Adamaney - FAQ - frequently asked questions

This page contains examples of common questions asked to the webmaster and an example of a possible answer.

FAQ	Answer
My copper coins are very dirt: their colour is brown; how can I clean or polish?	Teaching Numismatics to a beginner, the first instruction to say is: don't clean your coins! Cleaning coins, you risk to disfigure their pàtina, destroying also commercial value.For other info, see our page dedicated to a Numismatic Glossary, searching Pàtina.
I found italian coins showing King Vittorio Emanuele II: what is their price for numismatists?	The price of 5 and 10 Centesimi pcs., if they are not in good state of preservation (under and until Fine - for info about preservations see Legend - Abbreviations), is very low, near zero. An exception is 5 centesimi mint Bologna (B), rare, in "Fine" approximately 50 Euro. Market for all 10 Centesimi and some 5 Centesimi starts over VF.
What is the price of italian silver 500 lire showing caravels? Is the type with irregular flags rare?	500 lire with "Caravelle", struck for circulation between 1958 and 1967, are quotated 1,5 Euro if circulated. If Uncirculated (or in XF/EF for 1961) many dates have a low commercial value. Date is showed on the edge. The coins struck in 1957 (with an error on flags) are an essay (PROVA), very rare, valuable several thousands of Euros.
I found italian coins of XX century: 5 Centesimi - Vittorio Emanuele III showing a SPICA (type 1) or an EAGLE (another type), 10 Centesimi showing a BEE (type 1) or a SHIELD with cross (another type). What is the value of my coins?	Common dates, under VF, haven't a value. In XF the price is different for more or less common dating. Rare date for 5C "Spica" is 1937. For 10C "Bee" is 1919 and for 5C "Eagle" is 1943.
Bimetallic italian 1000 Lire 1997 with wrong map of West-Germany: is a rare coin?	No. Mintage is high for two types: 1997 wrong map and 1997 correct map.
I own italian coins in stanless-steel or nickel struck in 1940s: 20C, 50C, 1Lira, 2Lire. Are there rare types?	Only dates with a commercial interest are: 1936, in nickel, for all 4 nominals; 1943 for 50C, 1 Lira and 2 Lire and only for 2 Lire, 1942 (RR). If XF or AU/Unc a low value also for 2 Lire 1941.
I want to sale Italian coins: 20 centesimi with a flying woman on reverse. What can be their price?	The 20 centesimi in nickel showing "Flying Liberty" was struck, for circulation, between 1908 and 1922. Commercial evaluation exists only in XF/UNC grading; not very common coins dating 1919, few Euros also in VF.
How much is a "Marengo"?	For italian common "Marengo" (gold 20 Lire, 6,45 gr., fin. 900/.., very common is 1882) in normal preservation is valid the "Stock Exchange quotation". If the coin has been struck on a rare date or its preservation in very good (XF/EF, UNC, etc.) the price raises. Marengo denomination, commonly used for all gold 20 lire, bears for the 1st italian coin struck with this nominal, weight, diameter: it was created by Repubblica Subalpina to celebrate the victory in Marengo battle in june, 1800. On the obverse there was L'ITALIE DELIVREE A MARENCO (Italy delivered in the village of Marengo).
Is a coin collection an expensive hobby?	This is an old commonplace very diffuse. Numismatics is a marvellous example of collection opened to all people and all wallets! Few types of collection have a so big number of choices: all historical periods, all nations, metals, subjects and... prices!
"Collecting coins pays, because their value grows in the course of time": is true?	An intelligent collection is a very good investment. But a good collector must be always very prudent buying his first coins: the best is addressing to experts and brake first enthusiasm for immoderate "shopping".
I own an ancient coin showing.... (...) ....what is its value?	To identify without errors an "ancient" coin and judge its commercial value please send an image.
I found a Banknote...	We are sorry, buth Adamaney is only dedicated to "metallic coins".
Quanto valgono le 1000 lire in argento "1870-1970" e le 500 Lire 1961 "Cavalli"?	Approximately 10 Euros for 1000 lire pcs (Rome as Capital Centennial); for 500 lire pcs struck for Italian Unit Centennial in 1961, 62, and 63, but showing date 1961, approximately 2 Euros.
What is "Decimal Coinage"?	"Decimal Coinage" is an expression used for the coins having legal tender based on "Metrical Decimal System", which was born, in Italy, with Bonaparte conquest. This system was born, in France, on May, 8, 1790.