custard1966

I bought a set of reproduction cartwheel pennies - very nicely done

Looking good... Spotted one typo The varieties and design of the Bronze Victorian pennies are described in exquisite detail, by Michael J. Freeman in his book Tbe Bronze Coinage of Great Britain.

Looks great. Just a small point - is there a missing space between the first bullet and 'New Format' ?

The nerve of some people... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...3932403696&rd=1

Welcome Soaringeagle, Assuming this is a British bronze currency penny then it's fairly common and worth anything from next to nothing up to £35 in absolutely uncirculated condition with full mint lustre. Is there anything specific you would like to know ? You will have to provide a full description or better still, pictures for us to be able to tell you anything more.

This is an 'interesting' one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...3932106585&rd=1 somehow makes me deeply suspicious

I've got 10 different 1860 pennies and still quite a few to go...

If they were not sloppy, collecting wouldn't be as fun! Or as expensive I'm not complaining though. You're right, it's what makes this era one of the best.

With the introduction of bronze coinage in 1860 they went through dies at a frightening rate. The Satin reference lists over 60 varieties for 1860-1865 for pennies alone. They had problems with the design (leading to the change from beaded to toothed border for example), problems with dies wearing out - all sorts. They also seemed to be hand punching the dates onto the dies - leading to misalignments, wrong numerals being used etc. There were also 'sloppy' repairs leading to double-punched numbers/letters and the N over sideways N in ONE variety as a specific example. I suspect things are less chaotic now though.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...3928616563&rd=1 I have heard of BU examples but this is the best one I've laid eyes on.

Congratulations Chris, Will you at least get to hold it before you pass it on ? I have heard of two or three BUs though one of those was just a dealer remembering the late sixties The recent one was the one mentioned above. I think the coin had been bought in the states by a dealer who regularly ships material to and fro across the pond and offered it to the dealer I spoke to. Pity he didn't buy - we may never know what happened to it. I'll ask next time I see him though.

Looks like he's dropped the price http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...3930412967&rd=1 still beyond me

Custard, I've made some of the additions you mention, but due to space I'm going to have to leave some out for the 2006 edition. Perhaps the 2006 edition can be even more accurate with varieties. Ok Chris, I guess there will always be debate about what constitutes a worthwhile variety to catalogue, but there are definitely plenty more we can add in future releases

Looking very good. I have a few comments. The index page numbers need updating There is a 1831 penny with WW with no dots A far as I know only the F14 penny has the sig beneath the foot all others have it beneath the shield Missing the N of ONE over a sideways N for 1860 Missing 1863 with the open 3 (there's a slender 3 too if we want to be complete) As well as mentioning Freeman in relation to a detailed description of the bronze pennies it would also be helpful to mention the Satin reference which describes the early bun pennies in extreme detail. Missing 1888 with broken serifs Missing 1946/1897 with die flaws (O'NE, ONE') The best way to identify the 1897 high tide is to see whether the stem of the P in penny points to a gap rather than a tooth I could find quite a few more varieties if you're looking for even more completeness Hope this is useful.

I've got an 1831 Penny in what I deem to be EF - it has some lustre on the obverse (and a few nicks on the bust) I also have an EF 1834 with good even toning which also has one significant nick on the neck. If you think these sounds suitable I'll give them a bash. If there are any other pennies you need let me know.

Colin Cooke had one for sale a few months ago. It was slabbed and reckoned to be one of the finest two available. He didn't list a price for it, but it sold pretty quickly

If by E/F they mean EF then it doesn't look EF to me. Hard to be sure from those photos though I can't comment otherwise as this is well outside my very limited sphere Can't go far wrong for £8 though, it's problem-free

thanks for the link. I meet the guy (ashamed to say I don't know his name) every couple of months at a local fair. He usually has some good stuff and we always have a chat about collecting.

Some people would grade that as fine. I'd tend to be more strict. Some parts of the design show significant wear - especially on the reverse. I think F- is about right.

I don't know much about sixpences, but the 2004 Spink catalogue suggests they're worth £2-25 depending on condition. If their condition is below the normal minimum standard I assume there would be some small intrinsic value. I imagine therefore that they're fairly common as they're the type of coin people would've put away as mementoes. There appear to be a couple of rarer varieties of this coin which could be worth up to £175 in incirculated condition. (The rare varieties are an R appearing over the V in Victoria and the initials JEB at/on the base of Victorias head. Again, condition is paramount when determining value) Hope this helps.

I could actually get the funds together, but to be honest I've set myself a limit of £500 per coin for now. I find it hard to justify spending more that than when I think of what else I could do with the money. In time that may change, when I need only a few very rare bits & pieces or when prices have increased dramatically. I was speaking to a dealer only yesterday who was offered a BU example for £2200 which is why I think this one's a bit steep.

Looks like a solid, problem-free VF.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...3927480295&rd=1 just in case you need one & missed it.

if you're only into Bronze save your money & get Freeman if you're only into Bronze Pennies get Gouby.

Michael Gouby avoids grades like GF precisely because of this possible confusion He uses F+ for better than fine and F? for 'not quite fine. see http://www.michael-coins.co.uk/grading.htm As you say actually seeing the coin and making your own mind up is best. Failing that you need a trusted dealer whose grading you are familiar with.