Chris Perkins

None at all! They're just a business that buy new issues and package them to sell at a profit. I think they may also be involved in producing reproduction coins. I heard from someone else recently who was under the impression that this outfit was somehow the London representative of the Royal Mint. He had a silver crown that had been gold plated and had a diamond and ruby stuck in it, and couldn't understand why he couldn't sell it for what he paid for it, which was £70! Daylight robbery, as numismatically it has no value other than the metal and bling value! They are the same as Westminster Collection, who also like to sound official although they are not anywhere near Westminster. They buy stocks of obscure modern issues and sometimes UK leftovers and sell them to novice collectors or old ladies that read Sunday papers and imagine they might actually go up in value. I frown very strongly upon this activity, even though I am ashamed the say that the Royal mint do it too! No serious coin collector would ever buy anything from the so called London Mint, or from the Westminster Collection. I don't think either of them can sue me for stating the truth like that!

I'm just starting to read this epic Hitler novel! It's just an attempt to try to discover how the most infamous man of the 20th century (and quite possibly - of all time) functioned. The German language version is illegal in Germany, so I smuggled an English one in from Waterstones. I'm starting to hate modern German censorship more that I hate Naziism, which is worrying....I can't even 'see' WWI British medals or any Irish medals on eBay from here, I just get a message that says they're not allowed to show it because of restrictions in the country I reside. In his lifetime did you know it sold 8 million German copies! That's a lot of books for what most people say is a very badly written, boring, monotonous and historically inaccurate (for the autobiographical parts) work. Just the translators notes and the introduction and background are like a little novel themselves and I havn't actually got to the main part yet.

I think all German books of that era were in a kind of Gothic script with strange s's and other odd looking leters that appear more modernised now. My girlfriend (also German) has a German Tolstoi book in the Gothic script. It takes a bit of getting used to first. I know someone who has got an older edition (i'm not sure it it is contemporary to the life of the author). They are about, but certainly not on eBay! I have always found something comical about Hitler. In fact the Germans have just started turning him into a comical figure, which until recently was taboo.

Thankyou thankyou. I have overall responsiblity, so I take ultimate responsibility for all complaints or critisicms. Also, I take the full glory for any compliments and general kind remarks! (I'm going to move this topic to the Rotographic area)

I should put these as quotes on the Rotographic website.

Then you have the one with the better, non curly cover. I'll start doing the 2009 edition probably in about June, but quite often I'm still updating prices until a couple of weeks before it goes to print.

I have been thinking for a little while about doing some amateur videos, with me presenting of course and then putting them on YouTube. It would be a start!

That's all good to hear too. One of the Collectors' Coins GB books (the 1989 edition) helped me get into coins too when I discovered it in a shop which no longer exists in Eltham, London. I was amazed at all the varieties that existed and were not included in an old Spink I had. And of course, the price was so much more affordable to an 11 year old back then! (have you got the 2nd edition of the 2006, that one is marked as such inside and has a non curly cover). I've got most editions now in my Rotographic archive back to the 70s. For many of them I only have one though. You can see pictures here: http://www.rotographic.com/outofprint_rotographic.htm The first edition that I did was the 2005, which being my first book ever, was not entirely perfect! The cover ended up a bit too thin and the paper inside wasn't great quality. I switched to a different printing co. from 2006 onwards. The 2004 edition, the last one created by Richard Marles was a little be dated and as a book it was past its hayday in my opinion....it was still stapled together, produced on his own very dated press and quite plain looking. I do great deals for bulk, but ideally you need to buy at least 30. If interested PM me or email me through www.rotographic.com or this website.

It's a coin weight. Made to check in comparison with an actual Guinea. They are usually brass, and were made by the Royal Mint. I'm not quite sure about value though, it depends as ever, on the condition. I would imagine a well used one would be of low value.

I had one. Sold it to William (an old 'young' member on here who doesn't say much these days). They definitely exist, but I don't think the overdate is all that clear in comparison to others.

Yes, I'll put an appeal on here for as many halfpennies back as possible! Or, I'll find someone with another mint bag of 2400 of them. Many coin dealers have this sort of thing lying around. I have some other mint bags in my safe actually....not because of the value, but as ballast so that no thief could ever lift my safe!

1 copy is normal, certainly for WHS, when they bother to order any. 2 is very encouraging! Fingers crossed it sells out quick and I have to use these other coins on 2000 reprints.

Oh that's good to know. They are supplied by Gardner's books, and Gardner's have been buying lots (over 700 so far) so that's a good sign. Was it in a prominent position? It's a good sign I suppose, that you saw it.

That was me! I did that. Idea, author, editor and publisher! I knew that it would kill 3 birds with one stone, so to speak. 1. Encourage new collectors' with a free coin, the likes many would never have seen. Like you say, the young collectors are the new generation. 2. Encourage sales with a free gift, and the only book of its kind with a free gift, and 3. Allow me to get shot of thousands of 1966 halfpennies! (I have another 2000 standing by) It seems to be selling quicker than previous editions at this stage. In what shop did you see it? WHSmith haven't ordered any from me yet, which is a pity as they might not be in time for Christmas at this rate.

It's a bit stylised, yes.

It's 1605 - 2005 and the 5s are stretched out.

As many as that! I would of thought it could be a lot lower. Mind you, worn ones are often seen.

Thanks. And let us know in here how much you get for it.

Moved this to the unlisted variety bit, so that I'll remember to add it in CCGB2009.

Yes, you're right, so it was.

I'd have it. But only to sell on for a small profit. So I'll leave it to someone else. From the invoice date, it's the 1st edition, which has a tiny bit less in it, but is still worth having for £110!

You mean you believe what other people say!? Sounds like you will want a copy of the Official British Coin Grading Guide, soon to be published by me (title TBC). It might just revolutionise the way eBay sell modern (post 1797) British Coins!

I bet your parents were pleased (if you told them)! That's the kind of thing that can put a nipper of coin collecting for life.

But there are always novices out there that think they're on to something and over grade the coins themselves, from the pictures. Buyer beware and all that. It all comes down to knowledge....and when neither buyer or seller have much of it, then things sometimes sell for falsely inflated prices!

You can get lucky sometimes, but it's hard work trying and can become very tiring after a while. I admire people that buy and sell on ebay (properly I mean, not just with endless suppies of new items) but you'll need to continue a lucky streak. On a related note, your grading of coins is very suspect. All I've seen have been overgraded or have had a higher grade implied. But, that in itself is common on ebay and the real collectors know what they're doing.