Autumn is coin-fair season in the UK. From late September through early December the diary fills up: the big London shows, the Midlands circuit, the Northern fairs, plus all the local society events that don't make the trade press. If you've never been to one, this is the year to go. If you go regularly, this is the year to plan properly.
Here's what's on, what to expect, and the practical things I wish someone had told me before my first show.
Coinex — London, October
Coinex is the BNTA's flagship fair, traditionally held at the Royal Lancaster or a similar central-London venue across two days in late September or early October. Around 60–80 dealers, mostly UK but with European and US presence. This is the highest-quality dealer floor in Britain — period.
What it's good for:
- High-end material: gold proof sovereigns, choice graded decimals, hammered, ancients
- Meeting dealers face-to-face — dealers you've only ever bought from online
- Genuine bargains in the last hour of day two, when dealers don't want to pack stock
What it's not good for:
- "I want to spend £20" — this isn't really a £20 fair, though you'll find some
- Crowd-free browsing on day one — go early or go on day two
Birmingham Coin Fair — multiple dates
Birmingham (NEC or central venues) runs roughly bimonthly. Lower table-fee structure means more dealers offering mid-market and lower-end material. This is the one I recommend to first-timers.
What's typical:
- 30–50 dealers
- Strong mix of British circulated, decimal modern, and graded slabs
- Easier to get a real conversation going — dealers are less rushed than at Coinex
If you can only get to one autumn fair, I'd argue Birmingham over London for actual collector value. Coinex is where you go to spend serious money; Birmingham is where you go to learn.
BNTA Bloomsbury — central London
Smaller, more focused, and worth the trip if you're already in London. Held at one of the Bloomsbury hotels (the venue rotates). The dealer list is BNTA-vetted, so you're not browsing fakes. Strong on British hammered and milled, decent on world.
Regional and society fairs
The autumn calendar also packs in:
- Midland Numismatic Society fairs (Stratford-on-Avon, Solihull)
- Yorkshire and Northern Coin Fair circuit
- Cardiff and South West fairs (less frequent but worth a visit)
- London Numismatic Club monthly meetings — talks, auctions, members' selling
Local society events are where you find the real eccentrics — the man who's been collecting Edward VII pennies by die variety since 1973, the woman with a complete tray of Victorian copper. Even if you don't buy anything, these conversations are worth more than any guide I can write.
What to take
A short, ruthless packing list:
- Cash. Most dealers take card now, but smaller dealers will give you a discount for cash, and a few still won't take card at all. £200–£500 in mixed notes is sensible for a casual day.
- A loupe. 10× minimum. Don't borrow the dealer's; it's slow and rude. A £15 Bausch & Lomb loupe pays back forever.
- A list. Specific coins you want — date, denomination, target grade. "I'm looking for an 1895 sovereign in EF or better" beats wandering. See the realised-price data on MyCoinage's catalogue before you go so you know what's a fair offer.
- A small notebook for prices you see and dealer cards.
- A fold-up flat wallet for any coins you buy.
What not to take:
- Coins to "show" dealers without a clear ask. They're polite but they're working.
- Any expectation of a quick browse — assume 90 minutes minimum.
How to work a table without wasting time
The script that works for me:
"Hi — do you have any Charles I shillings in fine or better? I'm working on a Stuart denomination set."
That's it. Specific, polite, and tells the dealer you're a real buyer not a tyre-kicker. They'll either pull a tray or send you to the next stand who has the material.
If the answer is "yes" and they show you something:
- Ask the price first, before you handle it.
- Pick it up by the edges. Never touch the surface.
- Use your loupe.
- If you're keen, "Is there any movement on price?" is the polite version of "is this negotiable" — most dealers expect a 5–10% nudge on £200+ items.
- If you're not keen, "Thanks, not for me today" — never pretend to consider what you don't want.
Verifying what you buy
Even at vetted shows, you should know how to spot trouble. A few starters:
- How to spot fake British coins — the basics
- How to spot a fake sovereign — sovereign-specific
- How to authenticate a coin — when in doubt
If you're buying anything over £500, get the dealer's invoice with the lot description in writing. Reputable BNTA dealers do this without asking.
Beyond fairs — for context
Coin fairs sit alongside a few other channels for buying. Fairs are the best for handling and dealer relationships; auctions are best for rare and high-end; eBay is best for circulated common-date filler. We have a full rundown at where to buy rare coins UK.
My one piece of show advice
Go even if you don't plan to buy. The single best collecting decision I made was attending three fairs in a year before I started buying seriously. By the third one, the pricing made sense, the dealers recognised me, and the fakes were obvious. There's no shortcut for that learning, and it's free.
See you at Coinex.
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