Antiques

PUT AWAY

Richard Bromell ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers

We are all prone to putting things away. Here, I’m not talking about tidying up after the kids or emptying the dishwasher but putting away items either given or inherited. It is always nice to be thought of or remembered in a will. Often, this can be as a result of a comment such as ‘oh, that’s a nice pottery vase’ to receive the gift years later. But this can also raise a problem.

The problem can be that our ideas and taste change over time. What we liked some 30 years ago when visiting Granny, such as the Georgian mahogany bureau, does not always transfer into 21st century living. Generally, the computer, smart phone and tablet have killed the value of bureaux, as we no longer deal with our correspondence sitting at a desk. When was the last time you used that special air mail, thin blue paper letter to send to a friend in America? Probably not recently – you are more prone to using email, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Messenger or a text. You can see when the recipient has looked at the message and get a reply by return; all very quick, easy and convenient.

Recently, a client arranged to meet me at the salerooms with a collection of coins. Those of you who have been following my ramblings here over the past few years will know I have now

had nearly a 50-year interest in collecting coins – yes, I was very, very young when I started!

During the past few months of Lockdown 3.0, the client, like many others, was at home and took advantage of some spare time to look through items which he had put away. Most of the items put away were given to him by his late father. Having had the items for many years, he decided to adopt the 5-year rule – if he had not seen or used them for the past five years, then he was unlikely to use them again, so time to take action and send them to auction.

Many of the coins I see are what I lovingly refer to as ‘shrapnel’. These coins are of little or low value. More often than not, they are old pennies (with a few exceptions such as the 1933 penny, one of which recently sold for £72,000!) and change from travels abroad, including Francs and Pesetas, which are now defunct due to the Euro.

However, the coins which the owner had put away, after being given to him by his late father, did not include any shrapnel. The coins were carefully curated in two ‘coin library’ books. The majority of the coins are milled rather than hammered with crowns, half crowns, florins, shillings and other denominations dating from Queen Elizabeth I through to Queen Elizabeth II, thereby covering over 450 years of coinage.

The owner, who has little interest in coin collecting, was most pleased to hear his late father’s collection could sell for over £3,000 and immediately entered them into our next specialist coins, medals and stamp auction in June.

Now our salerooms doors are open again for regular specialist valuation days, it would not surprise me if more clients bring in their lockdown discoveries.

charterhouse-auction.com

CHARTERHOUSE

Auctioneers & Valuers

Forthcoming Auction Programme

Coins, Medals & Stamps Thursday 10th June

Clocks, Antiques & Interiors Friday 11th June

Classic & Vintage Motorcycles Wednesday 30th June

Classic & Vintage Cars Wednesday 14th July

Further Entries Invited

Totally restored 1965 Mini Countryman £13,000-15,000

Contact Richard Bromell for advice on single items and complete collections

Valuations for Probate and Insurance The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne DT9 3BS 01935 812277 www.charterhouse-auction.com