World Coins for sale | Double Coined

Circulating and commemorative coins from around the world, mostly struck between 1400 and 2000: thalers, reales, escudos, francs, lire and sovereigns.

What is in World Coins

Most coins here were struck between 1400 and 1900, with a large group from the twentieth century. Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and France are the best represented countries, followed by Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom. Typical pieces include German reichstalers and convention thalers, Spanish 8 reales and escudos, Portuguese reis, French 5 and 20 francs of Napoléon III, Italian lire of Vittorio Emanuele III and British sovereigns. There are also medals and a few mixed collections.

Grading terms

Most coins are listed as ungraded, meaning the condition is described in words and photos rather than by a grading company. Some are sealed in NGC or PCGS holders, which use a scale from 1 to 70: MS (mint state) 60 and above means no wear from circulation, and AU means almost uncirculated. Other terms you will see:

BU: brilliant uncirculated, with full original lustre.
Proof: struck with polished dies for collectors, with mirror fields.
FDC: fleur de coin, the European term for a flawless coin.
Cleaned or details: a problem such as cleaning that lowers value.

What to check

Look at both sides in the photos for scratches, rim knocks and signs of cleaning, which leaves fine hairlines and an unnatural shine. Mint marks matter: the same date from two mints can differ greatly in scarcity. For a coin in a grading holder, you can look up the certificate number on the grading company's website.

Prices

Most coins here are between EUR 390 and EUR 3,000.

Frequently asked questions

What does 'ungraded' mean on a coin?

An ungraded coin has not been sent to a grading company such as NGC or PCGS, so it has no sealed holder or official numeric grade. Its condition is described in the text and shown in the photos. Many older European coins are traded ungraded, and buyers judge wear, strike and surface from the images and the written description.

What is a thaler?

The thaler (taler) was a large silver coin, usually around 25 to 29 grams, that became the standard in German-speaking lands from the early 1500s. It is named after the silver mines of Joachimsthal in Bohemia. German states, Austria and the Netherlands issued versions for centuries, including the reichstaler and the convention thaler. The word dollar comes from thaler.

How can I tell if a coin has been cleaned?

Cleaning usually leaves fine parallel hairline scratches, a bright, flat shine instead of natural lustre, and dirt left in the recesses around the design. Collectors value original surfaces and toning, so a cleaned coin normally sells for noticeably less than an uncleaned one in the same condition. Grading companies mark such coins as details or cleaned instead of giving a number grade.