Chris Perkins

This is genuine, I have received an email to the same effect.

When new, the wartime compostition bronze coins were chemically darkened so that they looked more old and used. This was because the natural tone of the 'new' bronze looked different and it was feared that the public would be wary of them. Some (scarce) ones seem to have escaped without being darkened.

A mule is a coin made of a pair of mis-matched dies, not to be confused with an 'error'.

I'm involved with enough books, it's someone else's turn!

Well, either keep them for posterity or sell them to me for £70 (or someone else). Those are really the only 2 options. You'd need to be in the SE though to justify me picking them up.

That thought had crossed my mind too Geoff! I was in the UK over Xmas and didn't see any new type 20p, 1p or 50p's.

I've noticed the values have gone down a bit, but not a lot. No doubt some collectors have diverted funds to other more important things now that times are potentially tougher for people and that has led to some lower auction prices. But top grade coins will always do well and there will always be hardcore collectors with disposable incomes to spend as long as the situation doesn't go completely into meltdown! I'm certainly selling coins well on the website at the moment, perhaps people also see them as good investment opportunities with banks and stocks rolling over like dogs at the moment. And I'd certainly be interested in offering the best prices for your Maundy sets, Wreath crowns etc. I'm very thin on stock so it would certainly help!

I don't have one, but I'd like to have one. I've offered £30 in the past. Something around that figure acceptable?

In Bromley are you Dark Numismatist! I was born at Queen Marys in Sidcup and my dad still lives in the area. I dropped him off at Shortlands stn the other day before coming back to Germany.

Happy New Year everyone. I was away over Xmas until the 31st.

I gave away 1966 halfpennies on Collectors Coins GB 2008, and I may well do it again. I found a spare bag of them in Essex and paid £70 for it, so that's what I'd offer, assuming they are close to pick up. They are a very common coin and to sell individually would take more than a lifetime, hence most dealers make do with 100 or so.

The occurance of a mule is certainly rare, but there was another one, although not a circulation coin....the 1994 gold £2 coin with the BofE reverse and the wrong 'double sovereign' type obverse.

I offered someone £30 for one when it was a real unknown (also in the forum somewhere). Now it looks like there may be lots I'll abandon that offer and just look out for one.

It's listed in my book. I am always suspicious with inverted V's that they are simply A's with blocked crossbars. Especially Vic farthing obverses, the dies having already been half worn out by striking sovereigns.

Trust you to lower the tone

Good luck to you Scott, and hello after a long time away.

Initially, avoid new issues, especially those from obscure countries that most people haven't heard of (that also applies to the Royal Mint; even they are now far too commercial). To start with buy what you like the look of, i.e. a particular monarch or a particular denomination, or simply everything you like the look of. Get some books in order to learn as much as you can (see links above to my books on Amazon). And, as with gambling, only spend what you can afford to loose just in case and until you develop an eye. It is possible to pick up good things on ebay but 90% of what is offered is overgraded, overpriced rubbish being offered by private sellers that probably know less about the thing they are selling that you do! I have long since given up looking on ebay as trawling through the tosh is too time consuming.

That's a very tiny image. Does appear a bit yellower than it should be.

Another mule! Sounds like there may be a few of these. I'll offer you £30 for it right now (and take the risk that they may be fairly common).

Does it have any brass or copper colours coming through? Geo III halfcrowns were very widely forged (as were most Geo III coins) so it probably is a forgery.

Yes, definitely. Probably just for fun, but I've got older copper coins that have been hollowed so that you can hide a gold coin under. I notice it was an ebay item from the image, hope it wasn't expensive!

Yes it looks very much like a medallion. I'm sure whatever it commemorates is probably written on it.

It's probably either a fake sovereign (very unlikely because no one would be fooled by an underweight copper coin) or toy money or perhaps some kind of commemorative medallion for the coronation.

Got it.

When is Easter? I've done CCGB09 as you know. I've also done my tax return for the 3rd quarter so now I have time to turn my attention to the hotly awaited Grading book! I don't want to guarantee any publication date though because it depends on how many and how quickly a number of other people check it and give it their approval.