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Sell Coins & Medals in Sussex

Call Me: 07586402927 | WhatsApp: Send photographs for a free initial opinion | Email: info@antiquesofsussex.co.uk | Visit My Office: Haywards Heath (By Appointment)

Whether you've inherited a small collection of old coins, discovered military medals tucked away in a drawer, or own investment gold sovereigns, knowing what they're actually worth isn't always straightforward.

 

Some coins are valued purely for their gold or silver content, while others can be worth considerably more because of their rarity, age, condition or collector demand. The same applies to military medals, historical medallions, old banknotes and commemorative pieces, where specialist knowledge can make a significant difference to the final valuation.

 

I'm Wayne, founder of Antiques of Sussex, and for more than 30 years I've been buying and valuing coins, medals, banknotes and antiques throughout East and West Sussex. Every week I visit people who simply aren't sure what they've inherited. Some expect a handful of old coins to be valuable because of their age, while others are surprised to discover that a single sovereign or family medal is worth far more than they ever imagined.

 

One of the things I enjoy most is opening an old tin or wooden box during a home visit because you never quite know what will be inside. Sometimes it's modern loose change, sometimes it's Victorian sovereigns or medals that haven't seen daylight for decades.

 

That's where experience matters.

 

Every coin, medal and banknote is examined individually in front of you. I'll explain exactly what you have, what influences its value and how I've reached my valuation. If you decide to sell, payment is made by secure bank transfer. If you'd rather keep everything, that's absolutely fine too - there is never any obligation or pressure.

What Coins & Medals Do I Buy?

Whether you're clearing a family home, downsizing or simply sorting through inherited items that have been tucked away for many years, I'm always happy to look at individual pieces or complete collections.

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I regularly purchase:

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  • Gold Sovereigns

  • Half Sovereigns

  • Guineas & Quarter Guineas

  • Britannias

  • Krugerrands

  • American Eagles

  • Silver Coins

  • Victorian & Georgian Coins

  • Roman & Ancient Coins

  • Commemorative Coins

  • Proof Sets

  • Military Medals

  • Campaign Medals

  • Historical Medals

  • Bronze, Silver & Brass Medallions

  • Banknotes

  • Inherited Collections

Bullion Value vs Collector Value: Why Specialist Knowledge Matters

One of the biggest misconceptions I come across is that every old coin is simply worth its weight in gold or silver.

 

While that's sometimes true, many coins have an additional collector value that has nothing to do with the amount of precious metal they contain.

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Take two gold sovereigns as an example. They may contain exactly the same amount of 22ct gold, yet one could be worth considerably more because of its year, mint mark, rarity or condition. The same principle often applies to military medals and historical medallions, where provenance, historical interest and collector demand can all influence value.

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This is why I never simply weigh a collection and make an offer.

 

Instead, every coin and medal is individually assessed, taking into account:

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  • Current bullion value

  • Date and rarity

  • Mint marks

  • Monarch or historical period

  • Overall condition

  • Collector demand

  • Historical significance

  • Whether pieces form part of a complete collection

 

Sometimes a coin really is only worth its bullion value, and I'll tell you that honestly. Other times, identifying a collector premium can make a substantial difference to the final valuation. My aim is to make sure you understand exactly what you own before making any decision.

FAIR, STRAIGHTFORWARD OFFERS | CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTIONS | SECURE BANK TRANSFER

British 22ct Gold Sovereign Coin

A genuine British 22ct gold sovereign coin valued and purchased from a client in Sussex.

A genuine British 22ct gold sovereign coin recently valued and purchased from a client in Sussex. Gold sovereigns often carry a collector's premium alongside their bullion value and are assessed using current daily gold prices, rarity, condition and collector demand. I always weigh and examine every coin individually in front of you, explaining exactly how the valuation is reached. 

 Gold sovereigns remain one of the most common coins I purchase during home visits, but no two valuations are ever exactly the same.

 

Rather than simply treating every coin as scrap gold, I explain the difference between bullion value and collector value, so you understand exactly how the current gold price, rarity and collector demand all influence your valuation.

 

Whether you have a single sovereign, an inherited coin collection or a safe containing investment gold coins, I'll explain exactly what you've got, how I've assessed it and why I've reached my valuation before you make any decision to sell.

Gold Sovereigns & Investment Coins

Gold sovereigns remain some of the most popular coins I purchase throughout Sussex. Whether they've been inherited, collected over many years or bought as an investment, every sovereign deserves to be assessed individually.

 

Many people assume every sovereign is worth exactly the same because they all contain 22ct gold. In reality, that's rarely the case.

 

The year it was minted, the monarch, mint mark, rarity and overall condition can all influence its value. Some sovereigns are purchased purely for their bullion value, while others attract strong collector interest and command premiums above the daily gold price.

 

This section highlights modern investment sovereigns, looking closely at how bullion-focused coins trade based on daily market movements while still offering insight into how collectors and investors buy and sell these coins today.

 22ct Gold Victoria Young Head and Veiled Head Sovereigns

A 22ct gold Victoria Young Head sovereign on the left and a Victoria Veiled Head sovereign on the right, purchased during a home visit in Sussex.

A pair of genuine 22ct gold sovereigns featuring Queen Victoria's Young Head portrait on the left and Veiled Head portrait on the right, recently valued and purchased during a home visit in Sussex. Each coin is examined individually for its date, portrait type, mint mark, condition and collector demand to identify any premium above its bullion value. 

A pair of genuine 22ct gold sovereigns featuring Queen Victoria's Young Head portrait on the left and Veiled Head portrait on the right, recently valued and purchased during a home visit in Sussex. Although these sovereigns were struck during different periods of Queen Victoria's reign, both remain highly sought after by collectors today. During every valuation I inspect each coin individually, as differences in portrait, date, condition and rarity can significantly influence its market value.

 

Whether your sovereigns have been passed down through generations or purchased as investments, I'll explain exactly how they're valued before making an offer.

Have a unique item or inherited collection you want valued? Call Now or Message on WhatsApp

Historic British Gold Coins

One of the most enjoyable parts of my work is discovering older British gold coins that families have carefully looked after for generations.

 

Coins dating back hundreds of years often carry a fascinating history as well as financial value. Unlike modern bullion coins, their worth may be influenced as much by rarity and collector demand as by their gold content.

 

I've been fortunate enough to purchase everything from early sovereigns and half sovereigns to guineas, quarter guineas and other historic British gold coins during home visits across Sussex. While some have spent decades in collections, others have simply been tucked away in drawers, jewellery boxes or family safes.

 

These are exactly the kinds of coins that deserve specialist examination before being sold.

1762 22ct Gold Quarter Guinea

A rare 1762 22ct gold quarter guinea coin valued and purchased in Sussex.

A rare 1762 22ct gold quarter guinea coin from the reign of George III, acquired during a recent home visit in Sussex. Early gold coinage like this often commands significant numismatic value well above its raw gold weight. Showcasing exceptional historical rarity, this denomination emphasises why older Georgian gold requires deep numismatic appreciation rather than simply calculating raw metal value. Examples such as this are carefully researched against specialist references and current collector demand before a valuation is offered. 

Coins of this age are encountered far less frequently than modern sovereigns and investment coins. When valuing pieces like this, I consider far more than their precious metal content, carefully examining authenticity, rarity, condition, historical importance and collector demand before providing a valuation.

Early Sovereigns, Half Sovereigns & Historic Gold Coins

Early British gold coins provide a fascinating insight into Britain's monetary history and regularly appear in inherited collections across Sussex.

 

Unlike modern investment coins, these historic pieces often have value far beyond their gold content. Age, rarity, historical significance, condition and collector demand all play an important role when determining their market value.

 

Whether it's an early sovereign, half sovereign or another historic denomination, every coin is carefully researched and individually assessed before a valuation is given.

1817 22ct Gold Half Sovereign

An 1817 22ct gold half sovereign coin purchased during a home visit in Sussex.

An 1817 22ct gold half sovereign featuring the laureate head of George III, purchased during a home visit in Sussex. Early 19th-century gold half sovereigns are wonderful historical pieces that require specialist knowledge to accurately evaluate. Highlighting the introduction of the modern half sovereign format, this early issue provides a direct window into Britain's evolving gold coinage. Careful examination of condition, authenticity and collector demand ensures historic examples like this receive the attention they deserve. 

Coins from this period are encountered far less frequently than later Victorian and modern sovereigns. Their historical importance means they should always be professionally assessed before any decision is made to sell.

Old Banknotes & Paper Money

Alongside coins and medals, I am regularly asked to examine old banknotes and historic paper money during home visits. Many old notes are kept inside books, family bibles or photograph albums where they've remained untouched for decades.

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Paper money can hold surprising historical and collector value depending on its issuing bank, serial number, condition and rarity.

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I regularly appraise and purchase:​

  • English notes

  • Scottish notes

  • Irish notes

  • Foreign notes

  • White notes

  • Treasury notes

 

Whether you have a single note or an entire collection, every banknote is examined individually to determine its collector value and rarity before any valuation is offered.

Inherited Coin Collections

One of the most common reasons people contact me is because they've inherited a collection of coins but have no idea where to start.

 

Sometimes it's a single sovereign tucked away in a jewellery box. Other times it's several tins, albums or folders collected over many decades. These collections often contain a mixture of gold coins, silver coins, commemorative pieces and everyday circulation coins, making it difficult to know what is valuable and what isn't.

 

It's quite common for clients to apologise because they think the collection is disorganised. In reality, I'd much rather see everything exactly as it's been stored. The way a collection has been kept can often tell me as much as the coins themselves.

 

My advice is always the same.

 

Don't separate the collection or assume every coin has the same value.

 

I've seen collections where one coin was worth considerably more than the rest simply because of its date, rarity or collector demand. Looking at the entire collection together also helps identify complete sets and groups that collectors often prefer to buy intact.

 

Whether your collection contains ten coins or several hundred, every piece is individually assessed and explained in straightforward language, so you understand exactly what you've inherited.

22ct Gold Sovereigns (George V and Elizabeth II)

A collection of 22ct gold sovereigns featuring George V and Elizabeth II purchased during a home visit in Sussex.

A collection of genuine 22ct gold sovereigns featuring George V and Elizabeth II, recently valued and purchased during a home visit in Sussex. Complete or partial coin collections are examined piece by piece to identify rare dates, mint marks and collector premiums. Focusing directly on multi-piece inherited groups, this section explores how gathered sets are looked at and valued as complete groups rather than isolated elements. 

Collections like this regularly turn up in inherited collections and during home visits across Sussex. While it's tempting to think every sovereign is identical, individual dates and mint marks can make a noticeable difference to value. Taking the time to examine each coin properly ensures that nothing of importance is missed before a valuation is given.

Military Medals, Historical Medals & Commemorative Pieces

While gold coins are among the most valuable items I purchase, I'm equally interested in military medals, historical medals, commemorative medallions and other collectable pieces.

 

Many families inherit medals without knowing anything about their history or value. Some have been displayed proudly for generations, while others are discovered in drawers, boxes or lofts alongside old coins and paperwork.

 

The value of a medal depends on far more than the metal it's made from.

 

Its age, historical significance, rarity, condition, subject matter and collector demand all play an important part. Military medals can become even more desirable when they remain together as a complete group or are accompanied by their original documentation.

 

For this reason, I always recommend leaving medal groups exactly as they are until they've been professionally examined.

18th Century Bronze Historical Medal

An 18th-century bronze historical portrait medal.

An 18th-century bronze historical portrait medal. I am also interested in bronze, silver and brass coins and medals. Medals and commemorative coinage from this era are evaluated for their historical significance, artistic craftsmanship and collector appeal. Bronze medals like this demonstrate that collector value isn't limited to gold and silver. Historical portrait medals, commemorative medallions and decorative pieces are carefully assessed for their rarity, historical importance, craftsmanship and desirability amongst collectors before a valuation is offered. 

FAIR, STRAIGHTFORWARD OFFERS | CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTIONS | SECURE BANK TRANSFER

More Than Just Gold Sovereigns

Although gold sovereigns are among the most recognised British coins, they represent only a small part of what I regularly purchase across Sussex.

 

I am always interested in buying:

  • Gold Sovereigns

  • Half Sovereigns

  • Guineas & Quarter Guineas

  • Britannias

  • Krugerrands

  • American Eagles

  • Silver Coins

  • Victorian & Georgian Coins

  • Roman & Ancient Coins

  • Commemorative Coins

  • Proof Sets

  • Military Medals

  • Campaign Medals

  • Historical Medals

  • Bronze, Silver & Brass Medallions

  • Old Banknotes

  • Inherited Collections

 

Whether you have a single coin or an entire lifetime's collection, every item is individually assessed so you understand exactly what you own before making any decision to sell.

Victorian 22ct Gold Sovereigns

A pair of Victorian 22ct gold sovereign coins purchased during a home visit in Sussex.

A pair of Victorian 22ct gold sovereigns showcasing the Jubilee Head portraits of Queen Victoria, purchased during a home visit in Sussex. Every coin is tested and weighed transparently during your home appointment. Highlighting distinct portrait varieties from Queen Victoria's long reign, these sovereigns demonstrate how subtle design differences can significantly influence collector demand. Every coin is individually tested, weighed and examined before a valuation is provided. 

Victorian sovereigns remain among the most popular coins I purchase throughout Sussex. While every sovereign contains 22ct gold, collector premiums often depend upon the portrait type, date, mint mark and condition. Looking at each coin individually ensures nothing of importance is overlooked before making an offer.

Don't Throw These Away...

Before throwing away old envelopes, presentation cases, coin albums, certificates or medal boxes, let me have a look.

 

These items are often overlooked, yet they can sometimes increase the desirability and collector value of a collection by preserving its history and provenance.

Get Your Free Coin & Medal Valuation

Whether you've inherited a single sovereign, discovered military medals while clearing a family home or simply want to know whether your old coins are worth anything, I'm here to help.

 

You'll receive an honest, professional valuation backed by more than 30 years of experience and over 200 five-star Google reviews. Every coin, medal and banknote is individually examined, clearly explained and valued without any obligation to sell.

 

Simply send me a few clear photographs on WhatsApp for an initial opinion, or arrange a free home visit anywhere across Sussex or a private appointment at my Haywards Heath office.

Send photos of your coins, medals, or collections straight to my phone for a rapid, initial assessment.

Tap to call 07586402927 for a direct, confidential conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my old coins are worth anything?
Many people assume that age alone makes a coin valuable, but that isn't always the case. Some old coins are worth only their precious metal content, while others attract significant collector interest because of their rarity, condition, mint mark or historical importance. The best way to find out is to have your coins professionally examined.

 

Do you buy single coins as well as complete collections?
Yes. Whether you have a single gold sovereign, one military medal or an inherited collection containing hundreds of coins, I'm happy to assess every item individually.

 

Should I clean my coins before you see them?
No. Cleaning old coins can reduce their collector value, particularly if they retain their original surfaces. Even gentle polishing can leave fine scratches that affect desirability. It's always best to leave coins exactly as you found them.

 

Should I remove coins from albums before your visit?
No. I recommend leaving coins in their original albums, folders or presentation cases. Keeping them in place helps protect them from accidental damage and preserves the history and presentation of the collection.

 

Do you buy proof coin sets?
Yes. I regularly purchase official proof coin sets, particularly Royal Mint gold and silver proof collections. Complete sets with their original boxes and certificates are always of interest.

 

Do you buy military medals?
Yes. I regularly purchase military medals, campaign medals, commemorative medals and historical medallions. Complete medal groups, original boxes, service records and accompanying paperwork can all add to a collection's historical and collector appeal.

 

Do you buy bronze, silver and brass medals?
Absolutely. Valuable collections aren't limited to gold and silver. I also purchase bronze, silver and brass medals, commemorative medallions and historical pieces, assessing each one for its rarity, historical significance, condition and collector demand.

 

Do you buy old banknotes?
Yes. I purchase English, Scottish, Irish, foreign and Treasury banknotes. Old paper money is assessed according to its issuing bank, serial number, condition, rarity and collector demand.

 

What is the difference between bullion value and collector value?
Bullion value is based on the current market price of the precious metal contained within a coin. Collector value takes into account additional factors such as rarity, date, condition, mint mark and demand from collectors. Some coins are worth little more than their bullion value, while others can be worth considerably more.

 

Can you identify coins if I have no idea what they are?
Yes. Many of the collections I see have been inherited, and the owners often have little or no information about them. I'll identify the coins where possible, explain what they are and talk you through how they've been valued.

 

Do you buy inherited coin collections?
Yes. Inherited collections are one of the most common reasons people contact me. Whether you've inherited a small tin of old coins or an extensive lifetime collection, every item is individually examined and explained in straightforward, easy-to-understand language.

 

Are commemorative coins worth anything?
Some are, while many modern commemorative coins have little value beyond their face value or precious metal content. Others can attract strong collector interest depending on their rarity, precious metal content, limited mintage and condition. Every commemorative coin is individually assessed.

 

Do you buy foreign coins?
Yes. I regularly purchase foreign gold and silver coins alongside British coinage. Coins from Europe, North America, South Africa and many other countries are always worth examining, particularly if they contain precious metals or have collector appeal.

 

Can damaged or worn coins still have value?
Yes. Even worn or damaged coins can retain significant value because of their precious metal content or collector interest. While condition naturally affects value, it's always worth having them professionally assessed before making assumptions.

 

Do I need to sort my collection before your visit?
No. In fact, I'd rather you didn't. Keeping a collection together often preserves important context and allows me to identify complete sets, matching groups and related items that may carry additional collector value.

 

Can you visit my home to value my coins and medals?
Yes. I provide free home valuation visits throughout East and West Sussex. Many clients find this the most convenient option, particularly when collections are large or contain valuable items they would prefer not to transport. Private appointments are also available at my Haywards Heath office if you prefer.

 

What happens if I decide not to sell?
That's completely fine. Every valuation is provided free of charge and without obligation. If you decide you'd rather keep your collection or take some time to consider your options, there is absolutely no pressure to sell.

The Areas I Cover 

Whether you've inherited a collection of gold sovereigns, discovered military medals while clearing a family home or simply want to know whether your old coins are worth anything, I'm here to help.

 

You'll receive an honest, professional valuation backed by more than 30 years of experience and over 200 5-star Google reviews. Every coin and medal is individually examined and clearly explained, so you understand what you have before making any decision.

 

Simply send me a few clear photographs on WhatsApp for an initial opinion, or get in touch to arrange a free home visit anywhere across Sussex or a private appointment at my Haywards Heath office.

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