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Really pleased with the 1870 penny I just bought off e bay as an upgrade to my current one. An UNC choice example, with residual lustre and nice toning. The original listing is here and these are my photos:-

another interesting one from the Royal Mint Museum The physicist Thomas Graham was Master of the Royal Mint from 1855 to 1869, one of a small number of scientists who ran the organisation, the first being Isaac Newton in the early eighteenth century and the last Thomas Graham himself. What he might have lacked in administrative skill he made up for with his inquisitive mind and, through his investigations into the composition of metals, he generated a series of trial pieces in rather exotic materials. The half-sovereign size piece illustrated here was produced in 1869 and, as is indicated from the inscription, was the result of experiments into Palladium and Hydrogenium. Unlike his interest in copper alloys, which had a direct effect on the composition of the bronze coinage issued from 1860, it cannot be claimed that these more esoteric investigations had any impact at all on the British coinage. Having carried out the experiments, Graham is known to have given a number of the pieces to friends but, although they were produced at the Royal Mint, he did not see fit to deposit a specimen in the Royal Mint Museum. The example now in the collection was acquired through an unexpected donation from the will of the chemist Sir William Pope.

A chap in the market has found this Groat metal detecting and has struggled to get it properly identified as it appears to be a mule. The obverse appears to be a Leaf issue with a Cross Fleury mintmark, but the reverse is an Annulet issue with a plain cross mintmark - and I can see no combination in Spink even close to this. Where are we going wrong?

This is a standard reference for the series and recommended. Although it is softback, they will do it in hardback if you ask, but will obviously cost more. This has the advantage of being more durable, decent quality and wasn't that expensive when I got mine a few years ago at something over twice the cost of the softback.

one more from the Royal mint Museum The Royal Mint Museum cares for several dies from Cromwell's time as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Of particular interest is the die for the obverse of the 1658 crown, which clearly displays an obvious crack across the lower half of Cromwell’s bust. It is possible to trace the course of this crack on successive coins, from a small raised feature that appears on early pieces, to the uneven jagged line apparent on later specimens. Another important feature of the die is that it was designed to be housed in a press and as such forms part of that period of transition between the abandonment of the hammer and the full-scale adoption of screw-press technology under Charles II

Or that it should be cut off at the neck.

Chuck I Rex D:G .... after taking advice from Meghan .....

As long as they don't let the public decide, or he'll be Kingy McKingface.

Ironic that the man who was second only to Henry VIII in defacing beautiful churches, should be so defaced himself.

saw this on the Royal Mint Museum Facetube page, this is the text to go with the picture, they are beautiful Although the Mint Museum has many coins – and even some punches and dies – from Isaac Newton’s time as Master of the Mint during the early eighteenth century, few other items have survived from this period that relate to the Mint. One such item, however, that has come down to us is the handsomely engraved set of troy weights illustrated here. This nest of master weights is dated 1707. The date is significant, the weights having been prepared in the wake of the Act of Union with Scotland to ensure that the coinages struck north and south of the border conformed to the same standard. But not only is the set attractive in its own right, it symbolises the importance of accuracy when producing a gold and silver coinage, an element of Mint production that was important to Newton and is no less important today

During this period, over 90% of the silver output came from Calais, which thus accounts for the vast majority of known dies. Whitton believed that annulet ceased in 1427, but Peter Woodhead was inclined to believe it ceased closer to 1430, which would give less time for the early dies to be left lying around. Whatever, it was in decline from 1432 which gives a relatively narrow window in which to use up the old dies. The existence of annulet/rosette and annulet/trefoil mules both ways together with this mule suggests that there was no clear cut changeover date for the various coinages, which muddies the water somewhat. To give an indication of the vast output, payments were made to the engraver Gilbert Brandeburgh for making 2713 dies for Calais during the period 1425-7 (gold & silver), 1405 dies for 1428-30 and 2187 dies for 1430-1, the last two only for silver. Hidden within these figures must surely be a clue. With Rosette-Mascle coinage more plentiful than Pinecone-Mascle, it would imply a good number of R-M coins were covered by the second figure, though obviously both figures could possibly either the preceding or following issues. It is reasonable to assume the annulet-trefoil dies were in the first period, but would also include some annulet dies if Woodhead is correct. The use of old dies may have something to do with the retirement of Brandeburgh in 1431 and the subsequent appointment of John Orewell as engraver. With £100K of silver struck at Calais between 1432 & 1436, but weighted towards the early years, this would satisfy much of the P-M output, with a few dies possibly included in the 1430-1 accounts. Production of silver at Calais from 1428 to 1433 was running at an average of roughly £3K per month, up from just over £2K per month on average in the previous four years

Hadn't heard either of those. I quite enjoyed Jane's Addiction, especially the more quiet melodic passages. Can't say I like the Smashing Pumpkins - perhaps I'm too old now for grunk, punge, or whatever term applies to the unholy marriage of punk and grunge.

Buck 173 was one of these with Whitton dies 28/12a. This is from different dies. They are scarce rather than rare.

Nice one, Mike.

Stunning - love the toning

You have called a Pinecone-Mascle die a Leaf. It's a mule of S1875/1836.

Firstly apoligies if I've stuck this in the wrong forum , if it is a variety it's likely already documented. Just wanted a second opinion as to whether it is an Un barred A or just general wear?. The first A in Britannia looks un barred. I picked it up off eBay just listed as an ordinary W&M farthing.