Does a low numbered COA have an effect on value?

[Richym99]

I have, in my collection of £5 silver Piedfort's the one issued commemorating Phillip's retirement from public life in 2017. 

The COA is number 15 out of 1144 minted (according to the RM).

Just curious, because I have no intention of breaking up the collection of Senior Royal family notable milestones, does the low issue number have any bearing on desirability to collectors. 

[Rll1288]

I hope so ... as the low ones I have I am hoping will keep good value in years to come 😀

[motorbikez]

In a word no IMHO, number 1 may be desirable to some people or some specific number that means something to you but in general no.

[SilverJacks]

007 on a Bond coin would be cool...

[Rll1288]

5 minutes ago, SilverJacks said:

007 on a Bond coin would be cool...

It’s funny that no one seems to have one with that on... I am sure the mint gave them to the Broccoli family and other close partners haha as they would be worth quite a bit... me thinks

[Pete]

Does anyone believe the Mint matches a CoA to a coin ?

I would guess they run a batch, maybe 1,000 then a worker randomly picks a coin from a tray of coins, places one inside a box and adds a CoA from a printed stack of cards.
Just because the CoA states number 10 doesn't mean the coin was the tenth minted.
I could be wrong but does anyone really know ?

So back to the question about a low CoA making a coin more valuable - only to someone who makes it so by paying a higher price.

[SilverJacks]

24 minutes ago, Rll1288 said:

It’s funny that no one seems to have one with that on... I am sure the mint gave them to the Broccoli family and other close partners haha as they would be worth quite a bit... me thinks

That's a really interesting point. If they were sold to general public, whoever got them would make a big deal of it surely... RM wouldn't exclude the no.7 for being of greater importance? Maybe someone at the mint has all them but can't tell anyone so as to not raise suspicion 😂

[SilverJacks]

3 minutes ago, Pete said:

Does anyone believe the Mint matches a CoA to a coin ?

Can you picture it at RM 😂 "ffs Dai that's number 4217 i'm sure of it... Right start again!"

[westminstrel]

As far as quality of the coin is concerned, absolutely not.

A 10 COA for example does not mean it was the actual 10th coin struck.

Nor does a low COA indicate better quality than higher COAs because the dies are cleaned and polished depending on their usage. The last coin struck in a batch of 3,000 might very will have the best strike of the lot.

Indeed a 007 COA might be fun for a Bond coin, but just like the hobby of collecting itself, it totally depends on the quirks of the collector.

[Lr103]

I personally would pay more for a low COA, but I also think I’m in the minority and most people don’t seem to care. Although I think there are enough like me, that you could get lucky on a sale of a low COA coin. The problem is that we don’t often get the opportunity to choose, and I I don’t think I would sell just to trade to a preferred COA. 

[MickB]

If the mintage number was laser etched on the side it might mean something. Doesn't really do anything on a piece of paper as you could have the coin that it came with swapped for another of the same and nobody would know.

[SilverJacks]

I see the COA as an accessory to go with the coin. I’d rather have one than not, and if the number is appealing then all the better.

 I’m not sure it is even claimed to represent any order of minting to be fair...

[GoldenGriffin]

I think there would be more interest if it is COA 1 and anything else wouldn't attract as much interest.

Even if a potential buyer knows that the first coin struck doesn't get COA 1, psychologically, there's still a desire to have COA 1.

If two coins were up for sale, same grade, I'd pay a bit more for the coin with COA 1.

Edited April 10, 2021 by GoldenGriffin
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[GoldStandardPartyUK]

CoAs are a strange phenomenon in my opinion. Honestly I don't know why they are still a thing.

For bars a potential forger would find printing the CoA the easiest part of creating a fake. Coins have elaborate patterns specifically to prevent fakes. It's as if they are pretending the bar/coin was an antique chair with a letter of authenticity from an expert.

What might be better is all the receipts/invoices from all the owners, that would do a better job of authentication and would show chain of ownership. And would be more interesting.

[CaptCaveMan]

IMHO I don't see major mints allocating numbers to coins as minted, it would likely increase premiums too much, unlike watches with matching numbers engraved on the movement, case and accompanying cards/documentation.

[kimchi]

They don't relate to the order of minting as explained by others.

There may be extra value to the right collector, the problem then there is though that it's a very small group who would, say, pay more for 007 for Bond, and I'm not sure how you would find that very niche market.

[westminstrel]

To be clear, I never meant to imply that the Mints associate COA number with the order of a coin’s striking.

I was saying that because this is precisely what does not happen, the only reason to pay an additional premium for COA (over the premium you alreay pay for a proof coin) is if you have a certain quirk for the coin’s theme and some related number.

For example, COA 95 for the 95th Birthday Sovereign. I’d be amused to get one. Would I pay an extra premium for it? Not particularly considering the coin itself has an almost 100% premium over spot. Others might be willing to splurge.

That’s the thing about collecting. It makes you do strange things. I’m guilty of splurging on my Tolkien deluxe edition book collection, among other non-deluxe editions. The rabbit hole runs deep. 😅

[Pete]

I think what is more interesting rather than a piece of card or paper with a number on it which cannot be traced to the coin, are minted bars with engraved serial numbers.
Whether this is accompanied by a certificate is less of concern, nice if it does, but a low serial number stamped / engraved on the bar makes it unique and the genuine item.
 

[StackemHigh]

COA doesn't certify anything. When you are certain it is the original coin you've got it's just more packing! If you're wanting a specific number then it's a scan and print job to make it look official.

[kimchi]

I have a 2017 Pistrucci Anniversary Strike on the Day Sov. The CoA says it's a Proof. It's graded by PCGS as a Proof. However both are errors - the Mint had to (try to) recall all the incorrect 'proof' CoAs and the grading companies had to be told it wasn't a proof (even though it looks just like one).

I don't know if it's just because I have it, but this is one coin where I think the CoA (along with the grading) tells an interesting story and may add a little value (?).

[SilverJacks]

1 hour ago, kimchi said:

don't know if it's just because I have it, but this is one coin where I think the CoA (along with the grading) tells an interesting story and may add a little value (?).

I was just going to ask if it has added value. I guess that’s answered by whoever buys if/when these items are up for sale.

I for one find these things far more attractive for the unusual story behind them. I would gladly pay more for them. How much more would depend on what is perceived as fair/ going rate

[AndrewSL76]

Love this thread! What do people think about grading the CoA!? Not something I have ever done but I have seen a few for the V75 US releases.......

In answer to the general question, I love a ‘good’ CoA, and it doesn’t need to be low. A high one too! I have 172 for the 10oz Three Graces (out of 175!) and 250 for the 5oz (they minted 500). I was personally really happy with those!! I saw that Backyard Bullion got a 001 CoA for a platinum release (I think it was the 1/4oz 2020 Britannia). I think he made a good amount selling it on...people definitely like them!!

I have to admit that when I first open a package the CoA is probably the first thing I look at - just to see if there are any quirks or specific numbers of interest. I then lock the door, sit down with the coin and tell my wife I am looking at pornography. She knows what I am really doing...

[JonP]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest that the COA is just picked from the top of a stack of them when the coins are packaged and most likely bares no relation to the actual strike number of the coin its packed with. I think it's just luck of the draw.

Edited April 11, 2021 by JonP

[westminstrel]

6 hours ago, AndrewSL76 said:

I then lock the door, sit down with the coin and tell my wife I am looking at pornography

Such a good husband. Others might have locked the door, sat down with pornography, and told their wife they’re looking at coins. 

[Cornishfarmer]

I’ve got COA #1 for the 5oz silver three graces..... how much extra would that make it worth?