem I (1817-37, date worn off) Ireland, 50 pence, 1977 Unknown coin, 17 mm, 1.35 g, probably billon. Maybe a worn 3 kreuzers from one of the German states or similar, based on the size, color and thickness. Germany, 1901E (Muldenhütten), 1 Pfennig Sweden, 1 Öre, 1921, Gustav V Norway, Oscar II, 1 Øre, 1889 Seems to be worth a few dollars. Norway, Haakon VII, 1952, 25 Øre Czechoslovakia, 5 Haleru, 1927
This is fantastic. How did you score this deal? Jealous of the three cast cash you got! I am always trying to find these at junk prices to build my type collection, but on eBay or online it's hard to find! Great pick ups.
Dealers don't value cash coins. I find them in the 25 cent bin all the time. I used to ignore them but now I buy them.
I don't know the exact trade-offs the owner of the coin store chooses from, but I suspect the limiting factor is his time. He knows a lot of these less-desirable world coins could be worth a few dollars, but it's not worth packaging up to wait for a buyer or selling online. He has a lot of unsorted inventory, like every other coin store I've shopped at in my life. I've been a customer for many years, so he probably doesn't mind if I have some good luck instead of someone else. Frequently, someone will buy up the entire 10 cent bin, so there's not much worry about dilution of the bags by cherry-picking out the older or better coins. He keeps a few bags in reserve so that if the whole bin gets bought he can replenish it. I think he likes to have something set out for the younger customers have something to look at when they come in. The junk bin also gives cheapskates like me something to do which doesn't require his attention while he's helping other customers. Most Chinese cash coins are a good deal at 10 cents. I usually see Qing coins retail loose for about a dollar other places. I rarely see them in junk bins, and it's usually the most worn-down or crudely made ones that show up when they do.
