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 British Numismatic Trade Association

The British Numismatic Trade Association was founded in 1973 as a company limited by guarantee, and was the result of formative discussions between members of the coin trade prior to the introduction of Value Added Tax. Today, the BNTA has grown into an organisation which represents the interests of more than sixty firms located throughout the British Isles.

To find out more about the BNTA and the code of ethics Allgold of Sevenoaks abides by,

Code of ethics

Every member of the Association agrees to adhere to the following Code of Ethics.

1. I agree to be bound by and support the Articles of Association and any further such articles and policies as may be agreed by the Association.
2. I agree to conduct my business in such a way as to bring no discredit on the Association or its Members and to take suitable action through the Association against flagrant breach of such business conduct.
3. I agree to maintain adequate records of purchases so that any enquiries from proper authorities can be satisfied.
4. I agree never knowingly to offer, exhibit or advertise counterfeits, copies, restrikes or reproductions without their being clearly described as such. In no way will I knowingly represent such items as being the genuine article.
5. I agree to take all reasonable steps to correct an error made in a normal transaction. In the event of a dispute, I would agree to submit the facts to the Council of the Association for arbitration.
6. I agree to conform to accepted standards of advertising within the meaning of the Trades Description Act.
7. I will not supply any goods on trade terms to anyone who does not order them in writing on suitably headed trade stationery or who does not produce a trade card when buying in person.
8. I will place to the credit account of any customer money paid to me by the customer. I will refund all or any part of the money in respect of the value of any goods which I am not able to supply if such repayment is demanded. If no such demand is made, I will hold the money to the credit of the customer for a reasonable time. In the event that the customer lives outside the currency area of my country, I will deduct from repayment no more than is expended on normal bank conversion charges.
9. I agree to fulfil all contracts made by me either orally or in writing. I further agree to pay on delivery for any material accepted from a customer unless otherwise desired or on monthly account for such material supplied by a Member of the Association. I will accept the return of any material which may be proved to be unsatisfactory, either from a customer or from a Member of the Association.
10. I agree to help Members of the Association and any others of serious intent in the furtherance of numismatic knowledge and research.

History

The British Numismatic Trade Association was founded in 1973 as a company limited by guarantee, and was the result of formative discussions between members of the coin trade prior to the introduction of Value Added Tax. Today, the BNTA has grown into an organisation which represents the interests of more than sixty firms located throughout the British Isles.

The BNTA has become an effective force in the fight against forgery, theft and other criminal activities, thus establishing a benchmark for the highest ethical standards in the domestic coin trade. Members receive early warning notices of counterfeit coins and stolen property.

The BNTA is governed by a Council of nine, elected by and from the membership. Three members of Council retire each year, but are eligible for re-election. The Officers of the Association are elected by the Council each year.

The day-to-day administration is handled by a General Secretary who is appointed by the Council and to whom all correspondence, enquiries or complaints should be sent.

Application for membership of the BNTA is restricted to dealers and auctioneers in numismatic goods who are based in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, registered for VAT. Applicants need to be sponsored by two existing members and have to agree to abide by the published Code of Ethics. Membership is subject to annual review in order to ensure that standards are maintained. Membership application forms are available from the General Secretary and interested dealers should apply using their business letterhead.

The BNTA organises the major international coin fair held in Britain, which is known as Coinex. This takes place each Autumn at The Earls Court Conference Centre and about fifty BNTA members together with many overseas dealers and non-members participate. Coinex London is open on Friday and Saturday.

Members of the BNTA Council meet representatives of Customs & Excise in discussions on proposed changes in VAT legislation and import & export procedures. A further group maintains contact with the Department of National Heritage and the British Museum for discussions on, for instance, export licensing arrangements and the law relating to treasure. Another committee meets with senior representatives of the Royal Mint in order to discuss proposals for new issues.

The Council investigates any complaint about a member whether from a collector or another dealer, and members are bound by the Council’s adjudication. Anyone who has a problem with a member of the BNTA is invited to write to the General Secretary for assistance.

The BNTA is a member of the Federation of European Numismatic Associations. The purpose of this body is to work together for a common system of value added tax on coins within the EC, to pass on details of stolen property and counterfeits, and to liase on auction and coin fair dates and other matters, which would be appropriate to such a group.

This Membership Directory lists all BNTA members in both county and alphabetical order. It also indicates those members who have retail premises. Brief details are provided of members’ specialities to assist collectors in locating dealers most likely to be able to help them. Within the Association there will be members who can help a collector on virtually any topic.

The BNTA, as an association, cannot identify coins or give opinions as to their authenticity or value; neither can it give advice on what a collector should collect. Collectors should seek the assistance of individual members on these matters.