hertfordian

I got a 1930s George V silver shilling in change as a 5p in the very late 80s/early 1990/1 if I remember correctly. It was whilst I was on a day out in London. Other than that, I only ever came across cupro-nickel George VI and Elizabeth II shillings and florins. Ian

I can't get rid of my local MP as there is a first past the post system and I live in a safe seat. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement for me wanting to leave the EU now is it?

Is it just that this is an old size 50 p coin (1985) and this was 30mm in diameter and some 13.5gms in weight? As such, it was bigger and thicker than the current 50s and this could lead to someone thinking it's a piedfort?

Hi all - I'm trying to find out if there are any local coin clubs in the area (I'm between Biggleswade and Sandy in NE Beds). I've managed to find mention of a Bedford Numismatic Club on Google but I'm unsure as to whether this is still active or if the information is out of date. Can anyone shed any light? Thanks in advance Ian

Jubilee Head shillings they're not! I've never seen any difference and if you need a microscope ... my interest flies out the window Hi there I have got one of each example and there is a noticeable different to the naked eye (albeit not massive). I'd say there's about a millimetre extra space around the portrait - most noticeably at the bottom of the neck where it goes near the inner rim of the coin. Hope that helps?

SHHHHHHH!!! Don't let them hear you say that! The Mint seems so desparate to make money issuing tat they might just go for that one. With of course 365 different obverse designs for the 1€ coins each year. As for coin mags .. I don't actually ever remember buying one. I used to subscribe to Spink's Circular but essentially for the coins for sale and nice pics of coins (for sale!). The articles by and large were not of interest to me. However, I am aware that compared to most here I have a very narrow collecting interest indeed. Despite that, I was interested to realise that I got just as much of a thrill in finding a counterfeit 50p piece the other day as I do in tracking down a particularly nice hammered shilling, so I guess a general interest in coins is still there. I too read old books occasionally and find them fun. But somehow a 20 or 30 year old mag of any description is interesting because of the snapshot on prices, life and interests of a different era. I've been wondering how to translate that all into a magazine of today and .. most importantly whether I'd buy such a thing. And I'm not sure I would. Now, as I say, I'm likely not typical. But looking around here at the range of coin collecting interests, I find it difficult to think of a magazine that could keep up the diversity, academic depth and entertainment value to keep us all interested month after month. How about something like they have for the Tasmanian Numismatic Society? (http://www.vision.net.au/~pwood/feb11.htm) This is a fine example of what can be achieved with an e-only edition and it's almost always got something of interest in it and doesn't just limit itself to Australian coinage.

42 here. I must be getting old as I can increasingly see what Victor Meldrew was going on about these days.... Must be to do with having three daughters....

That is very true and very sound advice. Especially when you take into account the issue price for some of the coins. However, I do also think that for someone who does collect such coins that an informed decision needs to be taken at some point whether to decide to buy at issue price and be comforted in the fact that they will own the coin, albeit at an high price, than to have to pay a vastly inflated price in the future if a coin is found to be a scarce or rare issue. I do conceed however that will only occur in certain circumstances, such as the aforementioned £2 Trial Set, and that your advice is very wise indeed. I agree - I did go and buy one of the 2008 20p mule errors but I am pleased that I only paid £30 for it - this was just before the "bubble" really started and the prices went completely over the top. I believe now they're going for about £60 so I guess everything finds its level eventually....

I think it was, but misguided in my view. A controversial follow-up to this question - *assuming* (and it's a big assume right at the moment), the euro survives its present travails and perhaps in 10-20 years, sterling finally goes into oblivion and we end up in it - does anyone think people will look back (say in about 50-75 years' time) and think "why on earth did we still keep our separate currency from the other 400-450 million people just over the channel".....?

I believe (others may correct me if I'm wrong) that copper, not steel, is still used for the BU Royal Mint sets? In which case it has most likely been taken from a set. For some reason, the Royal Mint struck a large quantity of 2 pences in 1998 in the old bronze composition and that is why these are non-magnetic. Now as to why they suddenly decided to do this for just this year, I'm afraid I can't answer that and will have to leave others far more knowledgeable than me to fill you in on that point. Hope this helps Ian

Hi all Don't know if anyone else has come across any 2009 coins yet, but Mrs Hertfordian just managed to acquire a shiny 2009 penny in change whilst taking the youngest Hertfordian to our local Mickey D's. Am able to report that it looks exactly the same as last year's issue (other than the date of course!). Has anyone else come across any of this year's coin issues yet? Cheers Hertfordian

Interesting link on the London Gazette site authorising the RM to re-issue all of the previously used designs on 50p coins in precious metals and cupro-nickel. The Mint is obviously looking for more ways to squeeze money out of us poor collectors! ;-)) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/591...-07-25;all=coin

Courtesy of my folks, my new 2009 5p came winging its way from a supermarket in North London. Looking out for the rest of the denominations apart from the penny which can be found v. easily round here.

And here they are http://www.royalmint.com/store/BritishSilv...mp;origin=email Now how on earth do the RM justify trying to charge just short of £200 for a proof set in CUPRO-NICKEL?!?! If that was for sterling silver, maybe - but base metal?! I know they've got to make money these days but they are having a laugh - particularly if one compares how much similar products seem to cost from the US Mint.... I think that this is one set that I'll *definitely* be able to live without!

Sorry it's not 2009 but 2008 - but I've just got only my second "old style" 10p coins in change today. They're certainly elusive little buggers! Now as for the 2p - I found one old style one fairly early on but haven't seen any since and don't even get me started on Britannia 50s - I'm still looking for one of them!!

Not sure about the answer to that but FWIW, I do recall going on a visit to the Royal Mint around 1981/2 (when such tours were still fairly commonplace as I understand it) and I remember seeing large hoppers full of old coins which were just sitting there presumably awaiting meltdown. Perhaps one of these "found" its way into the presses to start a new life as a decimal coin...?? Just my 2 penny-worth (over-struck on an old ship halfpenny of course!!)

I do remember some years ago (must have been around 1995/96) getting given a couple of £2 coins in change from the post office despite these being the old single colour versions which were only really intended for commemorative purposes. Haven't ever seen anyone try spending a fiver coin though. BTW - Got a generic "to all households in the UK" mail-out from the Royal Mint today offering an Olympic Countdown for a fiver. Shame that they've then whacked £1.95 postage charge on top of that so it's not quite the "fiver for a fiver" that they're claiming in the literature. Also, they must have money to burn if these mail-outs really have gone to *every* household in the UK! Hertfordian

Well I started back in 1977 when schools gave our Silver Jubilee crowns to everyone and my parents sent off some dog food wrappers with special coupons on to get a set of Silver Jubilee medallions. These two things together with a 1965 crown and a sixpence (as I recall) are what started me on the slippery slope of numismatics - and 32 years later, now aged 41, I'm still collecting! Prior to that, I'd flirted with philately but found it a bit boring - looking back, on the whole, I'm glad with the choice I made!

They didn't have enough ways already ? 27.3 mm - that's the new smaller dimension, right? Which means there are some older types, e.g. the 1973 EEC reverse, which will be effectively new designs. ...and as these will all be dated 2009 (as far as I can see), they'll be new designs anyway - especially with the obverse portrait not being the Machin version...

I've had a look at various 2 pound pieces that we've had lying around at home, and on a majority of them, irrespective of the general condition, the "dot" under the queen's portrait definitely seems to be the weakest part of the obverse design. So whether this is an error or just down to wear and tear, I'd be interested to hear what others' experiences/views are.... Cheers Hertfordian

Can someone please outline what the 1967 variety is? TIA Hertfordian

Just been browsing on the London Gazette website http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ and did a search for "coin". If you look at the search results you'll see that amongst the list is a proclamation dated 15th Feb 2008. If you look at this and then do some reading through the accompanying PDF you'll see descriptions (albeit vague) of the new decimal coins. It looks like the designs will be as follows: £1 The design of the said one pound coins shall be as follows: ‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · †and the date of the year, and for the reverse a Shield of Our Royal Arms with the words “ONE†to the left and “POUND†to the right. The coins shall have a graining upon the edge and in incuse letters the inscription “DECUS ET TUTAMENâ€.’ 50p The design of the said fifty pence coins shall be as follows: ‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D ·†and the date of the year, and for the reverse a section of Our Royal Arms showing elements of the third and fourth quarterings accompanied by the words “FIFTY PENCEâ€. The coins shall have a plain edge.’ 20p The design of the said twenty pence coins shall be as follows: ‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · F · D ·†and the date of the year, and for the reverse a section of Our Royal Arms showing elements of the second and fourth quarterings accompanied by the words “TWENTY PENCEâ€. The coin shall have a plain edge.’ 10p The design of the said ten pence coins shall be as follows: ‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D ·†and the date of the year, and for the reverse a section of Our Royal Arms showing elements of the first quartering accompanied by the words “TEN PENCEâ€. The coin shall have a graining upon the edge.’ 5p The design of the said five pence coins shall be as follows: ‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D ·†and the date of the year, and for the reverse a section of Our Royal Arms showing elements of all four quarterings accompanied by the words “FIVE PENCEâ€. The coin shall have a graining upon the edge.’ 2p The design of the said two pence coins shall be as follows: ‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D ·†and the date of the year, and for the reverse a section of Our Royal Arms showing elements of the second quartering accompanied by the words “TWO PENCEâ€. The coin shall have a plain edge.’ 1p The design of the said one penny coins shall be as follows: ‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D ·†and the date of the year, and for the reverse a section of Our Royal Arms showing elements of the first and third quarterings accompanied by the words “ONE PENNYâ€. The coin shall have a plain edge.’ I'm afraid from reading the above, my first thought is "oh dear..." - sounds a bit boring to me if these are all going to be basically taken from the one design - of course, the actual designs may be much more interesting but so far, these sound like ALL of the coins will be a mixture of the old EIIR shilling coins and the old Jersey circulating coins (pre-landmarks of the island). Not very inspiring at all. Guess it's a case of watch this space...

Fair point but this was taken directly from the London Gazette website so unless they've been "infiltrated", I think it's just the Mint being secretive or slow!

Whilst I really hope you're right- then what are the designs for as outlined in the royal proclamation? Are they for some sort of 1 year type design (a la Australian Mint and their silver year sets which they churn out with 1 year designs) to help Gordon Brown pretend that we're all BRITISH instead of being English, Scottish etc (though from the designs as they're described, obviously not Welsh!). Either that, or otherwise, are we to expect an imminent announcement that we'll be reconsidering our decision not to join up to the Euro and therefore, these designs will only be around for a couple of years at most?!

Hi Chris Not sure - I've never tried. I have got a flatbed scanner so I suppose in theory it *may* be possible to do something with them but I'd have to give it a go. I must admit having looked at these "finished" designs, I would hope that they are going to do something a bit more stylised as otherwise these will be very boring. Also, perhaps they could end up doing different "styles" of the various arms on different denominations (e.g. compare Half-crowns of George V, George VI and EIIR)....