Chris Perkins

Bob, Thanks. You're obviously well versed on forums bob, I'm sure you can help me out as this is the first forum I have installed and run. When I bought the web space I ensured it was UNIX and tested and proven to be able to run php pages and access MySQL in the quickest possible time. The chap at my hosting company (who I talk to daily about one thing or another!) recommended Invisionboard as his personal favourite and the board he considered the best after trying similar stuff. The look of the forum was changed from the default when I found a skin that looked ok, and I set it up and simply promoted it from the index page of the site. I'm just about to try to find out how you gave yourself a Goldfish logo now...That's a good idea. Look forward to hearing about your British coins. Chris www.predecimal.com

Wish I could help you Bob, but as i say, that coin is out of my expertise and not in any of my books! To be honest I don't think this Forum is well enough established to be attracting enough expert people yet but good luck. I'll make sure it never expires so maybe you'll get an answer as the forum grows!!! In fact I have mentioned the forum in the token publishing Coin Year Book 2004 so fingers crossed. Chris www.predecimal.com

JC They may be worth a few quid (up to 5ish) if uncirculated, but if they are normal worn circulated average examples they won't be worth much , and certainly not that desired by any serious collectors. Chris www.predecimal.com

Thankyou! I'm a numismatic pioneer you know! I don't know much about shipwreck coins and I only have books that go back to 1800 covering Spanish coins so I don't know if I can help with them. No problem with the British ones of course. Chris www.predecimal.com

You are most welcome to Kate. I have no problem helping people that try to help themselves first and don't ask questions that are already answered on the site! Thanks for your kind words. Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

Dear Kate, If it's a chunky 42mm ish in diameter then it is a Copper twopenny but as it's smaller than a crown i'd say it's a 35mm Copper penny, because they look the same as the twopenny. That kind of 'Cartwheel' coin was only made with one date...1797, so that's its date. Maybe you could scrub it gently with a toothbrush but you shouldn't use chemicals on it or leave it damp for any length of time. And it probably isn't worth much if it's very worn under the dirt I'm afraid. Chris www.predecimal.com

Paul, Afraid I don't know. If you register you can upload an image to be viewed in the forum. Can you also provide the size and metal details? Chris www.predecimal.com

Michael, Can't help much without a size, because they all had that written on them. If you look at my British coin identification page under the advice section of www.predecimal.com you can probably answer your own question. Chris www.predecimal.com

Hello again, Good to see you encouraging Forum use! If the coins you have are just general circulated stuff it's unlikely anyone will want them, and most accumulations people have are worth very little. Have a look on my key date page: http://www.predecimal.com/key_dates.htm You'll see the slightly rarer dates listed and if you have any of those they will be more collectable. If the coins are sendable in the post you are welcome to send them to me to check out, maybe i'll by them all or maybe I'll just send them straight back, but you will be guaranteed an honest opinion! Chris www.predecimal.com

Dear Steve, I have dealt with that seller before so I'm sure you have no problems. Personally I'd only pay more than it currently is at if it wasn't unevenly toned with a possible stain on the head. Not wishing any disrespect to the seller of course and perhaps a dealers point of view would be different but it's nothing special, not rare and if you want an Uncirculated 1895 Farthing you should get one with full lustre quite easily. Chris www.predecimal.com

Hello there, it dependss entirely on condition. I'm offering a 1952 Half Penny in Good Extremely Fine condition with last remains of lustre for GBP2.50 on this page: http://www.predecimal.com/forsale/halfpennies.htm Anything less than EF and it won't really be that collectable I'm afraid. If you want to get into coin collecting allow me to recommend the book here: http://www.predecimal.com/collectors_coins.htm Thanks very much for using the site, Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

Only if it's the young head 1895 Farthing like the one I have on the site for GBP5.00. A widow head 1985 Farthing in less than Fine is worth just a few pence. Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

Hello there, i have responded to you over email. Thanks for using my Forum. Chris www.predecimal.com

Shane, What is the coins diameter in mm? All the half sovereigns, no matter what mint are the same size. Can you attach a picture of it? When you post a message you should see a file search box and a 'You may attach a file to this message. Maximum file size (in bytes): 51200000' message. If you weigh it it should be 3.99 grams. If it's worn that may be very slightly less. If it's fake it should be considerably lighter because it wouldn't make sense making a fake coin with more gold in it than a real one! Although that has been done in the past when Gold sovereigns were worth much more than the gold in them. I think you may need the very accurate scales, I'm not sure maybe the 1/10th of a gram ones will tell you. Also, could it be a full sovereign? Chris predecimal.com

Andy, Do you mean the 1986 2 pound coin? If so..In mint condition they are worth 3-4 pounds but have to be really perfect as they are so new. If they're not perfect I'd consider spending them like you may have done with the others. Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

That's the hardest part! Be conservative and don't fool yourself into believing the coins are up a grade when they aren't. Compare very similar coins and try to establish a coin that you know is for example VF and that will be a big help when looking at the others. Chris. www.predecimal.com

Babs! If it makes you feel better, I was at least mis led into thinking you were experienced on the internet because I think often net beginers shy away from forums, thinking they look complicated. So well done, and I'm very please you're finding the coins interesting. I have contacted a publisher in Torquay recently and hope to be offering a GBP4.50 book on the site that contains values for every UK coin 1821 - now in all collectable grades. it also contains info on grading, collecting and pictures of all the coins. I'll put you down for a copy shall I!! Chris www.predecimal.com

1950 is one of them!! There are a few 40's dates that weren't issued if memory serves, none of the 40's coins are that rare, I just don't have any! 51 is pretty scarce, 52 is worth 1000's (you won't find one!) 53 out of it's set it was issued in is scarcer, 54 is impossible and there were no more in the 50's or 1960. All the 60's are easy to find, and they stopped in 67. have a look at: http://www.predecimal.com/key_dates.htm Chris www.predecimal.com

Shane, I don't think there are any books specifically on fake sovereigns. I'd recommend some scales accurate to 100th of a gram to check the weight and an 8x magnifying glass to check the strike quality. If you get the 2003 Spink book 'Coins of England and the United Kingdom' it also outlines a few commonly found fake dates. **PLUG** I have scales and a magnifier in the online accessory shop You are also welcome to post pictures here of intended purchases when you register in the forum. Thanks for posting, Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

You're welcome and good luck with them Chris.

I don't do note on the site, but like coins the newer ones tend to only be collectable in very good condition. Have a look at: http://www.collectpapermoney.co.uk/ Maybe it would be an idea to separate the coins and notes that look really nice and buy the Spink published, Coins of England and the United Kingdom (RRP GBP18.00) which should contain all the info you need. Just let me know if you find any collectable ones and want to sell them! Good luck Chris www.predecimal.com

That's quite a lot isn't it. Where are you located? I'll be around SE England late september, they are probably nothing remarkable but if you're local I could pop by. Chris www.predecimal.com

The prices on the website are a dealers selling price, and I have to make a profit on the coins I sell to pay for this site and my time in listing/grading the coins etc, so the listed coins should be used as an idea, but be aware you are unlikely to get those prices for the coins unless you could sell them all individually to the right collectors. Also the coins listed are all strictly graded and are not the prices for eg any 1907 Florin, the price is for an AVF previously cleaned Florin. It's always the grade of the coin, not the age that makes it in demand. The best thing you can do at this stage, like you say you already have done is make a list and let me see it. Generally as a rule nothing newer than 1937 is worth much unless in EF of preferably UNC condition. Roughly how many coins do you have? Chris www.predecimal.com

Mish, All the Bronze (ie after 1860) farthings were struck in 'Medal' alignment. (so if you hold the top and bottom and turn the coin over the reverse is up the right way). The copper farthings before that (up to 1860) were coin alignment. So it's either a misprint in your book or perhaps you are looking at the wrong section? Thanks for joining and posting, your input is very welcome. Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

Thanks Brownowl, It's great to have you contribute to the site. I was thinking when I wrote my part that the Thrift plant could have something to do with being 'thrifty' i.e careful with your money but wasn't sure. The 2 sites you mention I have noticed before as they always seem to do better than me with search engine rankings! But I suppose that's fair enough because they do both have massive amounts of content on them! Chris www.predecimal.com