Il y a quelques semaines, lors du formidable salon de numismatique de Plélauff, j’ai eu, comme régulièrement, l’occasion de discuter avec des collectionneurs. Parmi ceux-ci, Vincent Choffe, de Breizhcollections35 m’a parlé de sa passion pour les onces. C’était pour moi un sujet totalement inédit et avec son aide précieuse, j’ai le plaisir de vous le partager.
The ounce is a weight measurement between 25 and 34 grams. The unit already existed in Roman times when it was valued at 27.26 grams. There were different types of ounces in the past: the Paris, Troy, and Dutch ounces, all with different weights.
The silver ounce still exists today and has become an international measurement. The ounce currently has the same weight in all countries: 31.03 grams. It’s face value is OZ, which is the ounce symbol, and must be at least 999/1000 silver.
This measurement was adopted by the United States Mint in 1828. Note that, as a precious metal, silver is a safe investment. In addition, countries that strike ounces also make collector coins with the striking year on the reverse and an attractive obverse in perfect condition.
That’s all it takes to whet the appetite of coin collectors!
Several countries currently issue ounces each year. Millions of coins are struck every year, by the United States, of course, but also by Canada, Mexico,
Austria, Australia and China, among others. Which means that there are all kinds of them. Onto a good deal, obverses are becoming increasingly varied, which suits collectors just fine.
In addition to the major countries listed above, small islands in Oceania (Tokelau, Tuvalu and others) are striking ounces, as are several African countries including Somalia, Ghana and the Congo. Each country strikes the ounces with their symbol and the year they are produced. For example, the U.S. silver eager, the Canadian maple leaf, and the Vienna Philharmonic for Austria. Note that, other than Austria and Germany, it would appear that European countries haven’t warmed to ounces yet.
In addition to one ounce coins, there are also 2, 5 and 10 ounce ones, although they are not as common.core les onces.
While collecting ounces is attracting more and more collectors, the field is(fortunately) not being invaded by forgers. In the event of any doubts, Vincent Choffe recommends weighing the coin.
An ounce weighs 31.1 grams and, sometimes up to 31.15 grams. Forgers cheat
on the weight: forged coins are always a few grams lighter.
Conservation
In order to better conserve the coins, its best to put them in a plastic container
(to handle them without damaging them) and to store them in suitcases or suitable
safes. It’s most important to ensure that they are not exposed to light or humidity.
Ounces retain their value because they consist nearly entirely of a pure metal.
They will remain popular for years to come as both an investment and a collection.
Prices are not particularly high compared to other collections (a few tens of euros), which makes it easy to build up a nice collection.
See the ounces for sale on Delcampe!
