Leaderboard

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162695896234 These are coming from museum reproductions in Runcorn. Seen two of these sell earlier in the year as genuine. I got a further third one pulled. One went for £250. Reported it. Please follow suit , this will likely sell for over £200 if we can't get it pulled. http://www.museumreproductions.co.uk/shop/viewitem.php?productid=466

Hi Rob, Interestingly, I just bought my first Saxon coin yesterday! It was an impulse buy as I've always wanted a coin from the mint of my local town, Wilton. It's an Aethelred II long cross penny (moneyer: Saewine on Wilton). It's more than I usually feel comfortable spending on a coin, but I have it now, and I'm very pleased. Other than a few peck marks on the reverse, and traces of a bend, it's OK. I've attached a photo of both sides. I love how they were still using Anglo Saxon lettering on the legends with letters like þ for 'w' and and a D for 'th'

I think you've already researched this way beyond any contribution I could make, Rob! Interesting stuff, though!

One of the subjects that has occupied my mind for a few years concerns a faulty rocker press that was most evident at Chester in 1643-4, but also appears at other locations. In all cases you have a consistent size of design on one side and a varying size on the other. This was the subject of an article I wrote in the Circular for January 2014. In the case of the CHST below halfcrowns you find that the reverse inner circle remains a consistent size, whereas the height only of the obverse inner circle is constant whilst the horizontal dimension varies considerably, the circle varying from nearly round to fairly eliptical as seen in the image below of the current Spink plate coin. By measuring the height and width ratios of the inner circle dimensions on both sides and with reference to each other, it can be shown that there is no variation in the vertical height at the widest point, so the horizontal displacement variation has to be due to a slippage in the rocker press mechanism. If both sides of the coin appear to stretch in unison then it is not indicative of a faulty press as it could be down to the dies. The stretching is clearly seen in the relative shapes of the letter R on the obverse. The R of BR at 6 o'clock is normally formed, yet the two Rs in HIR (sic) and REX are slanted, but the same punches would have been used for all three characters. Other halfcrown issues to show a displacement in one side of the coin relative to the other include the Chester declaration and prostrate gerb, HC and 'Welsh Marches'. This is quite useful as it is possibly the only faulty press meaning a chronology can be established. In the case of the two other Chester issues the location is not in question, however, the location of 'HC' and 'Welsh Marches' has not been positively identified. Firstly, the myth that HC is 'Hartlebury Castle' needs to be debunked as the place was no more than a large house, unable to be fortified and the 'siege' lasted for one day only in May 1646. This is fairly incompatible with the production of a siege coinage. It is also inconvenient that dies which use punches from York would be lying around for over two years. 'HC' therefore appears to be an earlier issue, and given there are coins showing the same slippage seen on the CHST below coins, suggests a timing not far removed and a location which may or may not be close by. In the case of the Welsh Marches coins, there appears to have been an attempt to eliminate the slippage because the two dies are set in a position such as to never be seen aligned, and the amount of slippage is reduced. Discuss.

The mark above the head is an attempted piercing. That will put people off given the number available in undamaged condition.

To elaborate on the previous post, the lines on the coin in the image two posts previously will be seen to be incuse under a glass. This is because the abrasive will always remove metal. In the case of polished dies, the lines on the coin will be raised because the metal has been removed from the die leaving a depression which gives a raised feature on the coin. Effectively it is just additional detail. See image below where there are clearly raised lines in front of the face. The light source is from above.

Yes, but beware that in high grade coins parallel lines can indicate die polishing lines or planchet adjustment, and do not detract. This Conversation on the subject is very illustrative.

Looks fine mate. The obverse may have put people off it. Alot of collector's of milled coins want them perfect. Look at this , unsold because of the mark above the head. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1663-Charles-II-Shilling/322785002302

It depends on what year set you go for for 1937 it's 10 coins unless you go for the proof set as well. Most of the later sets I try to go for as near to uncirculated as I can find. On earlier sets it may not be possible to get them as close to uncirculated. Then I try to get them in EF or as close as.

My next step is to move on to a denomination set of 1937 as this has a Crown in the set as well. I don't think this will take me too long as I already have 4 of the coins and have ordered 5 others only need to find a decent Crown in UNC condition at a reasonable price. Where I go from there is anyone's guess I do have a few gaps in my sixpences I need to fill between 1936 and 1970, I may go onto them.

Thanks again, Stu. I definitely will be spending the winter swatting up on the Edward III series'. I've learned that the annual Spink isn't quite enough for identifying some of the pennies. I'm certainly going to focus on building up a better numismatic library this year!

I would say the reverse was better than VF because you not only have the crown band detail showing well, but the ridges on the central lis fleurs aren't worn either. The obverse looks about the VF mark.

VF or thereabouts from the pics. Presentable enough coin if the price was right for you.

Take two coins of similar age and worn appearance - say a 2p from 1971. Use one as the control and rub the other with a pan cleaner or similar. Recheck surfaces. It will be obvious. The lines are many and parallel. Circulation will give plenty of surface marks, but they tend to be only one or two for any one abrasive event and the orientation of the coin will be different on each occasion.

I love it that the close-up image of the 'round' beads exists only because of the verd obscuring the rest of the teeth! ?

Always a good feeling to get a coin from where you were born or where you live.

I saw those as they popped up on Sunday. Museum quality some of them. That's a fine collection he's got there. I was in awe of that HII Fil Aimer. Puts my one to shame.

Class 11b, as per Mr P's BsE coin recently posted, except his is the slightly shorter face, hence 11b1 if you've got the Galata guide the picture in the centre of page 39, "11b large face, rounded chin" is the one! ?

It's class 11 and looks fine to me! I'm watching some of the other coins this seller is listing. Unusual to see a number of better grade coins for sale at the same time!

The edward VII florin Victoria crown 1887 A copper penny victoria A bronze penny bun head George V florin

As a Yank and a complete newbie to coin collecting, I feel exceptionally qualified to tell you what your top five iconic coins are. The first is a given: the Two pence 1797 Cartwheel. It's interesting from its historical importance as the first mass-produced coin; its monstrously huge; it features an iconic monarch, George III; and it was minted on equipment designed by James Watt, for God's sake! The remaining four should feature iconic denominations (farthing, penny and shilling) and/or the remaining iconic monarchs: Henry VII;Liz I, Victoria, and Liz II (Sorry we haven't really heard of any of the others, though I know you had quite a few Georges and Edwards...). So how about a Queen Anne Shilling (yes, no one has ever heard of Queen Anne, but these were made when Isaac friggin' Newton was Master of the mint--the most important, iconic figure to ever be involved in coin production...). I think the first GB shilling is more iconic, but I'd accept the last English Shilling if you prefer... Lets take an 1838 Victoria young head farthing next, crossing off both an iconic denomination and monarch... An Elizabeth I groat is my fourth choice. It's Liz I and its a groat! Everything went downhill for you guys when you stopped making groats...A Henry VIII groat could be substituted, I suppose... And finally, and I know this will cause any serious coin collectors to sigh, how about a 1967 Elizabeth II penny? Last of an era, and the large penny is your most iconic denomination of all...

It depends on how much you want to spend and what sort of things you like. Do you appreciate quality, or are you just looking to tick boxes? This might be a little unfair at present, but the question will raise its head again. All collections are a trade-off between desire/ambition and funds. You collect what you feel comfortable with. Just the simple exercise of buying a book or two will give you knowledge. A book with prices means you can add up the numbers and see what the book says it will cost you to assemble your chosen collection. Prices at the top end can get a little scary if you are used to bottom fishing, but it is always worth remembering that even if you are normally paying £10/coin, a £100 coin doesn't suddenly become a £10 coin just because you bought it. More important is the need to understand the market you are playing in, which means a lot of reading and minimal collecting to begin with. Get a few books and visit coin fairs, speak to people. Wakefield is tomorrow at the Cedar Court Hotel (off Jcn 39 of the M1) starting at 9:30 if you are within range. The Midland fair is at the Motorcycle Museum (near Birmingham Airport on the M42) on the second Sunday of each month, again doors open at 9:30. People with a genuine desire or need for knowledge are welcome to talk to dealers - we don't want to frighten people away as they are our future customers.

I heard sometime last year that a mint roll(s) of CHP1841 had been found, the finder sold them with multiple listings on Ebay, price started top end but flooded the market, in the end they were selling in bulk for less than half book price. There are several now in slabs both this side and the other side of the pond, all very high grades, similar happened with CF1825 a few years ago, too many too soon for the market to absorb and keep price buoyant. There are CHP forgeries, dates I have seen are 1825 and 1826 modern looking contemporary copies, 1845, 1848, 1851 and 1860 there is an error with all, an exaggerated long serif to the first 1 of the date, and the identical flat worn reverse used for all.

The old head florins are beautiful, not sure they achieve 'iconic' status that's all, for me!

W&M are overpriced Charles II copper coinage, being the first really.