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Apologies for the industrial language, but I do think it's otherwise funny and just about sums up facebook at times.

Court estimated that something like 77% had been reclaimed by 31st March 1972, and although that was specifically in relation to pennies, one would assume by logical extension that similar percentages applied to all other immediately withdrawn denominations. Although people would probably have been in more of a hurry to exchange (or spend pre 15.2.71) halfcrowns, than pennies. My own view is that probably something like 85% to 90% of pre decimal currency was eventually reclaimed and melted down by the Royal Mint. But that's purely an inspired guess. It may be +/- 8 of say 86%. Probably a much higher percentage of some than others went for melt. Many will have been held in collections. Many more would have been shoved away in drawers, old clothes, jam jars etc, and forgotten about. Any other opinions on this question? I think it's an important one as it may provide some clue as to how many of certain dates/varieties remain extant in the present day.

A related question, and may I say, a very interesting one. The "UNC" percentage seems to vary considerably from coin type to coin type, and although there is obviously some absolute relation to overall rarity, there are some definite real terms differences, which can be difficult to explain. For example, off the top of my head, amongst the rarest coins there are some, such as the F14 penny, the F8 and F9 mule (all 1860), and the 1862 F38 mule, which seem to have more than you would expect as UNC examples. There are others. Whereas such pennies as the 1864 (plain and crosslet), and the F98 1879 narrow date, which are not that desperately rare in lower grades, are extremely difficult to locate in top grade. The F90 1877 narrow date penny, which is roughly on a rarity par with the F8 & F38 mules, has nothing above fine among its ranks. Obviously I'm talking exclusively pennies here, as it's my specialism, but the same principles must apply across the board. In some cases I think there are more UNC specimens available because they were collected by default shortly after mintage, as part of a date run (the collector having no idea of the coin's significance at that time). In other cases, it's very difficult to know the precise reasons for either a surplus or deficit of UNC examples. I imagine we never will and are left to speculate.

It's yours Sir, if you'd care to message me. Bob.

I think that the existing bronze population is diminishing daily. Going to melt. I've read a post from Rob, that he picks out the obvious ones, open 3's, 169's, etc. The rest are melted. Paddy advertised back in November, 43kg combined bronze, that , in the end went for melt. All the good stuff being put aside. As you know, I'll buy bulk via eBay, at slightly above melt price, hoping for something tasty. Generally to no avail. The rest go to melt. I'll not eBay them because I'll end up buying them back at some point, from an ebayer who's doing the same thing. However, on a positive note, all of the coins that I scrap are washers. Last year, a 275kg lot yielded a Gouby X. Recent lots, a Gouby X and a 164a. That's all. Even these were lower grade coins. Take the F98 I have listed at mo. Best I've found, but is it really of any interest. I doubt it. All the cream has been removed and is in the safe hands of collectors such as yourselves. I think that the available penny supply is reducing rapidly. 50 years of people sifting through coins and melting their rejects, to recoup their outlay, must have taken a huge toll on the remainder that the RM didn't recycle.

Recent acquisition (farthing)

It wasn't Paul McCartney, was it?

A bit of a strange day today! First I found a cap full of coins, then I got chased up the road with a bloke with a guitar

Brisbane Courier Mail 31/01

No space in front of the W ? Well, that's ok then! 😄

I thought this was supposed to be "Stuff to make us laugh" thread". That one makes me pretty angry! Con merchants like that are causing untold damage to our hobby. When someone who has fallen for such an ad finds out how badly he has been taken for a ride, it is likely to kill his coin collecting urge dead.