Metal is only the floor
On an ordinary circulating coin the gold or silver content decides, and there is nothing more to it. The moment a coin interests collectors, though, metal value recedes and three other quantities take over: year, mintage and condition. The first two you cannot change — a coin is either scarce or it is not. Condition is the only one you can destroy with your own hands, which is why it gets the most space here.
The scale of preservation
Czech numismatics commonly uses a scale from 0 to 4, where the lower number means the better state:
- 0 — perfect. The coin never circulated and every detail is fully sharp. Strikings retaining original lustre are also marked RL.
- 1 — extremely fine. Minimal handling marks, the design complete.
- 2 — very good. The coin circulated; the highest points of the relief are slightly flattened.
- 3 — good. Clear wear, details legible but flat.
- 4 — fair. Heavily worn; on ordinary strikings the metal then decides.
The difference between grade 1 and grade 2 can be a multiple of the price on a scarcer striking. This is precisely why each piece is assessed individually rather than by the handful.
Why coins are never cleaned
This is the most important sentence in the article: a cleaned coin is, to a collector, a damaged coin. The dark layer on the surface is not dirt but patina — the natural product of decades, prized by collectors and impossible to restore.
Polishing, vinegar, bicarbonate, toothpaste and ultrasonic baths do not „repair" a coin. They leave microscopic scratches obvious under a loupe, the surface takes on an unnatural shine, and the value falls — on a collectable piece, quite possibly by most of it. Lifting loose dust with a soft cloth is the maximum you can permit yourself.
The reverse holds too: if an old coin looks suspiciously bright, somebody has usually already „improved" it.
What to examine on a coin
- Year of striking. The basis of everything. In some series one year is far scarcer than the rest.
- Mint mark. A small letter or symbol, often below the date or near the rim. The same coin from different mints can be valued very differently.
- The edge. Reeded, plain, lettered? A filed edge means somebody removed metal, and that lowers value.
- Denomination and metal. Gold is appreciably heavier than a silver coin of the same size.
- Traces of mounting. A hole or soldered loop from use as a pendant reduces value considerably — but do not discard the piece on that account.
Indicative ranges
| Type of coin | What decides | Indicative buying price |
|---|---|---|
| Gold bullion (Krugerrand, Philharmonic) | gold content + rate | 1,900–2,700 CZK/g |
| Gold ducats and commemoratives | metal + collector value | by striking and condition |
| Silver coins and commemoratives | silver content + rarity | 22–34 CZK/g and above |
| Historic and rare strikings | rarity, year, condition | well above metal value |
Current metal prices are in the price list. Which gold strikings are most sought after is covered in Most valuable gold coins to sell.
What we buy
- Gold and silver coins — bullion, commemorative and circulating.
- Ducats — St Wenceslas and Austro-Hungarian alike.
- Historic strikings — crowns, sovereigns, francs and others.
- Whole collections and estates — individual pieces as well as complete holdings.
Details on the coin buying in Brno page; the procedure for an entire collection is in How to sell a coin collection.
Free valuation
We assess every coin individually — metal, purity, year and condition. Single pieces need no appointment; for a larger collection, contact us first through the no-obligation buying enquiry so we can set time aside. You will find us at Kotlářská 28, Brno-střed.
