Cleaning Of Dirty Coins

 A coin collector should always take care when cleaning the coins. Coins should not be cleaned if unless you know the proper method. Do not use any chemical or wire brush if u are not sure about the proper procedure. Here are some useful tips for cleaning the coins:                              

 1. Silver Coins should be cleaned with soap water and rubbed with fingers. Tooth paste can also be used in place of soap water.

 2. Sometimes over a period of time there is a greenish deposit found on the coins made of copper and bronze. To clean it coconut oil or lemon juice with water or tamarind water can be used. For rubbing use only hard brush made of nylon. Wire brush or any other hard material should never be used for this purpose.  Apply a thin layer of any edible oil to these coins to prevent formation of greenish deposit on them. If the coins are uncirculated (UNC) then it is not advisable to apply anything to them. 

How Can You Find A Good Coin Dealer ?

It is very important to find good coin dealers who can help you in starting a new coin collection and also in selling your collection. Its easy to find a coin dealer but all cannot be considered as honest ones. Here are some advices that you should be considered before dealing:

 1. Is he famous among other coin dealers ? : First thing to consider is that is your dealer famous with the others around. If a dealer is not famous among others then chances are that he may not be experienced enough or he may not be a reliable one. If a dealer shares a bad reputation with his peers then also he must be avoided. Especially when you are collecting coins as an investment. 

 2. Is he experienced enough ? : When you invest in a land, gold, shares, mutual funds etc. you rely on expert advice because its your investment and you don't want to take any chance with it. Similarly If a coin dealer is not experienced enough then chances are that he may not give you proper advice regarding what to collect. People cannot become coin expert just by reading some books, this is an art which comes with experience. If you are buying coins as an investment then do not go to a coin dealer unless he is an considered a knowledgeable and honest person in his field.

 3. Does he have sufficient asset ? : If your dealer is experienced, reliable and well known then he will be having long list of old customers & most probably he will be having a good asset to his name. A dishonest coin dealer will not be well known and certainly will have very few customers. So he might not have a good amount of asset to his credit. Also if a dealer has sufficient asset then chances are that he will not run away and will continue his business for long. So you might find him at the same place even after few months/years, if the coin sold by him is found to be fake. If a dealer is financially stable then he will be in a position to return your money or even compensate for his fake coin. Although these days dealers provide a certificate along with the coins stating its authenticity but we know even certificates can be fake. 

 4. What respect does he have for you ? : A dealer who does not give much respect to you or your collection may actually be trying to show that your collections are not worth much. This gesture is to give a feeling to collector that his collections are not worth much. This sometimes makes a collector sell his collections to the same dealer thinking that its no longer profitable to keep the coins with himself.  Unfortunately, some dealers just do the opposite to get a good bargain. So you must act wisely before choosing a coin dealer.

 5. Does he belong to an association ? : Dealers have to fulfill several conditions before joing a particular renowned association. This will give you some assurance about his credibility.

Various Edges Of The Coins

The following edges of coins are found on Indian coins:  
                        
 1. Plain edge - A plain edge has no marking of any kind on the edge. e.g. coin of 1 rupee of 2009.

 2. Reeded edge / Milled edge - A reeded or milled edge has fine serrations (just like a file) around the rim. It is also known as filed edge. e.g. 1 rupee silver coin of King & Emperor Edward vii 1907.

 3. Security edge - It is a combination of grooved and reeded edge; between the groove some decorated  pattern is found. Its appears like two coins joined together. e.g. coin of 5 rupees of 2003.

 4. Oblique Edge - It has serration at an Angle of 30°-45° to the rim. 

Foreign & Indian Mint marks on Indian coins

Foreign Mint marks:

(i) Dominican Republic Mint.

(ii) Heaton Press Mint (U.K) : This Mint has a stylish letter ' H ' below the last digit (i.e. 5 of 1985) of date of the coin.

(iii) Kremnca Mint (Slovakia Republic) : This Mint has Mint mark of ' MK ' in circle under the date of the coins on rupee.

(iv) Mexico Mint : The Mexico Mint has a mint mark of ' O on top of M ' under the date of the coin.

(v) Moscow Mint : The Moscow mint has mint mark of MMD in an oval shape below the date of the coin.

(vi) Pretoria Mint (South Africa) : This Mint has a stylish letter ' M ' below date of the coin.

(vii) Royal Canadian Mint, Ottawa : This Mint has a letter ' C ' mint mark beneath the date of the coin.

(viii) Royal Mint London -The Mint has a small ' dot ' below the first digit (i.e. 1 of 1985) of date of the coin.

(ix) Seoul Mint (South Korea) : This Mint has a ' five pointed star ' below the date of the coin but exactly below the either the first or Last Digits of the date.


Indian Mint marks:


There are four mints in India.

(i) Calcutta Mint : It has no Mint mark beneath the date of coin. (ii) Hyderabad Mint : This Mint has ' five pointed star ' under the date of coin. (iii) Mumbai Mint : This Mint has a ' small dot ' or ' diamond ' under date of the coin. (iv) Noida Mint : This Mint has a ' small dot ' under the date of the coin.

What Are Cardboard Coins & Thick Paper Coins?

It might be very interesting to know that during British period many princely states issued their own coins made of card-board & thick paper. These coins were issued along with the coins issued by British Government. These were issued because some of the princely states could not afford to manufacture metallic coins. 

Errors On The Coins

Sometimes a coin receives certain errors during minting. These error coins are again sent for remanufacturing. However out of so many coins some error coins are missed out and are unintentionally released to the public. These error coins are in great demand by the collectors and are usually sold at a premium. Its value depends upon rarity of that kind of error. Value of an error coin increases if the error on it is rarely found on the coins of same denominations.                            

 Different type of errors found on coins are:            
                                  
1. Mules : When a coin has obverse (head) die of one coin and reverse (tail) die of another.


2. Blank planchet : When both the sides (observe & reverse) of a coin is plain.


3. One side blank : When any one side of a coin is plain.                

4. Discoloration : This happens when accidentally different metals are used.                   
 
5. Die rotation error : When the images on both sides of a coin are at different angle with each other.


6. Die crack error :  This happens when the die breaks during minting or if a broken die is used during minting.

7. Ghosting error : When the impression on one side of coin is seen on another side also.


8. Broken edge error :  When a part of the edge of a coin is broken.


9. Edge error : When the edge of a coin is found to be different than what is found on same type of coin with same date. 


10. Chipping out of the surface : A coin which has metal chipped out of surface at a certain part of it. 


11. Off-centre error : During minting process when the lancet slips out of its place then it is stuck only on a certain part leaving the other part of that side blank. 


12. Double strikings : A coin gets removed after getting one strike. But if due to some reason it is not completely ejected out of the striking position then it receives another strike on the part which is exposed. This results in double strikings on the coin.


13. Brockages : This happens when a coin has both the sides with same image. Similar type of coin was seen in the movie ' Sholay '.

Monetary System

This system was followed in everywhere in India except Goa, Daman & Diu.

1 Pie = 1/12 Anna    


1 Anna = 12 Pies   


 3 Pies = 1 Paisa or 1 Pice  


 2 Half pices = 1 Pice  


 2 Dhelas = 1 Pice     

 4 Pices = 1 Anna   


 16 Anna’s = 1 Rupee   


 15 Rupees = 1 Mohur