I’ve got to share this incredible bargain I stumbled upon—snagged eight old coins for just 20 quid (about $27) from an online charity shop. The listing simply said “old copper coins” from an estate clearance, but my heart skipped when I spotted what looked like a 17th-century Spanish cob in the blurry photos. At barely over £2 per coin, I figured it was worth a punt. Boy, was I right!
What Actually Turned Up?
When the package arrived, I spread them out on my desk and started digging through my reference books. Here’s the lineup that had me grinning like a kid at Christmas:
- A chunky Spanish cob with a castle and “8” mark – classic 1500s-1600s hand-struck character
- Kushan AE tetradrachm from India (c. 80-90 AD) featuring a horseman with raised hand
- Judean prutah from Agrippa I’s reign (37-44 AD) with that distinctive umbrella symbol
- 11th-century Kashmiri AE piece whispering tales of the Himalayas
- Petite Hellenistic coin (3rd-2nd century BC) showing Isis on one side
- Roman republican quadrans (1st century BC) with Hercules and a ship’s prow
- Another Judean prutah – slightly different die than the first
- What appears to be another Kushan bronze tetradrachm to round out the Asian contingent
Honestly? I still can’t believe one random buy netted coins from five ancient civilizations. Matching those worn inscriptions to my reference materials took half the night, but that’s half the fun, isn’t it?
Tips From My Charity Shop Adventure
This haul taught me some practical lessons worth passing along. Charity shops are goldmines for collectors – staff often price things cheaply because they don’t specialize in coins. Keep an eye out for vague listings like “assorted old coins” – that’s usually code for “untrained eyes missed something.” Always ask for extra photos if buying online; that blurry shot might hide a gem. When examining finds, focus on what details survive – a clear symbol or partial legend can be your Rosetta Stone for identification. Value-wise? Many of these could fetch 10-20 times what I paid, especially the Roman and Judean pieces. Brush up on regional designs before you hunt – recognizing that Spanish cob silhouette made all the difference. When stumped, my dog-eared copy of “Ancient Coin Identification Guide” has saved me countless times.
At the end of the day, moments like this remind me why we collect. It’s not about the price tags – it’s that electric jolt when history clicks into place in your palm. These little time travelers are now nestled in my display case, and I’m already planning my next charity shop raid. You never know what’s waiting behind a poorly photographed listing!
