Making a Start

 

What are your favourite periods of history ?

If you could be born again at a different time, would you choose :

-to know Jules Verne ?

-to accompany the three Musketeers ?

-to meet Leonardo da Vinci ?

-to be one of Joan of Arc's soldiers ?

-to take part in the crusades ?

-to be a subject of Conan, the duke of Brittany ?

-to be one of the long-haired warriors, who invaded Gaul and Rome, fought against the Huns and established the kingdoms of the Franks, the Burgondi and the Vandals ?

-to live in Gaul under the Romans, either at the time of Caesar or of 'Julian the Philosopher' ?

-to be one of the 'blue warriors' - the Celts had blue tattoos - who, being free, posed such a problem to the Romans and to their legalistic civilisation ?

What are your favourite types of coin ?

Do you particularly appreciate the perfection of industrially minted coins or do you like to sense the hand of the artist who engraved the die through the irregularities of the coin ?
Do you aim to constitute well-known and well-explored series of coins or are you in search of the pleasure of coming across a rare coin ?
Artistically, do you prefer Pïcasso, Ingres, David, Watteau, the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages or the paintings from the Lascaux caves?

Your Budget

For coins that are fair but not in exceptionally good condition, here is a list of the going prices

Period	The least expensive 10% can be found for up to	Half a collection can be found for less than	Highest recorded prices for the rarest and most important specimens	Remarks
Celtic	250 FRF / 45 $	2500 FRF / 450 $	400.000 FRF / 65.000 $	Numerous coins available
Roman	300 FRF / 55 $	2000 FRF / 360 $	150.000 FRF / 25.000 $	Numerous coins available
Barbaric	1500 FRF / 200 $	8000 FRF / 1300 $	150.000 FRF / 25.000 $	Very few coins available
Charlemagne	400 FRF / 80 $	2000 FRF / 360 $	280.000 FRF / 50.000 $	Few coins available
Royal	300 FRF / 55 $	1800 FRF / 320 $	400.000 FRF / 65.000 $	Many coins available
Feudal	250 FRF / 45 $	1000 FRF / 180 $	350.000 FRF / 60.000 $	Few coins available
Anglo-gallic	500 FRF / 100 $	2000 FRF / 360 $	260.000 FRF / 45.000 $	Few coins available
Crusades	200 FRF / 35 $	1500 FRF / 300 $	100.000 FRF / 15.000 $	Few coins available
Renaissance	200 FRF / 35 $	3000 FRF / 500 $	250.000 FRF / 45.000 $	Easily available
The Louis kings	400 FRF / 80 $	2000 FRF / 360 $	600.000 FRF / 110.000 $	Many coins available
The Revolution	300 FRF / 55 $	1500 FRF / 300 $	60.000 FRF / 11.000 $	Numerous coins available
Tokens	100 FRF / 20 $	500 FRF / 90 $	30.000 FRF / 5.500 $	Many tokfens available
19th century	100 FRF / 20 $	500 FRF / 90$	150.000 FRF / 25.000 $	Many coins available
Trial coins	300 FRF / 60 $	1000 FRF / 180 $	150.000 FRF / 25.000 $	Few trial coins available
Early 20th century	40 FRF / 7 $	150 FRF / 30 $	60.000 FRF / 11.000 $	Many coins available
Recent strikes	5 FRF / 1 $	20 FRF / 4 $	50.000 FRF / 9.000 $

Certain of these records say a lot about the French numismatic market : the record for the period of Charlemagne is a purchase made by the Bundesbank, for whom 'Karl der Grosse' was a German emperor, the record for Anglo-French coins is due more to the 'anglo than to the 'French' side and the most expensive feudal coinage sold was struck for a seigneury which is now in Belgium.

Information

You're going to enter the realm of History and the links of our web-site will indicate to you where you can find historical information easily : museums, texts, specialised sites… History is at your fingertips.

Books

We have recommended certain basic books for each period and can provide you with them. Above all, they will help you to classify your purchases, they are illustrated and easy to use.

Storing your coins

You will receive them in little paper packets; bearing the necessary references. You can then present them as you wish and we are ready and willing to help you.

Cleaning your coins : Never !

Only a professional can clean a coin without damaging it.

Advice ? Questions ?

We are here to help you. SEND US AN E-MAIL