Royal Mint accused of cashing in on Olympics
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Your support makes all the difference.The Royal Mint is being accused of exploiting the general public with overpriced commemorative coins that have minimal investment value.
After 38 years as a Royal Mint agent, a leading numismatic dealer with 57 years in the business is now refusing to trade in any more of its coins because he believes the market has been devalued by the vast numbers of issues and exorbitant prices.
Richard Lobel – the UK's biggest dealer in the secondary market for Royal Mint coins – condemns what he sees as the exploitation of people who pay up to four-figure sums for what they assume are valuable keepsakes.
He said coins celebrating the 2012 Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee were among issues worth far less than the prices paid. The resale value of most non-gold coins is under 50 per cent of the original price.
Mr Lobel, managing director of Coincraft, said: "I'm tired of how many people's hearts we've had to break."
Until a few years ago, the Royal Mint issued commemorative coins for exceptional events. Now, there are dozens of issues – 68 for the Olympics alone. They include a gold £5 coin now selling on the Royal Mint website for £2,880, for which the owner might get £1,400 at most. A dealer would resell it for £1,500 to £1,600, Mr Lobel said.
Other experts echoed his criticisms. Seth Freeman of Baldwin's, numismatic dealers since 1872, said: "Once somebody's bought a set from the Royal Mint, it's worth about a quarter to a third of what you paid for it ... and I've never known anyone to get their money back, even in these days of high gold prices."
Experts believe the Royal Mint issues too many coins, in too many different metals, while repeatedly raising prices.
Peter Jackson, another dealer, said: "With the economic situation, people are tending to look upon coins as an investment. A lot of people don't really know what they're buying ... I think there'll be a lot of tears shed in a few years' time when people realise."
But Shane Bissett, the Royal Mint's director of Commemorative Coin, argues that with sales of £150m last year, demand is strong and prices reflect the craftsmanship involved.
When asked about resale values, he said: "Commemorative coins are not sold as investments. They're sold to celebrate commemorative events."
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