New to collecting British Half Crowns advice and black spots

Hey all

I've been stacking silver for a number of years, but I get more enjoyment buying “proper” circulated silver coins.

I'm trying a date run of half-crowns. I have about 17 so far. All the Gerorge VI up to 1946, and about 7 George V. 

I know eye appeal is subjective, but I need to know things to avoid. I don't want to buy anything that a collector would instantly dislike.

I know to avoid the following:

Cleaned coins with Hairlines
Dull/flat - coins without lustre (Dipped etc)

Edge knocks

What is the general consensus on black spots? I think it's oxide. I have some Mexican coins that have what looks like Oxidised pitting, but the coins are still very nice in every other respect.

I've pasted a picture of a half crown showing some spots, and I want to know what “collectors” think about coins with marks like this. Would you pass, or doesn't it matter? How much value is lost because of it?

Also any other good tips. Ideally I'm trying to get as close to full lustre and pleasant eye appeal, where my wallet can allow that is.

 

Thanks for reading
 

With the George V coins the 1930 is the scarcest only around 500,000 were minted 

From stacker to collector is an entirely different mindset. You must balance those conflicting goals. Aquire the nicest coins for your comfort level and budget and be realistic about your goals and intent for your half crown “collection”. Luster is only very important at the highest grades and I believe should not be a factor for your goals in this case unless expense is not an issue . Honest slight wear and patina is perfectly fine as your example exhibits and no scratches or other major defects with very desirable details still remaining on the one side you showed. One little black spot is not a major distraction in my mind given the details remaining. Work on filling your ½ Crown date set at your budget level and complete it with the best coins you can find at that budget and comfort level. Then if you  decide to improve and upgrade individual coins or dates for that set in the future, that is an option and your choice. I have been doing so for 60+ years, have many finished sets, and as a collector have also become a stacker so to speak in the meantime by default. If you expect to make a profit quickly, you are better off to just keep stacking and forget collecting.

Harrykeepthechange

One little black spot is not a major distraction in my mind 

And two?

Just kidding. This is a coin with history, and a very nice one, and those spots and the little ones around the beard don't attract attention at all. So I assume most collectors won't have a problem with these.

On the other hand, black spots on a modern coin is annoying and very ugly:

When you look at your coin, you see a very nice coin. When you look at my coin, the first thing you see are those ugly spots and although this coin is almost flawless (except for the spots of course) you just want to replace it as soon as possible.

True. Everything is relative and you cant teach the art of collecting in a paragragh or guage personal preferences and true intent. A black spot in the field of an old silver coin is not a distraction whereas on the bust may be, or not to the observer. A cleaned coin is out of the question, maybe, depending on if it is very rare date. I have a few cleaned examples of a few very difficult types and very hard to obtain dates in any condition. A cleaned example is better than no example of that date to complete my date set. Yes, it can be very complicated to collect and sometimes compromise is required. Very easy and cheaper to just stack silver. Coin and / or bullion.