Jardines Galleries · For new collectors · Five topics · Fifteen questions
Frequently asked questions.
All the basic questions answered in one place — from "Do I need a lot of money?" to "How do I avoid fakes?" Fifteen questions across five topics: getting started, handling and storage, value and authenticity, buying and selling, plus a final section on specific coins (Krugerrand vs Big Five, Mandela coins, the tickey). Each answer points to the deeper Library pages where the topic gets full treatment.
Getting started
Three core questions · Budget · First coin · FocusThe first three questions every new collector asks. Numismatics is not a wealthy person's hobby — beginner collections can be built for under R500 from pocket change and one current-year set.
No. Start with pocket change. A beginner collection can be built for under R500 — supplemented by an SA Mint uncirculated set and a handful of common older coins from a local dealer.
A current-year uncirculated set from the SA Mint (around R250 – 300). It's affordable, complete for the year, and a solid first step. See SA Mint Today for context.
No. Focus on something specific: one denomination, one theme, or one era. A focused collection is more rewarding — and more affordable — than scattershot accumulation.
Handling & storage
How to touch · How to clean · How to storeThe "never clean" rule is the single most important principle in numismatics — cleaning can reduce a valuable coin's value by 50 – 90% in a single attempt. The storage rules are equally important but rarely fatal if done casually.
Yes — but only by the edges. Never touch the front or back surfaces. Skin oils transfer onto the metal and react chemically over time. Cotton gloves for anything valuable.
You don't. Cleaning destroys numismatic value — even gentle cleaning. Leave natural toning alone. If you must remove visible grime, take the coin to a professional conservator, never DIY.
Mylar flips, hard plastic capsules, or acid-free albums. Never PVC — it leaches plasticisers that damage coins over years. Cool, dry, away from direct sunlight.
Value & authenticity
Identifying value · Grandfather coins · Avoiding fakesThree of the most-asked questions in numismatics. The honest answer to all three: get expert eyes on the coin. Self-assessment is a learnable skill but requires years; in the meantime, professional authentication is the practical answer.
Check three things: date, mint mark, and condition. Then cross-reference against Hern's catalogue and recent auction records. Major rarities are well-documented.
Possibly. Have it authenticated by a reputable dealer or grading service. Most inherited coins are common; the occasional inheritance contains a major rarity. Don't assume either way until you've had it looked at.
For anything valuable: buy certified coins (NGC, PCGS). Know your dealer — the SAAND member list is a strong starting point. Study counterfeit detection for your collecting focus.
Buying & selling
Where to buy · eBay caution · When to sellPractical questions about the market itself. Numismatics is a long-term hobby — selling impulsively is the classic beginner mistake. See Coin Dealers & Auction Houses for the full SA dealer landscape.
For new coins: SA Mint. For older coins: reputable dealers or auction houses. The Coin Dealers page lists the major SA options with current commercial details.
For low-value common coins, yes. For valuable rarities, no — unless the coin is certified (NGC, PCGS, ANACS) and the seller has a strong feedback record. Counterfeits are widespread for high-value SA coinage.
When you need the money, or when upgrading to a better example. Coins are a long-term hobby — impulsive selling usually means selling poorly. Plan exits as carefully as entries.
Specific coins
Krugerrand vs Big Five · Mandela coins · The tickeyThree questions that come up repeatedly. Each links to the deeper Library page where the topic gets full treatment — this section is a starting point, not the destination.
Krugerrands are bullion — value = gold price plus a small premium. Big Five are commemoratives — value = rarity + gold + design appeal. See the Krugerrand Hub for full context.
The 2013 – 2024 silver series is collectible. Complete sets are worth more than the sum of individual coins. See the Life of a Legend page for the full Mandela commemorative narrative.
Originally a 3d silver coin — the smallest Union-era silver denomination. The name survives in colloquial usage and lives on in the Crown & Tickey Inventions series. See also the 1961 Decimal Transition for the tickey-to-2½c carryover.
Sources
Compiled from Library content- Compiled from Library content. The questions and answers here are distilled from the full set of leaf pages — each Q points back to the relevant specialist page where the topic gets in-depth treatment.
Library next steps
Where the FAQ answers go deeperYoung Collectors' Corner
The companion page for kids and young collectors. Same hobby, gentler register — missions, activities, a fillable first-coin worksheet.
— Where to buy and sell —Coin Dealers & Auction Houses
The full SA dealer landscape — SAAND members, auction houses, market specialists. The destination for questions 10 and 11 above.
— Term lookup —The Glossary
If a word in this FAQ confused you — "mint mark," "uncirculated," "PVC," "toning" — the Glossary defines them clearly. Also a companion Afrikaans glossary.
— Engraver biographies —People Behind the Coins
Once you've started a focused collection, the people who designed the coins become part of the appeal — Otto Schultz, Coert Steynberg, MacKennal, and others.