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All so amusing, and reminding me of a lost time when you could have, when we were all much younger, for example's sake, a model aircraft club. All the members swapped info, ideas, and build techniques on how to get the most out of any model they own, or have built, or are hoping to build. In the village there was The Model Shop. For many years, in the window, was the most magnificent model plane. An unattainable plane. The shopkeeper had to clean the window often, because our noses were pressed to the glass so regularly. Then one day it vanished.... Later that week, a kid turned up at the club, and announced he had all the models that Airfix made, and now also owned the Plane from the Window. We were all very interested and excited and couldn't wait to see what this new kid was offering. All we got was a promise of some pictures, but no plane to admire in the clubhouse, no chance to see it fly, no, we were told it wouldn't be seen again. Those in the Club who liked the new member were described as 'intelligent and rational', and those who though him a bit of a pushy upstart who really should know his place as 'bitter, irrational and ignorant'.... Hmm.....I've been here years, and I still feel an outsider, and from day one I've been respectful to members who know way more than I ever will about coins. Piling in in the way we have seen this week, and saying what has been said is like the dealings of a petulant child. It crosses a line with me. Just because Trump does it doesn't mean anyone else should.

Excellent idea! Penny Trump? Jerry

It feels like a huge challenge. The British Bronze Penny 1869-1901 by Mr Gouby, sets the bar on expectations . High definition colour illustrations coupled with well thought out text are a powerful combination. I would love to see the same for Halfpennies and Farthings. But once you extend to the end of the decimal period, to do it justice, its a shelf full of publications, Your website feels a better and more flexible approach as I have no doubt more varieties will emerge in the next few years which can be captured in a website in a few days, rather than a 2nd edition printed publication. The 1905 smaller 0 is a good example (and jowly QV). Thanks again for the website !

Chris Perkins had thought that it might be a future option. Michael Freeman had approved the release of the paperback version but had opted out of any future involvement himself.

Braggadocio: Sir, I do not think you understand how, or if you care, what you say is received by others which contrary to what you've said do come off as "boastful" (your word choice). There are likely people with collections that are on a similar level that do not enunciate such and yet are quite open in providing data, insight or opinions contributory to other members. Many also are of humble or lesser economic means but some not, yet no proclamations of such. Also, you will note that many including myself did give you praise & only suggested moderation in commentary is the choice many of us make - with the occasional disagreement displayed. And again, many including myself have praised the positive in what you have shared with the rest of us. You may recall that the current USA president has often criticized those of varied opinions to his own as somehow lesser or not intelligent, etc. In any case, Viva la Difference!

Take the ' r ' looking letter to be a 'c'. One Hundred. C for century.

Snap!

Top 1873, bottom 1886. Jerry

First one is mdccclxxiii, so 1873. Second one is mdccclxxxvi, so 1886.

The comprehensive appendices that Richard added to the last Freeman (authorised) reprint did incorporate the significant varieties-new dies, overstrikes etc - recorded until then, but did not deal with variations in date width, slapdash but otherwise correct letter repairs etc that Gouby does address. It was well produced and at a very reasonable price and quickly sold out. Gouby did of course update his text also comparatively recently and still offers occasional update pages eg for the (F15) R over A in Victoria, Medusa 1847 numbers . Really only Richards online ‘Pennies heads n tails’ is really up to date, including the new 1887 to 92 obverse. Any printed publication will age - though a ‘print to order’ version of Richards site would be wonderful! Jerry

Well, as to the elephant in the room, I think 48 hours is long enough to have seen an apology for this undeserved slur.

Absolutely true, a study based solely on the pennies surviving now would be quite different in its balance between common and rare. Use of rarity values is at its best unreliable, and we must all understand that. Jerry

The rarity ratings attributed by Freeman are as accurate as could have been made at that time , but new types discovered since then would have suffered from the mass meltdown in the 1970s , where as the numbers of scarce and rare types known by Freeman and other collectors would have been enhanced , due to searching for and including into their collections , and hording , a good example would be the 1951 penny

Not by allowing all and sundry to invent arbitrary changes/inventions in a number of scattered and unrelated sources. Ideally, there should be a central recognised "official" source of this sort of information. Penny collectors are lucky in that they have Michael Gouby who is still prepared to acknowledge and document additional varieties but, when he retires, there will be an enormous gap.

I bet he has a peep at it once in a while … who could resist? Anyhows - I see it as a great service that he shares the photos, even if he hopes not to sell. With the advances in technology we are seeing, I think the more we all share quality images of private collections the better. Let’s go!! 👍👍

It does seem that generous resources seem to attract women…..or am I just watching the wrong sort of videos…..? 😮 Jerry