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The 1862 plain-edge proof Gothic florin (2849 in Bull, who records it as "not traced") sold for $21,600 (including buyer's premium) at Heritage yesterday. At least we know that it exists now.

It is…but it’s totally unnecessary I think to see the tone carelessly removed from the high spots, especially for a coin of such prestige! I see it all the time on lesser coins, where I can imagine someone has ‘pulled’ a coin across a surface to pick it up, rather than ‘hook’ it up (more difficult to do with hammered, of course). I discovered, quite by accident, that one of the worst offenders is the grey ‘neutral’ boards that come with cameras nowadays, they are comparable to 1000 grit sandpaper when a coin is dragged off it. Many coins are horribly scarred this way (I attach an example).

Crowns were not struck for George III until very late into his reign in 1818. The standard of striking of these crows was very high and they were delivered to banks wrapped in soft paper. Pistrucci placed his whole surname on both the obverse and reverse to indicate that he was the engraver for both. This was considered to be self indulgent and he was obliged to use just his initials B.P. in future. The St George and Dragon design became iconic but the garter belt was removed for later use. You won't be able to see it on your example due to wear, but the letters WWP (initials of the Master of the Mint) was put on the buckle of the garter. I imagine your example is worth about £100. The edge dinks would have taken the price down a bit.

Total beauty

These are honest examples. No problems with them. The edge inscription on Charles II crown reads "DECVS ET TVTAMEN ANNO REGNI VICESIMO OCTAVO". The phrase "DECVS ET TVTAMEN" was first used in 1662 and translates to "An ornament and a safeguard". The presence of an edge inscription would stop people from clipping the coins illegally to get some silver as mentioned in the above post. Hence the word "safeguard". The Charles II is perhaps worth £80. The 1892 is worth about £35.

They both look like the real things are supposed to - the writing on the edge is the lettered edge that was done when the coin was struck in a lettered collar. It was quite an innovation for the 17th century and was obviously used on higher denomination coins as a safeguard against clipping and counterfeiting. Unfortunately I don't have my 1676 crown imaged - but it circulated a long time - deep into the 18th century as it is also "loved"

Ah, no wasn't me, and yes kept just in case it comes in handy..... on one Sunday afternoon trudging around a hot field looking at stalls that are best described as one stop away a rubbish dump... I happen upon a paste table with carrier bags loaded with bones... turns out the fella is house clearance service and a loft at a doctors house was cleared, all sorts of medical equipment and.... stuff was sold. last knockings at 3pm find what you want and make an offer..... my kinda chat! so skull was sold to his mate and the rest had to go as his wife didn't want it back in the house...by order! so manage to find the right hand and with £3.20p to my name a deal was done!

Not oft are medieval mints still around that minted coins during the hammered era - here is an example of an Irish penny from King Edward I that was minted in Reginalds Tower in Waterford Ireland. Reginalds Tower Waterford

If you missed the first episode of the new Digging for Britain series on BBC 2 this evening, 7th Jan 2025, it is worth catching up with it on I Player. They show the Suffolk hoard of Harold I, Harthcanute and Edward the Confessor in much better detail than they usually do with coins. The penny that they can track as minted in Eastcheap London is particularly interesting, and they say unique. Here is the BBC news report on the same hoard: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wl9re5j1qo

Here is the other A and obverse