Posts by charlottewestminster
Coins and Stamps in Investment Top 10 List
Coutts – bankers to the Queen – have confirmed coins and stamps as lucrative hobby investments…
The Coutts Passion index tracks the rate at which the price of hobby investments has risen, and its increase of 80% between 2005 and 2014 proves that there is money to be made for those who decide to turn their hobby into an investment.
Stamp and coin collecting both made the top 10 in recent news, despite having been around for hundreds of years these collecting pastimes remain just as popular today…
200 Million Collectors
Postage stamp collecting is still enjoyed by around 200 million people worldwide
In fact, it’s estimated that around 200 million people worldwide still enjoy collecting stamps to this very day. An impressive figure considering the technological advances that the world has seen over the years and new fads and crazes that have developed.
Ranked in 9th place by Coutts – philately is still widely recognised by many as a popular collectible hobby.
Postage stamp collecting began at the same time that stamps were first issued, and by the 1860’s thousands of collectors and stamp dealers were appearing around the world as this new study and hobby spread across Europe.
Collecting stamps for investment purposes is viewed as a hedge against inflation and devalued currencies. Perhaps not as popular for younger audiences as it once was, stamp collecting is still considered to be a worthwhile hobby – which can be both rewarding and profitable to the collector.
Ranked at number 3 in the Coutts top 12 list, is coin collecting. Last year prices for old coins grew at a rate of 9% and over the 10 year period between 2005 and 2014 they have risen a staggering 176%
Top 3 Position
The Kew Gardens 50p often sells for up to £30 (60 times its face value)
People have kept coins for their bullion value for as long as coins have been minted, however, the collection of coins for their artistic value came much later.
Today, coin enthusiasts are still hunting for collectible coins to add to their collections. There are many different areas within numismatics which range from theme, metal, currency, era and country.
Keith Heddle of Stanley Gibbons, puts coins’ enduring popularity down to “their tangibility and literal link to money, wealth and precious metals”.
So, it’s good news for collectors. With coins like the undated 20p and the Kew Gardens 50p which can simply be found in loose change, the return on their investment stands to be even higher in percentage terms.
Stamps, along with coins, are the only two alternative investments on the Telegraph’s list that have not lost money in any given year since 2005.
Whilst it’s always nice to hear about coin and stamp values rising, we always recommend that you collect first and foremost for the enjoyment of the hobby.
The most lucrative ‘hobby investments’ over 10 years
- Classic cars
- Old Master and 19th Century art
- Old coins
- Rare musical instruments
- Post-war and contemporary art
- Jewellery
- Rugs and carpets
- Impressionist and modern art
- Stamps
- Fine wine
- Traditional Chinese works
- Watches
The Westminster Collection offers a variety of collectible stamps and coins.
click here to find out more.
Revealed: The UK’s Secret New Coins
If you believe that as a UK citizen you have access to (even priority over) all new UK coins, THINK AGAIN.
It seems that’s no longer the case.
We’ve recently uncovered two UK issues that appear to have never been released to British collectors.
The First World War coin for US Collectors only
The platinum Kitchener coin – exclusively for the US
The first is a special Platinum version of the Lord Kitchener £2 Coin. UK collectors were treated to base metal, silver and gold versions of the coin last year, but never a Platinum coin.
Yet, a couple of months ago, we heard information that US Collectors had access to a Platinum version – apparently released exclusively for a Royal Mint Distributor in the USA.
Why the best Battle of Waterloo Silver Coin has been kept for the Dutch
The “Secret” UK 2015 Silver Waterloo £2 Coin
But that’s not the only example. If you buy a 3 coin silver set from the Dutch Mint, you can own a special version of Battle of Waterloo Silver Proof Coin – seemingly never listed nor offered by the Royal Mint.
What’s more, the “secret” coin, reserved for the European market, WEIGHS MORE, has PURER SILVER and has a LOWER EDITION LIMIT than the version for British collectors. In short, it is superior in all three elements that create value for the collector.
More secrets to uncover?
These are just two examples, but are there more collecting gems hidden in international markets still to be discovered?
Well I think the answer is probably “Yes”.
We have, for example, come across a Royal Proclamation published on 20 February detailing a 1½ ounce silver £2 coin featuring “three Lions passant guardant, being that quartering of Our Royal Arms know heraldically as England”.
Now that’s certainly not a coin we have seen in the UK.
The best is heading abroad.
Put simply, some of the UK’s most collectable coins are heading abroad.
These are coins that will always have an interesting story behind them. The sort of thing that coin catalogues notice and future collectors love.
In fact, imagine yourself watching the Antiques Roadshow in years to come…
“The Royal Mint regularly issued Silver Proof Coins but this Battle of Waterloo coin’s a bit different. It was never made available to UK collectors…”
If you’re interested…
The “Secret” Battle of Waterloo 1 Ounce Silver Proof
As soon as we heard rumours of the Battle of Waterloo 1 Ounce Silver Proof Coin, we made enquiries amongst the European coin trade to see whether we could secure some for UK collectors.
***NOW SOLD OUT***
The talk of the 2015 World’s Fair of Money…
At this year’s American Numismatic Association World Money Fair in Chicago there is one coin everyone is talking about – the world’s first maple leaf-shaped coin.
The Cut-Out Silver Maple Leaf coin is already 92% sold worldwide
Struck by The Royal Canadian Mint for Modern Numismatics International, this impressive Fine Silver $20 Coin is shaped like Canada’s iconic maple leaf and has such intricate engraving you can even see the veins in the leaf itself.
The Canadian Mint are known for their innovation and this is new release is no exception.
But it doesn’t stop there. They have even created a bespoke red maple leaf-shaped box complete with viewing window to add to the coins appeal.
Perhaps unsurprisingly this coin is set to be one of the fastest selling issues of 2015, with the Mint selling out of their allocation in 2 days.
The show ends on Saturday but this is certainly a coin that will be sought-after by collectors for many months to come.
It’s not too late…
The Westminster Collection has secured a limited stock of these stunning coins and you can add one to your collection today.
But you’ll have to be quick, it’s unlikely this opportunity will come up again.