0:00:03 > 0:00:06For many years, you've trusted the "Flog It!" team to value
0:00:06 > 0:00:10and sell your unwanted antiques and collectibles.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Of all the official jewels that you could possibly bring along today,
0:00:13 > 0:00:15these are fabulous.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20And during that time we've learned a great deal about the objects
0:00:20 > 0:00:22that have passed through our hands.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25In this series, I want to share some of that knowledge with you
0:00:25 > 0:00:28so stand by to hear some of our trade secrets.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02When it comes to hunting for treasures, like magpies,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05we're always drawn to things that sparkle and glint
0:01:05 > 0:01:09and we see so many exquisite gold and silver items on Flog It!
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Today's show is dedicated to everything that glisters -
0:01:14 > 0:01:19all the shiny objects that have crossed our tables at valuation day.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23Coming up, the kids are in town...
0:01:23 > 0:01:26When little Katie put them on the table, I thought,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29I've never seen these before!
0:01:29 > 0:01:31And they have treasures to impress the experts.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34This is the highlight of my day.
0:01:34 > 0:01:35As well as the bidders.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40- Wow!- What do you think about that? - Amazing.
0:01:46 > 0:01:47Now, it doesn't always follow that
0:01:47 > 0:01:51if an item has been made of precious metal or adorned with gems
0:01:51 > 0:01:55that it's going to increase in value, but in most cases it does.
0:01:55 > 0:02:01Now, take this exquisite example of Huguenot craftsmanship made in 1710.
0:02:01 > 0:02:06Reputedly, it is the world's largest solid silver wine cooler
0:02:06 > 0:02:10and it weighs a staggering 3,000 ounces.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Now, if this same wine cooler had been made using the finest
0:02:14 > 0:02:18Cuban mahogany of the day, richly carved and adorned
0:02:18 > 0:02:23like this has been, it would set you back around £20,000-£30,000.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27This one, well, you can definitely add another couple of noughts,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30so when does that extra sparkle make all the difference?
0:02:34 > 0:02:37When buying a precious metal object in silver or gold,
0:02:37 > 0:02:42name and craftsmanship are absolutely crucial, alongside
0:02:42 > 0:02:44condition and markings etc.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47I would always advise people to be
0:02:47 > 0:02:49guided by the individual quality of an object
0:02:49 > 0:02:53and if you just buy on names, you could come a cropper.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57The name can be the value, rarely, but not all pieces are named,
0:02:57 > 0:03:02so if it is an unnamed piece, go for quality of craftsmanship.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07A good finish, good materials and you can't really go wrong.
0:03:07 > 0:03:08Anything fashioned from gold
0:03:08 > 0:03:12and silver has that extra little je ne sais quoi that our experts love,
0:03:12 > 0:03:16and Adam Partridge knew exactly what he had in front of him.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19They were really, really smart, enamelled with birds,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21in lovely condition, by a great maker.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23They ticked all the commercial boxes.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25Aren't they wonderful?
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Silver and enamel menu holders,
0:03:27 > 0:03:31obviously for the dining table, in sets of eight and upwards.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35These were produced by a company called Sampson Mordan & Co,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37which is quite a famous company,
0:03:37 > 0:03:43particularly well known for inventing the propelling pencil.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Sampson Mordan is one of the major names in small silver, I would say.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50They were prolific manufactures, but always very high quality
0:03:50 > 0:03:55and small items. Desktop items, ink wells, the list is endless.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59They assayed items in London, Birmingham, and these ones,
0:03:59 > 0:04:01more of interest to me, as I'm in the north-west,
0:04:01 > 0:04:02were assayed in Chester...
0:04:02 > 0:04:05which is slightly rarer, slightly more interesting,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08than the ones that were in Birmingham or London.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12We can put an estimate of £100 to £150, but I wouldn't be surprised
0:04:12 > 0:04:17if they made more like £200 to £250 once the bidding had happened.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Two silver menu holders. It gets exciting now. Here we go.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Were they going to fly at auction?
0:04:23 > 0:04:27We've got 520 here. 550, 580...
0:04:27 > 0:04:31- 600, 620...- I can't believe this.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34- 650, 680...- Still going.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36700, 720?
0:04:36 > 0:04:40£700. There's the bid on that telephone at £700.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43At £700 and done, thank you.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45- Bosh!- Excellent, thank you.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47What do you think? A big smile there.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Small silver is extremely desirable,
0:04:51 > 0:04:55so I was a bit conservative with my estimate on those ones.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Oh, well, Adam, at least you were right
0:04:57 > 0:04:59about the collectability of Sampson Mordan.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Their charm and quality always attract the buyers.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Why not see if you can find any of their propelling pencils,
0:05:06 > 0:05:09enamelled vesta cases or pin cushions?
0:05:09 > 0:05:12Small items with glittering prices.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15We often come across this question on "Flog it!" -
0:05:15 > 0:05:19to scrap or not to scrap our precious objects
0:05:19 > 0:05:21made of gold or silver?
0:05:21 > 0:05:23And the team is divided on the matter.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27Scrapping is a real bugbear of mine
0:05:27 > 0:05:30and it's not a big question for me at all.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33I can't stand it that things get scrapped.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36If something is horrible, it's thin and tinny,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39and has no artistic merit whatsoever,
0:05:39 > 0:05:41but it's worth £300 if you melt it down,
0:05:41 > 0:05:44melt it down and hopefully an artisan silversmith
0:05:44 > 0:05:47will get hold of that and make something beautiful.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50If you've got a lovely piece, though, beautifully made,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53don't scrap it, because it'll probably be a one-off
0:05:53 > 0:05:54and there won't be another one around,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57so think carefully before you put everything in a melting pot.
0:05:57 > 0:05:58When we scrap gold or silver,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01we're aiming to maximise price by weight,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04but when Michael Baggott came across a silver teapot,
0:06:04 > 0:06:08it wasn't so much the weight that appealed, as what it told him.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10It's a super thing,
0:06:10 > 0:06:13and anybody that knows anything about silver will be looking at that
0:06:13 > 0:06:18and saying, "Oh, that's a beautiful London teapot of about 1830." But...
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Oh! The first hint that something's up
0:06:21 > 0:06:24is the fact that I'm having difficult lifting it.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Lifting it, yes.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29Weight, when you're looking at silver, is a very good indicator,
0:06:29 > 0:06:31not in itself, but taken as a whole, as to quality.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Obviously, the heavier something is,
0:06:34 > 0:06:36the more expensive it is to make,
0:06:36 > 0:06:37so obviously there might be more
0:06:37 > 0:06:40skill required in the manufacture of it.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43- Actually, the second thing is this handle.- Oh, really?
0:06:43 > 0:06:46- Because it's horn.- Oh, right.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51English handles are silver with ivory insulators or they're wood,
0:06:51 > 0:06:53so we're not in England anymore.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58Turn it over, and, great, that's what we want to see.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02We've got H&C in a rectangular punch,
0:07:02 > 0:07:07then we've got an elephant, which is signs of things not English,
0:07:07 > 0:07:09and a little A.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13These are the marks that were used by Hamilton and Company,
0:07:13 > 0:07:17who were probably the leading silversmiths in Calcutta,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20and things were worked to a very heavy gauge.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23So whenever you see something which is very elaborate like this
0:07:23 > 0:07:27and it weighs a tonne, those are the warning bells that it's going
0:07:27 > 0:07:29to be a piece of colonial silver.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32It's still not, frustratingly, as valuable as if it were English,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35despite the fact it's much rarer.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Rarity doesn't always mean value,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41because it can mean that there are less collectors,
0:07:41 > 0:07:45and if there are less collectors for something, it won't make as high a price at auction.
0:07:45 > 0:07:51At auction, it's going to be in the region of about £350 to £550.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54- OK.- That's the sort of bracket and see how it goes.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58A piece like this is about so much more than its weight.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01It evokes an important part of British history.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04But would the bidders agree?
0:08:04 > 0:08:07I'm going to start the bidding at 600. Is there 20 in the room?
0:08:07 > 0:08:12- At £600, it's selling.- Good grief. - Is there 20? At £600. Any more?
0:08:12 > 0:08:19At £600. Commission bid. Are you all done? That's £600, last time.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Yes, the hammer's gone down. £600.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Strangely, at the time we sold it, it was less valuable
0:08:26 > 0:08:28than an English teapot,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31because Indian colonial silver was in a slump.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35That's now not the case and colonial silver is sought after,
0:08:35 > 0:08:37so were it to be offered again today,
0:08:37 > 0:08:39it would probably make slightly more.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42But that's just how the markets go.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Sophia's solid silver teapot may have conjured up
0:08:45 > 0:08:49the days of the Raj, but Anita found two starry items which oozed
0:08:49 > 0:08:53the style of another bygone era, and were truly out of this world.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59These wonderful compacts from the 1950s were absolutely marvellous.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02When little Katie put them on the table, I thought,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05"I've never seen these before!"
0:09:05 > 0:09:08- Do they belong to you? - Yeah, they do.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10- Do you play with them?- No.- No?
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Compacts you usually keep in your handbag to powder your nose
0:09:14 > 0:09:18when you're out. These are like dressing table examples of them.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20If we open it up, it's very interesting.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23It's called The Flying Saucer.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26It is a lot of fun. I like it.
0:09:26 > 0:09:32This other one, again a dressing table example,
0:09:32 > 0:09:37and this one is called Pygmalion, Made in England.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42The inventiveness and the reflection of what was happening at the time
0:09:42 > 0:09:44was shown in these little compacts
0:09:44 > 0:09:47and I think they were really just the best fun in the world
0:09:47 > 0:09:51and a perfect example of 1950s bags of style.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53I think we'll estimate them
0:09:53 > 0:09:57at maybe £50-60 with a reserve of maybe 45
0:09:57 > 0:10:00but hope that we've got those hip kids
0:10:00 > 0:10:03that are out for that type of item.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07I can start the bidding straightaway at £120.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09- SHE GASPS - Wow!
0:10:09 > 0:10:12180. 180 on commission.
0:10:12 > 0:10:13200.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15On the phone at 200. 220.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18THEY GASP
0:10:18 > 0:10:23No? At £240, these very rare compacts.
0:10:23 > 0:10:24Selling now.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28- Wow!- What did you think about that?- Amazing!
0:10:28 > 0:10:30What mattered was the style
0:10:30 > 0:10:35and the period. That's what made these items interesting,
0:10:35 > 0:10:38not the components
0:10:38 > 0:10:39that made the item.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44The sparkly nature of those compacts was only part of their appeal.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Their space-age kitsch was a real bonus.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50Appealing to people's nostalgia can prove profitable.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Sometimes, though, all that glisters is indeed gold,
0:10:56 > 0:10:59or in this case, a very special piece of silver.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05There is absolutely no doubt that this is the highlight of my day.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07- Do you know what you've got here? - No, not really.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11- I had a quick look last night on the internet.- What name did you find?
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- Omar Ramsden.- Yeah. - Never heard of him.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16You'd never heard of him? What's it made of?
0:11:16 > 0:11:17- Silver.- It is indeed.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18Very, very typical piece.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23You could see this was Omar Ramsden from the other end of Ely Cathedral.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Omar Ramsden was born in 1873, died in 1939,
0:11:27 > 0:11:32and was one of the great 20th-century silversmiths
0:11:32 > 0:11:33in this country.
0:11:33 > 0:11:39Quality, quality, quality, but also he did his own enamelling.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43A lot of silversmiths would send their work off to an enameller
0:11:43 > 0:11:45to have that work done.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49He did his own enamelling so that he did the whole object.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51And it's hugely collectible.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56I'm going to turn it over, just so we get all the info here.
0:11:56 > 0:12:01The monarch, there we are, George V, and the date letter, 1935,
0:12:01 > 0:12:05and it's even got Omar Ramsden and the OR mark on it.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Frankly, it couldn't be better. What's it worth, Jack?
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- I don't know, 500, maybe? - £500, you think?
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Jack was a very bright boy, IS a bright boy,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18but I can't believe he looked at a bit of Omar Ramsden and said,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20"I think this is worth £500," not at his age.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24Well, he's got a huge future ahead of him if it was his own valuation.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27This is worth over £1,000.
0:12:27 > 0:12:28What?!
0:12:28 > 0:12:31Oh, that was a funny noise, Jack!
0:12:31 > 0:12:34This is worth, in my opinion, certainly £1,000-1,500.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Wow.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40Wow, indeed, and at auction the shocks kept coming.
0:12:40 > 0:12:431,100, 1,200, 1,300,
0:12:43 > 0:12:451,400, 1,500,
0:12:45 > 0:12:471,600, 1,700,
0:12:47 > 0:12:48at 1,700,
0:12:48 > 0:12:50at 1,700,
0:12:50 > 0:12:521,800, 1,900.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57- We've done it.- 2,000, 2,100,
0:12:57 > 0:13:002,200, 2,300, you're both out down here.
0:13:00 > 0:13:012,300. 2,400?
0:13:01 > 0:13:05- 2,400 this side. - This is great, Jane.
0:13:05 > 0:13:062,500.
0:13:07 > 0:13:102,600. At 2,600, look at the action pose.
0:13:10 > 0:13:122,600. 2,700.
0:13:12 > 0:13:142,600 there. Where are the other two phones now?
0:13:14 > 0:13:17I sell on the phone with the bid.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20At £2,600, are you sure you're done?
0:13:21 > 0:13:22- Yes!- The hammer's gone down.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26£2,600!
0:13:26 > 0:13:29OK, Jack, do you know where all the money's going?
0:13:29 > 0:13:31- Er... - Has Mum and Dad decided?- To my bank.
0:13:32 > 0:13:33The Jack Bank!
0:13:36 > 0:13:38A good, full price,
0:13:38 > 0:13:40but it was the quality.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Everybody knows that if you buy the best
0:13:43 > 0:13:44and you buy a bit of Omar Ramsden,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47the fact that it's 2,600 on that day -
0:13:47 > 0:13:51it comes up in another five years' time, it'll be 3,600.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53It's not going to go down.
0:13:53 > 0:13:54There's no more of it being made
0:13:54 > 0:13:57and that was a perfect hallmark,
0:13:57 > 0:14:01no chipping to the enamelling. The whole thing was perfect.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05If you can't stretch to gold or silver, take my advice -
0:14:05 > 0:14:07go out and buy some pewter.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09That would be my number one choice.
0:14:09 > 0:14:10Start off with the small plates,
0:14:10 > 0:14:1318th-century ones, with a stamp on it, the maker's initial,
0:14:13 > 0:14:15known as a touch mark.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17They start at around £30-60 in auction.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Work your way up to the larger plates, the chargers.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Hopefully, get one with a broad rim, late 17th-century,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26again, with a bit of punch detail,
0:14:26 > 0:14:30a stamp mark on it and a little bit of wriggle work, as it's known,
0:14:30 > 0:14:34decoration in the style of William and Mary or King Charles II.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Now, they're affordable as well.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39They start at around £100-200 in pretty average condition,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41so there you are, get out there and get buying.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44It's great way to get into precious metal.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48If you're interested in something shiny
0:14:48 > 0:14:51that's a cut above the rest, there's a lot to think about.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53Bear in mind changing fashions.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Objects go in and out of vogue,
0:14:55 > 0:14:59so think about whether it shines out above the crowd now
0:14:59 > 0:15:02or whether it makes sense to hang onto it for the future.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06On trend right now are British colonial objects
0:15:06 > 0:15:09and seek out home-grown, retro, quirky items
0:15:09 > 0:15:11which have a new-found appeal.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14A good name can help increase the value.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17But named or not, remember the mantra -
0:15:17 > 0:15:19quality and craftsmanship
0:15:19 > 0:15:22and if you can tick those boxes, you'll have a piece
0:15:22 > 0:15:26that should endure the changing fluctuations in fashion.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30And there's a simple trick to test whether all that glisters is gold...
0:15:31 > 0:15:33..use a magnet.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Iron or nickel will jump to a magnet,
0:15:36 > 0:15:39while gold and silver won't be drawn towards it at all.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44And finally, take a leaf out of Katie and Jack's book.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Encourage children's early interest in collecting
0:15:47 > 0:15:48and you never know -
0:15:48 > 0:15:51you could be looking at the antique collectors of the future.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53- Yes!- The hammer's gone down.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06An area of collecting that has huge appeal is coins.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08You shower us with them on "Flog it!".
0:16:08 > 0:16:10From commemorative coins, to gold sovereigns,
0:16:10 > 0:16:14whole collections and coins made into jewellery.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17We're a nation, I think, of collectors.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19I coined the term collectaholics.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21They're absolutely addicted.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25So I can relate to it. Although I've never been particularly bitten by
0:16:25 > 0:16:30the coin bug myself, I can certainly understand why you'd want to.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34But it's easy to feel overwhelmed by over 2,000 years' worth of coins
0:16:34 > 0:16:38to choose from. So, where to begin?
0:16:38 > 0:16:41There are a few key things that collectors bear in mind,
0:16:41 > 0:16:46and Michael Baggott came across a coin that encapsulated all of them.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50This is a fantastic condition gold coin.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54We've got the head of King James I.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58He reigned from 1603 to 1625.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01The denomination of this is actually a laurel.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05We've got the denomination actually struck here, which is XX,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08and that's the number of shillings it represents.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10So, it's a 20 shilling piece.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13We have to think about a whole series of things
0:17:13 > 0:17:16when we value coins. These, which are hammered coin...
0:17:16 > 0:17:19And a hammered coin is anything that is struck by hand
0:17:19 > 0:17:21and does not have a milled edge.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24The first thing is, how even is the flan?
0:17:24 > 0:17:27The flan being the surface of the coin.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30We've got a little bit of trimming here, but that's fine.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33But really, it is in absolutely wonderful condition.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37And at the auction, it was clear the collectors agreed.
0:17:37 > 0:17:411,150, for the gentleman behind you. At 1,150...
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Condition, condition, condition.
0:17:43 > 0:17:451,150, then...
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Good price, £1,150.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51That coin perfectly sums up the things to check for
0:17:51 > 0:17:53if you're thinking of collecting.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56Most important is condition.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59You can get something that's incredibly early,
0:17:59 > 0:18:03or even a Roman coin, and it can be worth a very small amount
0:18:03 > 0:18:06unless the condition is very crisp and fine.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Really, you've got to look for condition.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10Still on really early coins, you can get some that were
0:18:10 > 0:18:12in uncirculated condition.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14You can still see just the very finest
0:18:14 > 0:18:18wisps of hair on the monarch's head and they are beautiful.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21And whatever you do, don't be tempted to polish your coin.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23That all-important patina of age
0:18:23 > 0:18:26shows that something is the genuine article.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29And that's what the collectors want to see.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31If a coin is not supposed to have a hole in it,
0:18:31 > 0:18:33and it has a hole in it,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36it's not worth anything as a coin, so remember that.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38A lot of coins have been turned into jewellery
0:18:38 > 0:18:42and they've been drilled or they have jewellery mounts still on them.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44If you see any blemishes like that,
0:18:44 > 0:18:47a coin collector would no longer be interested in it,
0:18:47 > 0:18:49and it's worth then its scrap value.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53Inevitably, very rare coins are highly sought after
0:18:53 > 0:18:56and can fetch staggering sums.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02This Queen Anne, period Vigo, five guinea coin from 1703
0:19:02 > 0:19:06sold for £240,000 in 2012.
0:19:06 > 0:19:11As with any collecting, it always pays to do your research.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13If you're collecting coins, go immediately
0:19:13 > 0:19:17and get yourself very good guides to coins. You're lost without it.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Then you know what you're looking at.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Then get familiar with condition.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25You're only going to know that if you go to specialists
0:19:25 > 0:19:28and handle coins in that condition and become familiar with it.
0:19:28 > 0:19:33Once you've done that, there are enough price guides and general
0:19:33 > 0:19:36reference works for you to work out a framework and collect from there.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40Coins are collectable for many reasons.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42They're a window into history,
0:19:42 > 0:19:47they have intrinsic gold value, and they're terribly rare.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50But you might be surprised to hear that one of the most collectable
0:19:50 > 0:19:52coins on the market seems at first glance
0:19:52 > 0:19:54to be one of the most ordinary...
0:19:54 > 0:19:56the humble penny.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00In 1933, the Royal Mint only struck a tiny number of pennies,
0:20:00 > 0:20:03as there were already enough in circulation.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Exactly how many were produced has become
0:20:06 > 0:20:09a subject of speculation amongst collectors.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13One man who should know is Kevin Clancy, Royal Mint curator.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16The truth of it is we don't know how many were made.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19People might tell you they do know, but the truth is there isn't
0:20:19 > 0:20:23a record that says six, seven, eight or however many were made.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25Almost certainly less than ten,
0:20:25 > 0:20:31and they've sold for in excess of £25,000 in recent times.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35It's the story behind this that people are attracted by.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39Don't be fooled, there were plenty of forgeries, but you never know.
0:20:41 > 0:20:42If you're doing some renovation
0:20:42 > 0:20:44and see something shiny in the rubble,
0:20:44 > 0:20:47you might just have turned up your own lucky penny.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56If you're very lucky, you may unearth more than a penny,
0:20:56 > 0:20:59as I discovered in Mildenhall back in 2006.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11It's everybody's dream to find buried treasure,
0:21:11 > 0:21:14and one freezing January afternoon in 1943,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17in the middle of the dark days of World War II,
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Gordon Butcher was hard at work
0:21:19 > 0:21:22ploughing a field in the middle of Mildenhall in Suffolk.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Suddenly, the plough hit something in the field
0:21:27 > 0:21:30and Gordon ran round to see what it was.
0:21:30 > 0:21:35He started digging and he unearthed a huge black metal rim
0:21:35 > 0:21:39of a large plate, some two foot in diameter.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Gordon quickly fetched his boss,
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Sydney Ford, and together,
0:21:43 > 0:21:46they dug down into the soil and found many more objects,
0:21:46 > 0:21:49including dishes, goblets and spoons,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52an astonishing 34 items in all.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56Thinking the finds were just pewter or lead, Sydney Ford gathered them
0:21:56 > 0:21:59all up and stuffed them into a crude old sack and took them home.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01There, he started to clean them up,
0:22:01 > 0:22:05and he even straightened out all the dented items quite crudely.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07Once they were cleaned up,
0:22:07 > 0:22:10he put them on display on the mantelpiece and the sideboard.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15In those days, any large, valuable collection found underground
0:22:15 > 0:22:18came under the law of treasure trove.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21If it was deemed to be lost, it belonged to the finder,
0:22:21 > 0:22:24but if it was thought to have been buried intentionally,
0:22:24 > 0:22:25it belonged to the Crown
0:22:25 > 0:22:29and the finder received a reward related to the value of the hoard.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32The find should have been declared immediately,
0:22:32 > 0:22:34but it was another three years before it was brought to
0:22:34 > 0:22:36the attention of the local authorities
0:22:36 > 0:22:39and that came about because a local doctor went round to visit
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Ford in his house after the war
0:22:41 > 0:22:44and saw the collection on display.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46And it was only then that the Mildenhall Treasures were
0:22:46 > 0:22:50revealed as the most important collection of Roman silver
0:22:50 > 0:22:52ever to be found in Britain.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55I've come to the Mildenhall Museum to find out a little bit more
0:22:55 > 0:22:57and talk to trustee Peter Merrick.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Peter, thank you very much for joining us.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Now, this is the largest item. Tell me about it.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Yes, it is an extraordinary large thing.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09It weighs 18lb, or 8.25 kilograms.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12What does it depict? What's going on there?
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Well, in the middle, there's Oceanus,
0:23:14 > 0:23:17or Neptune, he's been called in Greek times.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21And dancing maidens and men all around,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24beautiful dresses, with other animals.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26It is exquisite.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Let's take a look at some of the other finds
0:23:28 > 0:23:29you've got on the table.
0:23:29 > 0:23:30It really is a treasure trove.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33Yes, we think it's absolutely wonderful.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36I've noticed there's a few dents on some of them.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40Is that because they've been knocked by a plough over the years?
0:23:40 > 0:23:41Well, as far as anyone knows,
0:23:41 > 0:23:44the only damage that ever occurred was when they were found.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Oh, really?
0:23:46 > 0:23:50By the plough. But the whole story is shrouded in mystery.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53So what was his reward for finding this?
0:23:53 > 0:23:55He got £1,000.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57That's nothing, is it, really? Absolutely nothing.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00If he'd have reported this straightaway as a find,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03he would have got the whole reward, wouldn't he?
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Its value, its true value?
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Allegedly, he would have got £50,000 for it,
0:24:08 > 0:24:13but because he left it for so long, then all he finished up with...
0:24:13 > 0:24:17The ploughman, Gordon Butcher, got 1,000 and so did Sid Ford.
0:24:17 > 0:24:18It's not a lot, is it?
0:24:18 > 0:24:21This is a fantastic collection of treasure.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23Who knows? There might be even more out there.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26We've got metal detectors going around like lunatics
0:24:26 > 0:24:27looking for them.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34"Flog It!" expert Anita Manning has eyes like a magpie
0:24:34 > 0:24:37when it comes to spotting sparkly, shiny things
0:24:37 > 0:24:40and it was just like her to zoom in on something rather special
0:24:40 > 0:24:45Marion brought along to a valuation day in Cheshire back in 2012.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53These are divine. Tell me about them.
0:24:53 > 0:24:58I got these about ten years ago on the internet, £50,
0:24:58 > 0:24:59including postage and packing.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01When they arrived, they were a bit black,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03but when I took a closer look at them,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06I realised that they were absolutely exquisite.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09I loved my day at "Flog It!" Tatton Park.
0:25:09 > 0:25:16Anita Manning was lovely to me, very friendly, she loved my hat pins,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19and she's very interested in jewellery
0:25:19 > 0:25:23and items like that anyway, so it was just great.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Let's look at the actual items.
0:25:26 > 0:25:31We have a little diamond set in silver or a white metal.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36I'm not sure yet whether it's a white gold or a silver.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40Dating, I would say, the late 1800s
0:25:40 > 0:25:43and it would be one of these wonderful, big Belle Epoque hats
0:25:43 > 0:25:45that you would wear.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48Now, value - you've paid £50 for them.
0:25:48 > 0:25:54- Well, somebody a while back offered me £650.- In your hand?
0:25:54 > 0:25:56In my hand, yes, cash.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58But I actually declined it.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01If you're wanting your 650 in your hand,
0:26:01 > 0:26:04you're probably having to consider going with
0:26:04 > 0:26:08a reserve of near enough £750.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12- Well, I'd be happy for that. - Shall we give it a go?- Let's...
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Let's give it a go!
0:26:17 > 0:26:19And she wasn't disappointed.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21740. In the room at 740.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24At 740, selling them. At £740.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29£740!
0:26:29 > 0:26:30Which was brilliant,
0:26:30 > 0:26:34cos that money went towards my 50th birthday party,
0:26:34 > 0:26:36which was coming up later that year
0:26:36 > 0:26:38and I had a great time.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43I had friends and family, great food, a dance and we all had a great time.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48Apart from enjoying a party, Marion is a real second-hand rose.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Those hat pins were part of a covetable collection
0:26:51 > 0:26:54of vintage clothing and jewellery she's put together
0:26:54 > 0:26:56over several decades.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00I've been very lucky over the years of collecting
0:27:00 > 0:27:02to acquire some very special pieces
0:27:02 > 0:27:06that give a glimpse into our social history, really.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10A 94-year-old lady sold these to me on the internet.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12The beautiful embroidery on here,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15it's so delicate you'd hardly think it was done by hand,
0:27:15 > 0:27:19she did as the bombs were falling overhead in Portsmouth.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24And she was willing to share her tips on collecting with us.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29I'd recommend for anybody, if they were interested
0:27:29 > 0:27:33in getting into acquiring items of vintage clothing,
0:27:33 > 0:27:36to go along, if they can, to a vintage clothing store -
0:27:36 > 0:27:39they're up and down the country - or vintage fairs,
0:27:39 > 0:27:43where they actually get the chance to try things on,
0:27:43 > 0:27:46see how they fit, see what suits them,
0:27:46 > 0:27:51and then you can progress to looking at things online,
0:27:51 > 0:27:54but be very careful about measurements,
0:27:54 > 0:27:58because vintage clothing can be very different to modern sizing,
0:27:58 > 0:28:02so if the measurements aren't given on the description, ask.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07So if you're interested in starting out collecting vintage,
0:28:07 > 0:28:11the place to start is to really think about your shape, your style,
0:28:11 > 0:28:13what do you think would suit you,
0:28:13 > 0:28:16because there's different shapes to different eras.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19Also, you might be interested in a particular era
0:28:19 > 0:28:22because of the music or the dance of that era.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33Now, I hope we've inspired you today to go out there, get buying,
0:28:33 > 0:28:35start a collection and, remember,
0:28:35 > 0:28:37always trade upwards and look for quality
0:28:37 > 0:28:41and enjoy yourself. Join us next time for more trade secrets.