Chris Perkins

Yes, the slide boxes (like a match box) and normal style boxes with a lid. 2 different colours too. The boxes are always knackered. I've never seen a perfect box.

It's because they didn't worry at all about which way round the edge inscription was. I think the writing was added to the coin after it was struck, and it would have been impossible to make sure the coin was the same way round on each of the many examples struck. Or, if a retaining collar was used to put the lettering on the coin as it was struck (which is probably more likely) they probably didn't pay attention to which way round it was when changing the dies/collar. More interestingly, the writing on some of them is slightly smaller. And from what i've noticed, the smaller letter edge inscription is not common.

That's normal and the coin will be relatively worthless in average worn condition. Glad to be of help. As for hot and steamy, perhaps I could help with that too

I was browsing around a little last night, I think I was looking at cars or something. I checked someones feedback and something they bought was a painting. I thought, that's interesting, so I browsed in the paintings, European 1900 to date section. Then I thought, I wonder if any of the coin designers ever did any paintings, I mean they were artists, I'm sure they could also draw/paint better than your average chav on the street. So within the art section I searched for 'Kruger' (after George Kruger Gray 1880-1943) and it returned no results in the art section. But! it returned a few 'kruger' results in other sections, and I spotted this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...item=6516962422 A document signed by Mr 'Krugerrand' himself. For some reason I've always had a slight interest in South African history, and this item has a coin link, and a strong South African history link! At first I though £110 (the opening bid) was a lot. I thought perhaps I'd wait and offer the seller £75 afer it finished unsuccessfully. But then, 16 seconds before it ended someone jumped in, leaving me no choice. I whacked £120 on the table with 3 seconds to go, and I got it for £113 something. It'll go nice with my silver contemporary Boer war coin set bought back by a Scotish soldier with an Afrikaans fire insurance document and a Boer war news cutting from a Scotish newspaper that I acquired.

Sometimes things just take my fancy. Usually I'm very lazy and disorganised in day to day life. When something takes my fancy/gets me interested or I really want to learn about or do something for financial gain or other reasons, I'm unstoppable....While I have the time.

Following on from my news on Paul Kruger, I bought a book about the man by Johanees Meintjes and have just started it. On page 41 it mentions Jacobus Nicolaas Boshoff, who was the President of the Orange Free State from 1855 - 1859. The name rang a bell as it turns out I have a customer called Peter Boshoff. I had spoken to Mr Boshoff on the phone before and recognised him as being South African from the accent. So I emailed to ask if he might be related to J.N Boshoff..... Turns out he is, in fact President Boshoff is none other than the son of Mr Boshoff's great great great grandfathers cousin (ok, so it's a little obscure, but there you go!). Both of the Boshoff's are related to the 1st Dutch Boshoff who it is believed emigrated to SA in about 1650. And Mr P Boshoff is fluent in Afrikaans, and has offered to translate my Kruger signed document when I get it (which should be any day). I also bought a picture of President Stephanus Johannes Paulus Krüger (Paul Kruger) which was cut from a book dated 1899. I will frame the picture with the document and hang it on the wall. Picture of the Boer Statesman is below.

Yes that stipid £1 increment bidder was doing so to gain points on some kind of reward scheme that gives you points when you bid on something on eBay! She knew that a sov would never sell for less than £50 ish, so bid in as many small increments as possible to earn points. I told her kindly to stop because it looked like someone was bidding up delibrately.

I've got some jolly nice stuff on eBay: http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrpp...ssZchrisperkins

Because the obverse is so prooflike, and the reverse is weakly struck. I heard (and I know this to be the case for certain wreath crowns) that once the proof dies were used to create proof coins, they then sometimes got used to strike normal coins on unpolished blacks. I think the 1820 Shilling was struck with a proof obverse (and perhaps reverse too but not at proof pressure). I'm not turning American by making a song and dance about first strikes, merely observing what I see after seing many 1820 shillings along the way. (And why not play the Americans at their own game to a certain degree!) If Americans and others want to pay big money for first strikes and slabbed coins, then i'll see if I can find a few for them! The 1826 Half Crown is going ok isn't it.

The ads are annoying. It's best to stick at one thing JMD, when you've decided. Because when search engines get used to your page names and setup, if you change it, they'll have to find you again, and it won't help your rankings at all.

No, not unless it's in extremely good condition (which it probably isn't if it's been circulating as 1p). Interesting to find predecimal currency in change though, especially a farthing, which has not been legal tender for 45 years.

Done that. Gave you a mention on the bottom of the home page too, as the last link I had there hasn't been available for sometime.

Alright, 1s 8d sounds fine, I have loads of farthings laying around GV - EII

That all looks chavtastic to me Dave, well done. Are we ready to cross link now?

Yes, but when you're talking about mad things in general you can't include Americans in the equation because as they have recently demonstated on the world stage, and I think Axel Rose once put it perfectly when he sang (referring obviously to the rest of his countrymen): 'You're F*!£ing crazy'. (Points for song and album by the way, and no googling)

I know who that is. I saw one of the older editions go for £111 the other week.

Actually, I put the message board up so that I can try as often as possible to sell stuff to it's members! But seriously (although that does happen) I did also put this board up to serve as a reference point for interested parties, and it's also handy because if people ask questions in here it usually means I get one less email! Knowledge is the key, as Mr Kuhli says. And, I would never pay as much as 50p for a Churchill Crown. I'd wince if I had to pay (25p) face value!

Kuhli says (sorry Kuhli I moved this while you were posting): Simple motto of coin collectors: Buy the book before you buy the coin! If you do not take the time to research the material, and know what you are getting, then caveat emptor.

No, sod it, name and shame, but as long as you outline your negative experience first. If it's the truth then people can make up their own mind. If anyone lies and someone makes a complaint, then I'll remove the offending post and have words with the person that posted it. I don't mind about complaints, just don't write anything libelous!

Actually now you mention it Chris I used to have a spate of (sometimes daily!) emails from some Dr or another based in Nigeria, but they seem to have stopped now. Anyone else notice? Yes I had a few of those too. Usually wanting something and wanting to use Western Union or something. They do seem to have reduced though, you're right.

Yes, it's very good. But I think it should be in denomination order, not alphabetical.

I think you probably mean 2300 cc, or 2.3l ! I very much doubt a 2.3cc motorcycle could propel all that tubandpud! (Love Triumphs though, the bikes too. If I had a bike it would have to be a Triumph to go with the cars)

Or Nigeria!

Ok, feel free to name any ebay id's that you would rather not deal with again. Please ensure that anyone doing so also explains the trading situation and transaction details so that viewers of this area can make up their own minds. I don't want it to turn into a slanging match between eBayers, it should just be honest accounts of experiences and I see no reason why ID's should not be mentioned (certainly no personal details please).

I save BU German ones from change, it's logical to do so isn't it. I've noticed that the 2002 coins seemed to appear again brand new in 2003, which would imply they had an un-used stockpile or struck that date again. In Germany there are also different mint letters. I just take the BU (MS63+) ones and I'm not looking for date sets. The girlfriend collects all the foreign ones from change, unless she already has them.