Coins & Banknotes

Rare coins and bank notes are a rich area of growth in the collectables market – and regularly achieve record-breaking results at Hansons Auctioneers.

Many coins are made of gold and silver and precious metals inevitably pave the way to success. Gold is seen as a safe investment in turbulent times.

In 2020, this trend saw the typical hammer price for gold sovereigns leap from £100 to £300. In the same year, a set of 11 coins dating back to 1887 and ranging from a gold £5 coin to a silver threepence sold for £11,000. That was around four times the set’s £2,500-£3,000 estimate.

Plus, such is the demand, Hansons regularly witnesses white glove Coin Auctions  – that means every single lot sells.

Free Coin Valuations

So, if you would like to discover if a coin or collection you have at home is valuable, do get in touch. Free valuations of coins and bank notes are offered by Coins Department head William Hayward. He is a passionate expert in this field and  always happy to advise.

If you decide to consign to auction, your lots will be sold in Hansons’ regular Historica, Coins and Banknotes Auctions. These two-day sales bring together all manner of coin discoveries, including ancient finds. And that means collectors worldwide are more likely to see your item.

As well as being a safe investment, collectors are attracted by the historical significance attached to coins and bank notes.  Currency in all its forms has been used for the exchange of goods for thousands of years. Each society and time-frame has different forms of currency offering a window into the past. For example, in Western Europe, metal coins started to appear in 650 BC and were stamped with city marks.

Important Collectors’ Market

To this day, currency is continually changing around the world and countless variations, rare errors, limited addition and unique finds crop up. Hansons can assess and sell everything from single coins to entire private collections.

Whatever you may have, be it a cherished private collection or something discovered by chance or inherited, our Hansons Coin Auctions offer a way to maximise the value of your objects. From early examples through to modern-day currency, William Hayward can assist you.

To find out more, or to arrange a free valuation, email: [email protected]

We hold specialist Coin Auctions throughout the year.