TomGoodheart

I've emailed Chris too, quoting part of this message Paddy. Let's see if it gets to him, though I believe it's the site host that's looking into the problems ...

But I get a 403 error when I try to post a picture ...

Just checking if I can actually post anything. .. ok, that worked.

That seller always has really high contrast photographs, which I feel don't do his offerings any justice. I suspect it's a decent enough coin in the hand. But top pops are always a bit dodgy unless the coin is really common, since there are bound to be better examples of 99% of coins on ebay out there somewhere, and only a fraction get graded so it's all a bit meaningless to most British collectors IMHO. And of course, it's always 'buy the coin, not the slab' with these ..

It's a very kind offer dmw, though I'm not sure if this is the ideal place for it. But maybe one of the members knows someone that might like them. I suspect Changechecker works on what you'd need to pay to buy a coin. Most dealers have to charge a minimum of a few quid, just to recoup the admin of packing and postage. For things that are essentially face value it's often only economic for collectors if they're buying in bulk .. see ebay.

Just wondering if anyone is continuing Gary Oddie's 'Contributors to British Numismatics' section on the BNS website? Particularly the Coin Tickets listing. The links to send photos are still there, but I don't know if they go anywhere. @Rob?

The Triangle-in-Circle mark was struck between 15 Jul 1641 and 28 May 1643 H. Triangle alone that was 4 Jul 1639 - 26 Jun 1640, which might be where the confusion lies. This is based on the trials of the Pyx dates given in the preface to the Brooker collection book.

This on the other hand, was personally touched by the king, having been handed to a participant at a royal Touching Ceremony. The Touch was thought, due to the belief that kings were god's representatives on earth (see Divine Right) to be able to cure a number of illnesses, similar to a saint's intercession. The major one was scrofula, an unpleasant but rarely fatal disease that not infrequently went into remission. The habit appears to have dated from Edward the Confessor and the Stuarts were the last to practice the habit. Initially the Royal Touch was the main purpose of the ceremony but soon a small payment was added to charitably support the sufferer. From the reign of Edward IV a gold angel was the accepted form this took. An appropriate piece, given the presence of an angel on one side of the coin and the ship of state on the other. Additionally the value of the coin 6/4d was the accepted payment for a doctor at the time. Angels were officially pierced and the monarch then threaded them onto a length of white silk ribbon, before hanging the coin around the neck of a sufferer. One of the most famous was Dr Samuel Johnson who received his from Queen Anne, the last monarch to Touch. Johnson's touchpiece is now displayed in the British Museum. This is another example I was very pleased to be able to find for my collection. S. 2684A Portcullis privy mark ( 11 Jul 1633 - 27 Jun 1634)

There was a trend at the time in Europe for the wealthy and powerful to present visitors, or those they wished to impress, with small portrait medallions. Charles took up the habit with the most prestigious being impressive pieces in gold but also cheaper silver or silver gilt versions. It seems unlikely that all of these were personally handed out by the king. Even at court I imagine others distributed the majority. And it's likely that, since they were cast and chased and therefore relatively easy to duplicate, others were made to order for supporters of the crown who wanted something to demonstrate their loyalty from existing badges, though likely with Royal 'consent' to the practice. Obviously over time it became riskier to admit you were an ardent Royalist, hence the size of the later badges is much smaller with the one shown on my fingertip an example of one from the later years of the reign that could be easily concealed in clothing or, should the need arise, shown at the turn of a coat collar perhaps.