About Us

Albert Henry Baldwin was born on April 28th, 1858 at Fairford, a small town in Gloucestershire. His interest in coins began at an early age, and Baldwin's traces its origins back to 1872, when he is thought to have made his first coin deal when still a schoolboy.

Albert Henry moved to London in 1881, and for the next twenty years taught at Vicarage Road Boys School in Plumstead. His involvement with coins continued during this period, and in 1889 he began to issue detailed lists of coins for sale from his Plumstead home. In 1901, he left Vicarage Road Boys School to set up a coin and medal shop with his eldest son Percy, and his other sons Fred and Roy later joined them.

Their first shop was at 4A Duncannon Street, Charing Cross, where the firm remained until shortly after the first World War. In 1920, Baldwin's became a limited company and relocated to 3 Robert Street, Adelphi. Finally it moved once more to a suite in the adjacent Adelphi Building, where we remained until 1971.

Percy and Roy left the firm in the late 1920s, leaving Albert Henry (by now in his 70s), his son-in-law Douglas Mitchell and his son "Uncle" Fred.

By now, Fred was responsible for much of the day-to-day running of the firm, and shortly after the death of Albert Henry in 1936, Percy's son (also named Albert) joined the company. His wife Anne was also soon involved on the accounts and administrative side of the business, and Douglas Mitchell's son Peter started work at Baldwin's in 1949.

Albert died in 1967, and "Uncle Fred" passed away in 1970. Both were known for the encouragement and support they gave to collectors and students of numismatics. In Albert's obituary in the BNJ, Christopher Blunt recalled:

"In the post-war years there gradually developed a regular gathering on Saturday mornings...At these gatherings, which came to be known informally as `The Saturday Morning Club,' friends met to discuss problems of mutual interest, to consult the firm's library, to look at (and even to buy) coins...It was an unwritten rule of the Club that nobody was expected to buy on a Saturday - indeed it was rather a matter of surprise if anyone tried to do so."

The company moved to its present location at 11 Adelphi Terrace in 1971. The firm now employs many full-time numismatists and consultants, who between them cover virtually all aspects of English, Ancient and Foreign coins and commemorative medals.

Baldwin's has catalogued coins for auction houses in London and abroad for decades. Although we have usually been anonymous in the catalogues, we have provided expertise for such firms as Sotheby's, Christie's and Glendinings.

In 1994, saw the establishment by Edward Baldwin of Baldwin's Auctions conducting auctions in London, Singapore, Hong Kong, New York and the Gulf States, both alone and in conjunction with other firms.

Baldwin's aim is to provide our customers with old-fashioned personal service, and to help you build your collection with confidence.