Collecting Britannia's part three and other joys and laments.

On my April 28, 2009 post, I reported submitting three 2009 Britannia?s for grading with all three returning as MS-69?s. As of today, the NGC population report still only shows four coins graded at that level. That submission proved to be very profitable for me. The first of the three coins filled the 2009 slot in my Britannia registry set. The second, I traded to another collector one for one, giving me a coin I needed at no extra cost. The third coin I sold, netting nearly $30.00 in profit. Numismatically speaking, I hit the jackpot.

My latest foreign submission, revealed only a few days ago, left me disappointed. Of the five coins I submitted, three returned something less than I had been hoping for, the other two, a pair of French 10 Euro coins returned PFUC-69?s. While I expected the Euros to grade 69, I was hoping for 70?s. It almost seems as if NGC is hesitant to give foreign coins a 70 grade, maybe there are not enough graded foreign coins for a large number of 70?s, or perhaps, foreign coins are not of the same quality as US coins. Maybe the truth is somewhere in between, who knows? The problems I have are with the other three coins.

A few months back on the recommendation of another member, I thought it good to purchase a Chinese 1997 10Y coin featuring two peacocks. While shopping for the coin, I found MS-69 examples on EBay selling for about $90.00. This seemed a little more than I wanted to spend so I searched for raw coins and found them selling for half as much. Before I purchased the coin, I researched it on the NGC population report finding 18 MS-69?s and 2 MS-70 examples. Based on the strength of the population report I thought, hey buy the raw coin, and I am almost assured a 69. When I received the coin, I examined it and knew I would not get a 69, let alone a 70, I figured 68 and got a 67. Fortunately, I intended for this coin to populate my MS-65+ ?For the Birds? signature set, rather than a registry set. What really annoys me about this though is seeing my lone 67 among the 69?s and 70?s on the population report.

The one coin on my submission I understand the least is a 2007 Britannia. Before I sent the coin to NGC, I closely examined it for any marks or weaknesses and found none. Expecting a MS-69, I got a meager MS-65, thus upgrading my registry set from a 64 to a 65 and netting 9 points. I wish I knew what NGC saw in this coin that I did not. I know NGC is in the business to certify coins, meaning the more coins they certify the more money they make, but I wish there was some kind of bullet point list of what they are looking for when they certify these coins. With such a list, perhaps I can avoid sending sub-par coins in for certifying to begin with. The best option as always continues to be for me to train myself.

The last coin on the submission I sent as a filler coin to round out the five coin minimum submission. I sent in the best 1998 Britannia I had, hoping for a 68. What I obtained was a 66, meaning I got one point less than the 67 I currently own. A total waste, this was the last thing I wanted to do. I should have been more patient and waited on my submission until I had the coins I really wanted to send. Of all the lessons I have had to learn, patience is the hardest. If only I could wait for graded coins to come on the market, I would save myself a lot of trouble.

Britannia?s, unlike SAE?s are far scarcer in grades MS-69 and 70. Having a collection of Britannia?s entirely populated by 69?s is saying something. Maybe this is why I go to the trouble of submitting raw coins; it says more of my skill in choosing coins than simply buying all ready graded coins. It?s the old adage that with increased risk comes increased rewards. Therefore, in closing, I keep pressing on, looking for quality raw coins, while at the same time keeping an eye out for all ready graded coins I need. If I see a 69 on the market I need, I?m going to snap it up. Happy collecting all! Gary