Sourcing numismatic coin collections from China
Numismatic coin collections from China carry 0% UK duty across the relevant tariff lines, with no recorded trade remedies. For imports into Great Britain, comply with China's export licensing regime and obtain provenance before buying. Cambridge China Bridge sources numismatic coin collections.
Duty on numismatic coin collections
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 9705 includes collections and collectors’ pieces of numismatic interest. The relevant lines distinguish age and, for older pieces, coins from other numismatic objects. All carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions on these lines.
The tariff attaches seal-product and waste import controls. If seal material is included, seal products brought into Great Britain for trade must have a seal catch certificate; ask your customs broker to confirm eligibility for the proposed shipment from China. For waste subject to notification controls, the exporter must seek consent from the dispatch country's competent authority. Ask the broker to confirm whether the waste control applies to the consignment.
Confirm the commodity code using the catalogue, age evidence, materials and photographs, rather than the supplier's description alone. For the wider heading, see collectors’ pieces from China. Ask HMRC or your customs broker to confirm whether the coins qualify for reduced import VAT valuation before budgeting; the import duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numismatic coins more than 200 years old | 9705 31 00 10 | 0% | None |
| Other numismatic collectors’ pieces more than 200 years old | 9705 31 00 20 | 0% | None |
| Numismatic collections and pieces over 100 but not over 200 years old | 9705 31 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Other collections and collectors’ pieces of numismatic interest | 9705 39 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the coins, provenance and condition
Agree a coin-by-coin inventory identifying issuer, denomination, date or attributed period, mint marks, metal, weight, diameter and condition. Obtain photographs of both faces and the edge, with each image tied to its inventory entry. Specify whether cleaning, tooling, repairs or mounting are acceptable, and record any grading certificate and holder reference.
Use a supplier able to document the collection's provenance. Ask for ownership history, purchase records and an independent authenticity assessment where appropriate. For cultural goods entering Great Britain from China, comply with China's export licensing regime. Ask the seller for export permission or an explanation of why it is not required, and verify this with the relevant licensing authority before shipment.
Treat newly struck reproductions as a separate purchase. Modern reproductions are classified as the goods they are, rather than automatically receiving collectors’ treatment. Information included on product labels must be accurate. Match descriptions of age, metal and authenticity to the supporting records before preparing retail labels.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 individually catalogued collector coins under 9705 31 00 90, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,200, so it is £1,240. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match each arriving coin to its inventory entry, photographs, inscriptions, mint marks and holder reference; investigate substitutions.
Authenticity: compare measured weight, diameter and edge details with the agreed description; refer doubtful pieces to a numismatic specialist.
Condition: examine surfaces under magnification for cleaning marks, tooling, corrosion, repairs and fresh scratches; compare with the pre-shipment photographs.
Packing and records: check capsules or individual sleeves prevent contact between coins, reconcile the contents with the packing list, and retain provenance and condition records. Agree the scope through our inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Purchases can fail when a photographed collection is replaced with similar-looking coins, cleaning is concealed, or certificates cannot be matched to the delivered pieces. A factory's ability to strike a convincing copy does not establish the authenticity of an old coin. Agree specialist assessment and rejection arrangements before paying, and keep questionable pieces apart from saleable stock.
Missing provenance or unresolved export permission can stop a purchase proceeding. The tariff snapshot also lists cultural-object export licensing, export restrictions and waste export controls. Before an onward export from the UK, ask your customs broker to confirm which attached measures apply and what documents are needed.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on numismatic coin collections from China?
The relevant numismatic lines under heading 9705 carry 0% duty for goods from China in the supplied tariff record, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Do collector coins qualify for reduced import VAT?
Ask HMRC or your customs broker to confirm whether the actual coins qualify for reduced import VAT valuation before relying on that treatment.
What documents should I request before buying old coins?
Request an itemised inventory, provenance, age and authenticity evidence, condition photographs and the documents supporting export from China.
Can I order factory-made copies as antique collector coins?
Treat newly made copies as reproductions and describe them accurately. They are classified as the goods they are; do not assume they receive the treatment of genuine collectors’ pieces.