Mr. Ng from Ma On Shan Clears His Collection Before Retirement: Real-Time Pricing and Sorting of a Mixed | Gu Jin Jian Bao
When recovering mixed batches of silver dollars, the most challenging part is not valuation, but categorization. Silver coins poured from the same jar can vary in year, version, and condition, making a"single price"approach impossible.
Mr. Ng, 60, resides in Ma On Shan and has been an accountant for over 30 years, officially retiring next month. In his youth, he developed an interest in silver dollars and acquired over twenty pieces, which he later put aside due to work commitments. Before retirement, he decided to conduct an "asset inventory" and convert his silver dollars into cash for his retirement fund.
"I kept records when I bought them, but I haven't tracked market prices for many years. Please help me re-evaluate them," said Mr. Ng, bringing a storage box with each silver coin individually packaged in a plastic bag, labeled with the original purchase date and price.
Categorization and Authentication
Twenty-two pieces were inspected one by one and categorized as follows:
Yuan Datou (14 coins)
- Year 3, common version ×8: Condition VF20-AU50, wide range
- Year 3, O version ×1: Condition VF30, with an "O" mark below the jiahe on the reverse
- Year 8 ×2: Condition VF25
- Year 9, refined hair version ×1: Condition XF40
- Year 10 ×2: Condition VF20-VF25
Sun Xiaotou (8 coins)
- Top six-star version ×5: Condition F15-VF30
- Bottom five-star version ×2: Condition VF20
- Top five-star version ×1: Condition VF25, relatively rare
Piece-by-Piece Quotation (Key Varieties)
- Year 3 AU50 ×1: HK$8,500
- Year 3 O version VF30 ×1: HK$35,000
- Year 9 refined hair version XF40 ×1: HK$18,000
- Year 3 common VF grade ×7: Average HK$3,200 = HK$22,400
- Year 8 ×2: HK$4,000 × 2 = HK$8,000
- Year 10 ×2: HK$2,600 × 2 = HK$5,200
- Sun Xiaotou top five-star ×1: HK$5,800
- Other Sun Xiaotou ×7: Average HK$2,200 = HK$15,400
Total for twenty-two pieces: HK$118,300
Mr. Ng compared each coin with his original purchase records and found that the overall appreciation ranged from approximately 3 to 8 times (depending on the year and condition). The "O" version, which he bought for HK$5,000, appreciated by 7 times. The entire batch was confirmed for sale on the spot.
Have a batch of silver dollars you want to have valued all at once? WhatsApp 98342057. Gu Jin Jian Bao accepts piece-by-piece valuations for mixed varieties and will not offer a single low price.
