Tag: featured

Posted on by — 3 Comments

How Can I Sell My Old Coins and Notes

How to Sell My Old Coins and Notes

We get a lot of requests for selling old coins and notes. Many people write to us stating I want to sell my old Indian coins and notes and then proceed to send us pictures of their coins and notes. Our usual response is that we do not buy coins and notes directly but provide a platform to connect sellers and collectors. And then many people create a seller account with us. Some go on to list their coins and notes, which in many cases do not pass our quality checks to go live on our site.

To sell your old coins and notes, first it is important to understand why people collect coins, and what they look for when buying coins and notes.

Why Do People Collect Coins

Coin collecting hobby

Most people collect coins as a hobby. Coins are easily accessible, and many young collectors start by collecting different types of common coins in circulation at that time. While most coins in circulation look the same, you may come across varieties of coins that were issued to commemorate events in your country. Getting foreign coins from relatives and friends travelling abroad adds to the collection.

Collecting a piece of history

Many people collect coins because they enjoy history and old things. Coins provide us a window into the past, how people exchange goods, how were kings and queens of the time represented. Collecting old coins gives people a change to collect a piece of history.

Coin collecting as a Challenge

As coin collectors mature into their collection, the hobby presents a challenge to find missing pieces in their collection. It becomes a treasure hunt of sorts to get the right coin to complete their collection. The challenge of acquiring the rare coins drives collectors to search everywhere.

Coin collecting as an investment

And of course, finally some collect coins as an investment. And like anyone investing money, they expect returns for their investments. These people buy old and rare coins, typically of valuable metals like gold and silver.

How To Sell My Old Coins

To sell your coins, it is important to know what is special about your coin and presenting it properly to collectors. You should do some research about what your coin might be worth. Try to find out what is special about your coin.

When you are listing your coins for sale on BidCurios or any other channel, keep the following in mind:

  • Post clear pictures of your coins and notes. You can now click decent pictures with a phone camera if clicked in good light. Click pictures in sunlight or any well-lit place.
  • Avoid having cluttered background on your pictures. Click pictures of plain background. You could you a plain sheet or plain paper as background.
  • Make sure your coin is in focus.
  • Click both sides of the coin. For collectors seeing both sides of the coins is important.
  • Write a good description. This is possible if you spend some time in identifying what is special about your coin. If you know why a collector should buy your specific coins, you are more likely to get a better price for your coins.

Hope this helps you sell your coins better. Drop your comments below to ask anything or share your inputs.

Sell on BidCurios
Posted on by — Leave a comment

How to Store Stamps

Storing stamps is an essential aspect of philately, the study and collection of stamps. A well-maintained philatelic collection can be a source of pride for its owner and can even increase in value over time. However, improper storage can lead to damage, fading, or discoloration of stamps, which can ultimately result in the loss of their historical and monetary value. In this blog post, we will learn how to store stamps and discuss some of the best ways to store stamps to enhance your stamp collection.

Stamp Albums

Stamp albums are the most traditional and popular way of storing stamps. These albums have pages with pre-printed grids, and collectors can insert their stamps into the grids. Stamp albums come in various sizes and designs, and there are albums specifically designed for different types of stamps, such as commemorative, definitive, or thematic stamps.

Pros: Stamp albums provide an organized and systematic way of storing stamps. The pre-printed grids help to keep the stamps in place, preventing them from moving around and getting damaged. Albums also protect stamps from dust and other environmental factors that can cause damage.

Cons: The use of stamp albums can be expensive, and it may not be practical for collectors with large collections. Also, the pre-printed grids may not accommodate all sizes of stamps, and collectors may need to use additional attachments to keep the stamps in place.

Printable Album Pages

Printable album pages are an increasingly popular way to store and display stamps for collectors. These pages can be printed at home using templates or software designed specifically for stamp album creation. Printable pages offer many advantages, including the ability to customize pages to fit specific stamp sizes, themes or personal preferences. They can also be updated or replaced easily, making it a cost-effective option for collectors with growing or changing collections. However, it is important to note that printing at home requires a high-quality printer and paper, and proper storage to avoid damage to the stamps over time.

Pros: Printable album pages allow collectors to create and use pages tailored to their individual preferences and needs. This can include designing pages to fit specific stamp sizes or themes, or arranging stamps in unique ways. Printable album pages can be a more cost-effective option for collectors, as they can be printed at home for the pages the collector needs. Additionally, printable album pages can be easily updated or replaced as collections grow or change. This can be particularly useful for collectors who frequently acquire new stamps.

Cons: Printing at home can lead to lower-quality prints, especially if the printer or paper used is not of high quality. This can result in a lower-quality display for the stamps, as well as reduced durability over time. It is important to ensure that printable album pages are stored properly to prevent damage to the stamps over time. This can include using acid-free paper and keeping the pages in a dry, cool environment to prevent moisture damage. Creating printable album pages can be a time-consuming process, especially for collectors who are not familiar with stamp album software or design.

You can purchase printable album pages for your specific collection online on BidCurios. Check out our large selection of printable album pages available for you to purchase and print at home.

Stockbooks

philately albums

Stockbooks are another popular way of storing stamps. They are similar to stamp albums but with plain pages without pre-printed grids. Collectors can insert their stamps into clear pockets on the pages. Stockbooks come in different sizes and colors.

Pros: Stockbooks are affordable and provide a flexible way of storing stamps. The clear pockets allow collectors to view their stamps without removing them, which helps to minimize the risk of damage.

Cons: Unlike stamp albums, stockbooks do not provide a systematic way of storing stamps. Collectors may need to arrange the stamps in a specific order to keep track of their collection. Also, the clear pockets may not be suitable for long-term storage as they can cause fading and discoloration of stamps.

Glassine Envelopes

Glassine envelopes are small, translucent envelopes made from a thin, glossy paper. They are commonly used to store stamps individually. Glassine envelopes are available in various sizes and can be purchased in bulk.

Pros: Glassine envelopes provide a cost-effective way of storing stamps, especially for collectors with a limited budget. The envelopes protect the stamps from dust and other environmental factors, and the translucent material allows collectors to view their stamps without removing them.

Cons: Glassine envelopes are not suitable for long-term storage as they are prone to aging, which can cause the envelopes to become brittle and the stamps to stick to the paper. Also, glassine envelopes do not provide a systematic way of storing stamps, and collectors may need to sort them manually.

Hinges

Hinges are small, adhesive pieces of paper used to attach stamps to album pages. Hinges are a popular way of storing stamps for collectors who prefer to use stamp albums. Hinges are available in different sizes and can be purchased in bulk.

Pros: Hinges are affordable and provide a convenient way of attaching stamps to album pages. They also allow collectors to remove and replace stamps without damaging them.

Cons: The use of hinges can cause damage to stamps over time. The adhesive on the hinges can become acidic and cause discoloration or fading of stamps. Hinges can also leave residue on the stamps or album pages, which can be difficult to remove.

Mounts

Mounts are clear plastic sleeves used to store stamps. Mounts are available in different sizes and are designed to fit specific stamp sizes. Collectors can insert their stamps into the mounts and then attach them to album pages.

In case you are looking for some stamp supplies, you can check out stamp albums, stock pages, and philately supplies available on BidCurios.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Indian Coinage

Coinage of India began somewhere between early 1st millennium BCE to the 6th century BCE, and consisted mainly of copper and silver coins in its initial stage. Ancient Indian coins were stamped bars of metal. The kingdoms that minted their own coins included Gandhara, Kuntala, Kuru, Panchala, Magadha, Shakya, Surasena and Surashtra etc.

The precise date of the first appearance of coins in India is not known, but archaeological evidence suggests that coins were already being made and used in northern India by the mid-fourth century BC. The oldest coins so far discovered in India were made of weighed pieces of silver, stamped on only one side with between one and five punches. Such coins are now known as ‘punch-marked’ coins. The earliest of these seem to be oval and stamped by four round punches with symbolic designs. The force of the punches curved the metal so that these coins are dish-shaped. Smaller examples have also been reported with one or two punches only.

Cowry shells were first used in India as commodity money. The Indus Valley Civilization may have used metals of fixed weights such as silver for trade activities which is evident from the DK area of Mohenjo Daro from the late Harappan perod (dated 1900-1800 BC or 1750 BC). Similarities have been recorded between Punch marked coin symbols with those appearing in the Indus seals. Chalcolithic unmarked gold disc discovered from Eran dating to 1000 BC was probably utilized as money in that time. Since the Bronze Age, ratti (0.11 or 0.12 gm) or the weight of the Gunja seeds have been used as a base unit for the measurement of mass in the Indus Valley civilization. There is evidence of countable units of precious metal being used for exchange from the Vedic period onwards. A term Nishka appears in this sense in the Rigveda. Later texts speak of cows given as gifts being adorned with pādas of gold.

Indian coin collection can be organized in many ways. Here’s how we see Indian coin list being organized. We will keep populating content for these to keep returning here for more information. Use this to organize your Indian coin collection.

 

Ancient India

  • Mauryan Empire
  • Sunga Empire
  • Kingdom of Kuninda
  • Indo-Greeks
  • Indo-Parthian
  • Indo-Sassanid
  • Kushan Empire
  • Western Satraps
  • Nahapana
  • Naga Kingdom
  • Gupta Empire
  • Vallabhi
  • MULANANDA
  • Satavahana Empire
  • Vakataka
  • Vishnukundina Empire

Medieval India

  • Northern Kalachuris
  • Huna
  • Pratihara Empire
  • Gadhiya
  • Shahi
  • Rajput
  • Kashmir
  • Gond
  • Western Chalukya
  • Pandyan Empire
  • Cholas
  • Vijayanagara Empire
  • Seuna, Sevuna or Yadava dynasty
  • Sivaganga (Lords)

Independent Kingdoms of India

  • Kangra
  • Mewar
  • Cooch Bihar
  • Marathas
  • Durranis
  • Sikhs
  • Awadh
  • Rohillas
  • Bangash Nawabs
  • Mysore
  • Pudukottai
  • Assam

Indian Sultanates

  • Ahmadnagar Sultanate
  • Bengal Sultanate
  • Bidar Sultanate
  • Bijapur Sultanate
  • Delhi Sultanate
  • Turks Dynasty
  • Khiljis Dynasty
  • Tughluqs Dynasty
  • Sayyids Dynasty, Lodis Dynasty
  • Suris Dynasty
  • Ghaznavid Sultanate
  • Golkunda Sultanate
  • Gujrat Sultanate
  • Gulbarga Sultanate (Bahmanis of Deccan)
  • Jaunpur Sultanate
  • Kalpi Sultanate
  • Kashmir Sultanate
  • Khandesh Sultanate
  • Madura Sultanate
  • Malwa Sultanate
  • Amirs of Sind

Mughal Emperors of India

  • Babur
  • Humayun
  • Akbar
  • Jahangir
  • Nur Jahan
  • Shah Jahan
  • Murad
  • Aurangzeb
  • Shah Alam Bahadur-I
  • Jahandar Shah
  • Farrukhsiyar
  • Rafiuddarjat, Shah Jahan-II
  • Muhammad Shah
  • Ahmad Shah
  • Alamgir-II
  • Shah Jahan-III, Shah Alam-II

European Colonies in India

  • Portuguese India
  • Dutch India
  • Danish India
  • French India

British India

  • East India Company
  • King William IV
  • Queen Victoria
  • King Edward VII
  • King George V
  • King George VI

Indian Princely States

A Princely state was a entity of British India that was not directly governed by British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule. There were 565 princely states in India at the time of Independence in 1947.

  • Alwar
  • Arcot
  • Bahawalpur
  • Banswara
  • Baroda
  • Bharathpur
  • Bhopal
  • Bikaner
  • Bundi
  • Cambay (Khambhat)
  • Gwalior
  • Hyderabad
  • Indore
  • Jaipur
  • Jhalwar
  • Joara
  • Jodhpur
  • Junagarh
  • Kutch
  • Mewar
  • Nawanagar
  • Porbandar
  • Pudokkottai
  • Radhanpur
  • Ratlam
  • Sailana
  • Tonk
  • Travancore

Republic of India

  • Indian Anna coins
  • Indian Pice coins
  • Indian Paisa coins
  • Indian Rupee coins

While our blog only provides basic information about the coinage, a serious collector needs more substantive work of research. Checkout these publications that provide you with deeper insights into the coinage of India and rich information about coins of that era.

View All Numismatic Publications
Posted on by — 1 Comment

What is my coin worth?

What is my coin worth

We get a lot of requests from people asking us for the value of their coins. It is hard to respond to all of them. However in most of the cases you can get a fair idea of what your coin is worth in market. In this article we share some tips on how you can find out the value or worth of your coin.

The first step is to identify the coin. In most cases, if you understand the language on the coin it should be easy. If you can’t identify your coin out rightly, you could always use Google’s reverse image search for this. Read more about identifying your coins.

Once you have identified your coin, use the following tips to find out what your coin is worth.

  • Do a basic internet search for your coin. You can add “price” or “value” to your search term. For example you could search for “One rupee 1887 coin price“. This will show you many results including many places where the coin is on sale.
  • Ignore prices from all sites that require you to contact seller for actual price. These sites will most likely list very high prices in lakhs of rupees.
  • Check sites that specialize in coin sales. Do not rely on generic ecommerce sites (like Snapdeal, Amazon, Flipkart etc.) or sites that don’t directly sell (like IndiaMart etc.).
  • Typically ignore highest and lowest listed prices. These are outliers.
  • Identify the average price range listed for your coin.
  • Assume you can get about 50 to 70% of that price range by selling to a dealer. This can be much lower too if you are selling a large lot of coins.

To realize better price for your coin, you should try to sell directly to collectors. For this you could register as a seller on BidCurios and list your coin for sale directly to collectors to realize best price. Learn about how to sell on BidCurios.

Remember, there are many factors that influence the value of a coin. While you may have a coin that looks the same as one that may have been sold for a very high price, it probably is not the same. Keep learning about collecting coins and develop an interest in coin collection and then you may be able to identify really rare coins that sell for lakhs and crores of rupees.