Germany Saxony 10 and 20 Marks 1872 and 1873

These coins come from the German State of Saxony. The dates 1872 and 1873 mean that they were made after the German States congealed into the German Empire in 1871. The 10 mark coin contains 0.1152 troy ounces of gold. The 20 mark coin looks the same, but it is bigger and contains 0.2304 ounces of gold.

To find the value of your coin, first compute its base value, or bullion value, or BV, by multiplying its gold content by the current price of gold. For example, say, at a gold price of $1400 US dollars per troy ounce, BV = 0.1152 x 1400 = $160 for a 10 mark coin, and BV = 0.2304 x 1400 = $320 for a 20 mark coin. Use a web site such as kitco.com to find the current price of gold. It changes every day.

Added value, over and above BV, is due to collector appeal and is proportional to the condition of a specific coin. The coin in our picture has a little wear, which we call 'well preserved.' It is not 'fully uncirculated.'

VALUE OF SAXONY 10 AND 20 MARKS (both denominations, both dates):
worn: BV
average circulated: BV + $50
well preserved: BV + $100
fully uncirculated: BV + $200

It turns out that 10 mark coins are a little more difficult to find than 20 mark coins. For this reason, the added values can be a little higher for 10 mark coins. For instance, a 10 mark in well preserved condition might catalog near BV + $150.

The reason I say the coin in the picture has wear is because its luster is gone. A fully uncirculated coin looks lustrous, creamy, or satiny, not shiney. The luster comes from tiny striations in the surface which radiate outward from the center of the coin. They are imparted to the coin during the striking process. An experienced numismatist can spot genuine luster in a heartbeat. Sometimes luster is 'added' to a coin using steel wool or similar abrasive. This is called 'whizzing' and immediately causes the added value to crash to zero. Whizzed coins are worth BV only.

If you wanted to sell your coin to a coin dealer, he or she would usally pay about BV plus a fraction (say 20 percent) of the added collector value.

A coin with problems, such as a coin that has been holed to be worn in a pendant, or a coin with heavy wear, scratches or staining, will only be worth the base gold value BV of the coin.

NEVER CLEAN A COIN. CLEANING RUINS VALUE.

One of my favorite web sites for old German coins is MA Shops.
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