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What sort of coin do you want? Big, small, high grade, lower grade (I'm assuming grade has to be reasonable), Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary or Elizabeth 1? I'm not going to ask whether it is gold or silver, as the former is out of the question in your price range. Affordable denominations are shillings down to farthings ( shilling, sixpence, groat, threepence, twopence, threehalfpence, penny, threefarthings, halfpenny, farthing) but not for all reigns. There are some serious rarities within that group.

The coins are the indulgence unless you collect books first and foremost. The reference books are just one of several tools to help get you to your chosen destination. Derek Allen (redriley) wrote a book on grading. The cover is illustrated in the advert at the top of this page and the link leads you to the Predecimal shop.

Thank you Rob and 1949threepence Sad about the gallery images, that must have been gutting. Seems insane that it has to be so difficult to upload images to a post. Thanks for the image advice, I’ll have to have a play and see if I can get something to work.., Soph.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hammered-Silver-Coin-Elizabeth-1st-Shilling-c-1582-AD/372146690705?hash=item56a5abda91:g:S7UAAOSwl2haGDKO The shillings are readily available .the listing I have posted is just a sample of the type of coin , you could probably get better for cheaper or an even better one within your budget .

It should theoretically work the same as a PC in that you have a photo stored, then when wanting to attach a pic to a post you make, you'd click "choose files", and it would take you to your photos - in your case on an i pad. The only problem might be that it regards the pic as too large. Try it and see. I've had numerous issues with attaching pics, but eventually managed to get round it in a very convoluted fashion. When I get a coin I want to show the forum, I photograph it using my Google Nexus 7 tablet - it actually takes quite a decent pic. If I try to attach it straight from my tablet it is too large. But if I e mail it to myself, and then save it on my PC, it will immediateloy transfer the photo to my post - how weird is that? Must re-size it automatically. The only other thing you could do is save your picture to tiny pic, or another image hosting site, copy the "image" (IMG) link (ignore any others), and then paste that directly into your post. It will change it from link text into a photo. That always works. Where's Matt when you need him - he was ace at this sort of thing.

Lmao...okay, Chris gets my order first ? Thanks guys, really nice to have a warm welcome. It’s scary when you first dip your numismatic (is that right?!) toe into expert waters... Soph.

There's a really good one by a forum member here, "Red Riley", although he's not posted for some time. Real name of Derek Allen, and the book is "Grading British Coins", copyright 2009. It's at the top of the page but here's an Amazon link anyway. It's a very useful text.

Lol, not even that Peter! ? But it’s a great thought, and if I can do it one day I’ll enlist your assistance...! Reference books are always indulgent. So the Collectors Coins GB, and a Spinks too. Can you recommend a grading book title? It’s fab that there are so many really knowledgeable people in this forum Thanks again. Soph.

If you watch out lidl usually sell a aluminium coin case in december - treat yourself to one or two or ask for them as presents they will help organise your collection

Hi Sophie, I can vouch for "searching the forum", it's kept me in good reading for over a year now, and I still haven't read even half of it! As for the dealers, and in fact everyone here, you couldn't wish to meet a nicer group. Once you start seeing what others are buying, keeping hold of your "spendable" money rather than turning it into "collectable money" becomes quite a challenge

I think they must be absolutely inundated with lot winners trying to pay. I gave up in the end yesterday as the number was either engaged or no answer. Managed to get through and pay at 9:40 this morning. Not sure if it's just Semra that deals with all the calls, but it's always the same person who takes my payment when I ring (foreign sounding lady) ETA: Just been really sneaky and bought another one. Checking the realised prices against the catalogue, it was apparent that lot No 1018 - the UNC1879 Freeman 96 - hadn't been sold. Another Freeman type I hadn't got. So paid £350 plus juice for that, postage being combined with the Freeman 1. It's one I'd wanted, and I saw it in the LCA listings, but elected not to bid at this stage, as that can sometimes attract more bids. I'd noticed that Dave Craddock had also got an UNC F96 up for £500, but thought if the LCA one didn't sell, (and I had a feeling it wouldn't), I could then nip in and get it at the lower estimate. Otherwise I might have bought Dave's (unless he's already sold it, which is a possibility). Nice day's work. Well pleased with an LCA outcome for once

This guy is a real parasite - I've reported him as well!

Did it? I gave no reason at all. Any impression taken was all your own work.

Modern man doesn't give a damn about collecting in most instances, he just wants to get rich quick. I might start charging a fiver every time I have to say no to yet another person asking me if I want to buy a common circulation 50p. It would equate to £30-50/day of extra income.

Part of the problem is the difference in melting points between silver and copper, the latter being about 100 degrees higher. Unless the pot temperature is significantly higher than the melting point of silver in order to melt the copper and form the alloy, you run the risk of some coins taken from the top of the liquid which are considerably purer than spec whilst being left towards the end of the batch with a very debased mix having a distinctly coppery flavour. However, as all the metal was accounted for, it was necessary to strike the last coins of the batch from the residue and pickle the surfaces as in the post above. The Bristol halfcrown below shows the brown/red tinges of a flan that is mostly copper to good effect.

OK, if I get to know in advance. The article(s) were submitted a couple of weeks ago, and are due to be published as two separate pieces due to their length. I'm not sure about the lead times for publication, but I'm guessing the first part won't appear until at least February, with maybe the second in March.

FFS, there are some idiots on EBay, and we see this sort of thing time and time again! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/rare-minting-mistake-error-1971-new-penny-one-pence-in-1971/182944146337?hash=item2a985223a1:g:iqwAAOSwyP5aJG4i How do they ever work out how to switch their computers on? Jerry

Oh, I think she puts up with me admirably I'd hate to have to train another one, I haven't the patience anymore.

Historically, or at least say 10-20 years or more ago, VIP was only attached to those years in which proofs were made in limited numbers (a handful of examples), i.e. the years in which sets were not made for the masses. The years in which it applied started from 1926 onwards when a few proofs were struck of all current denominations and continued up to the early 1960s. Notwithstanding the debate about the first year which some contend are not (though I'm happy that my 1926 halfpenny is one), there are coins extant with proof quality finish for all years in between, though not necessarily all denominations for every year due to gaps in the dates of currency issues. It should be noted that not all proof coins of these rare issues exhibit frosted devices. During the past 10 years, the phrase 'VIP' has been misappropriated in my opinion to include superior strikes with a cameo effect with a resultant explosion in the number of 'known' examples. There has been an occasional example of a set in contemporary boxes that were different to those issued for the masses, which if it could be proved were genuinely issued to 'VIP' recipients by the mint, could therefore be justifiably be classified as such. As VIP means very important person, it should include the likes of the Chancellor or the Queen, not Mrs Smith of 16 Acacia Avenue, Bognor Regis. The whole thing is a case of semantics in my opinion, and arguably a triumph of marketing over reality.

OK, thanks Matt. I appreciate your time and trouble. I'll try something else. Hadn't realised imageshack was a problem with forums. Does this show?