Silver Collectable and Rare British Coins

Depending on the condition, some rare silver British coins can fetch more than their silver value. There are two reasons that people would buy rare coins, either as an investment or as part of a collection. Silver collector’s coins are deemed to be rare or collectable due to numerous reasons including a coin’s scarcity, commemorative value or distinguishing feature. Rare and silver collectable coins can be modern or historical. Investors in rare silver coins may be looking for something different to a collector but both will face paying a premium over the physical silver content of these coins. Collectors are usually prepared to pay more of a premium than investors as their prime motivation is not one of financial reward but a hobbyist’s fulfilment of completing a collection. Nevertheless, silver scarce and uncommon coins can certainly appreciate in value, particularly as their numbers become scarcer. Most investors in the rare coins market also appreciate that the investment they are making is of fine quality and, just like investors in fine art or vintage wines, enjoy owning items of antiquity or scarcity.
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Rare coins made from silver can be found in the UK and from foreign sources.
Rare coins made from silver can be found in the UK and from foreign sources.
  Image via Wikimedia

Rare silver coins in the UK can be found through many channels including specialist dealers and auctions. Physical Gold has access to exclusive trade partners that enable us to bring rare coins to the market. As a trusted UK silver coins dealer, we ensure that all of the pre-owned coins that we buy are of genuine provenance and that the silver content is consistent with the age of the piece. As the price of silver is much lower than the price of gold, many rare silver pieces do not fetch as impressive a sum as their gold counterparts. However, there are still plenty of rare silver coins that can attract large figures relative to the quantity of gold. As with gold, age is not always a factor in the rarity (or value) of a silver coin with something like a silver sixpence from the reign of William III (1696) being worth around £100 yet a 1790 George III silver sixpence being valued at £450. An 1854 Victoria I shilling is valued at around £2000 yet an 1847 Victoria I Gothic Crown is worth far more at almost £7,000.
Silver collector’s coins range in appeal from those that are limited editions to those that have been produced to mark a special occasion such as a coronation, anniversary or event. Sometimes a piece does not even need to be unique simply to become collectable, it may just be that an individual is looking for a coin to complete a set or to mark a special occasion for personal and sentimental reasons. Sometimes coins are cast with errors that can add to their appeal, not just because of their novelty value but because they can become rare over time as mints often recycle these coins to bring them out of circulation.  

When it comes to modern silver collectable coins, the Royal Mint (along with other mints) produce limited editions of certain coins as well as supplying various types of coins specifically for collectors. Often supplied in presentation boxes, sets or as proofs, these collectors’ coins attract a buyer’s premium making them more expensive than their bullion equivalents. Though most investors prefer to stick to bullion coins when investing in silver, a good number of investors also add occasional collector’s pieces to their portfolio. This is a way for some individuals to add breadth to their investment portfolios and including some numismatic appeal to their assets as well as physical silver.  

Often, these kinds of investments are made for a long term commitment though, as single pieces, do offer the flexibility of divisibility should you need to sell your silver. The benefits of buying modern collectable silver coins are that they can be purchased UK VAT free making them a better value option for tax-efficient investment as well as collectability. With the Silver Britannia, you can also benefit from your investment being Capital Gains Tax free meaning any profits on resale are yours to keep, free from tax. As silver offers a lower price point than gold, investors can select a range of silver collector’s coins for the same price as the equivalent value in gold.
All of the rare and collectable silver coins that pass through our team of numismatists at Physical Gold are checked for authenticity, silver content and quality. We insist on only the highest standards for our customers and always ensure that our pre-owned coins are authentic. Only through these quality checks can we make sure that every rare coin we offer is genuine. We also offer a buyback guarantee on purchases from us.
Many investors look to the rare and collectable coins market for an opportunity to further diversify their silver holding. In addition to a balanced portfolio of other forms of physical silver and gold, silver collectable coins offer a layer of security against just the price of silver alone. The inherent historical or collectable value of these coins means that a market for these pieces exists even in a downturn of the price of high-commodities.

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