Collecting Silver Coins of the British Commonwealth
The British Commonwealth is one of the largest international organizations in the world, containing over fifty member states and a population of over two billion. Its member nations have produced some of the most interesting, varied, and beautiful silver coins in the world. Here we look at the silver coinage histories of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India, and a few bargains that silver investors and coin collectors should watch out for when searching for collectible silver coins from these countries.
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Collectible New Zealand Silver Coins
The far-flung island nation of New Zealand first became officially politically united in 1835, when a confederation of Maori tribes declared its independence as a sovereign state.
Five years later however, this independence was rescinded, and Great Britain began to colonize the islands.
Much like Australia, New Zealand became a nation of self-governing transplanted European settlers, gaining the status of a Dominion in 1907 and of a formally independent state in 1947.
When compared with the ...
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Collectible Australian Silver Coins
Like Canada, Australia freed herself from direct British rule over a century ago in a civil separation from her mother country.
Again like Canada, Australia also became a part of the British Commonwealth.
But, unlike Canada, Australia kept the pound sterling as her currency until 1966, after which she converted to the Australian dollar that she uses today.
Silver Collectors interested in buying Australian silver coins may already know about the Kookaburra series of .999 fine silver one troy ...
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Collectible Canadian Silver Coins
Since before its formal independence from direct British rule in 1867 to the present day, Canada has used the Canadian dollar as her currency.
Canadian currency will be very familiar to American coin collectors: the Canadian dollar is divided into 100 cents in coin denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents, together with 1 and 2 dollar issues popularly called loonies and toonies.
Canadian nickels, dimes, and quarters are so similar in shape and size to their American counterparts, in fact, that ...
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Dating Antique Silver Hallmarks
Antique Silver Hallmarks and how to indentify where your silver comes from.
Antique silver hallmarks have been used to control the quality of goods made of silver since the 14th century and the organisation that regulates the craft, Goldsmiths Hall, gave the world the term hallmark.
Every item made of silver must be sent to an Assay Office for testing.
This is to ensure it is of the required sterling silver standard and, provided it conforms to a standard, a series of symbols are stamped ...
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Collecting Antique Silver
It's cheaper than Gold but Collecting Antique Silver can be an expensive pastime.
If you choose collecting antique silver as your main antique interest, you should make sure you know the general history and the historical periods associated with collectable silver.
Silver is a precious metal.
It's lighter and slightly less malleable than gold, but unlike gold, silver is prone to tarnishing as it reacts with pollutants in the air.
Silver products are usually made from an alloy of pure ...
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Collecting Antiques: Is Antique Collecting a Good Investment?
An important question for avid antique collectors who hope to create a retirement nest egg from their investment in antiques and collectables. Collecting antiques as an investment has traditionally paid good dividends but tastes change and the antiques marketplace will experience ups and downs over time
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Coin Collecting Terms
A Glossary of Coin Collecting Terms and their Meanings ...
Collecting Coins, like any passion hobby or interest has built up a set of coin collecting terms. A language all of its own.
Words and phrases used by coin collectors, numismatic practitioners and students of numismatics.
These basic numismatic terms, which are likely to cause the most difficulty for both the novice and the advanced coin collector, are included in this coin collecting glossary.
Our Index of Coin Collecting Terms and ...
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Junk Silver Coins – Collecting 90% Silver Profit
A simple cost effective way to invest in silver and an excellent way to hedge against inflation and times of financial crisis is to collect junk silver coins. The value in some coins 90% silver content can make a significant contribution to your wealth, not to mention your coin collection.
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Blown Art Glass Vase with Silver Holder
Hand Blown Art Glass Vase with Silver Holder
by Gayle (SC, USA)
We own an antiques shop that sells sterling silver and this was a piece a customer brought in to sell.
I don't think we paid much at all for it, and probably this was only to cover the cost of the sterling silver holder.
We brought it home to keep and thought very little more about what it is or who made it.
We enjoy blown glass, so I put it in a window to catch the light and today I noticed a bit of writing under the ...
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