The Bee

Hi, This is the first time I've ventured into (where I hope I've posted) the Wanted Topic I was looking to buy a copy of Michael Gouby's "The British Bronze from 1860 to 1970" if anyone has a spare copy or spots a copy for sale somewhere, if you could let me know that would be brilliant ! Very Best Regards

Hi Peckris, I've got the British Bronze Penny 1860-1901 in blue binder (with the updates). It gets a lot of use ! I also use The ID of British 20th Century Coin Varieties by David Groom, and of course Richard's site I've not seen s copy of the "The British Bronze from 1860 to 1970" so I don't know what whether the cover is blue or not ! I will have to try and Google it again Very Best Regards

Hi Apologies for troubling the list so soon. Having read through Secret Santa's Penny Varieties, I decided to be a bit methodical and work through all of my Victorian pennies, to see if I had anything variety wise which had escaped me so far. I was following up searching for different date widths for 1889 - 1893 pennies and so far checked 1889 - 1892 - sadly they all look the same I did however find while sorting out the pennies a 1860 penny where the date on the reverse has the appearance of being etched in - so you just have outline of the date, I assume its an odd form of damage, as I can make out the same effect on BRITT REG, the coin has been shined (by a previous owner) and is in terrible condition so it doesn't photograph that well - but great to get your thoughts Also thought I'd share a 1890 Penny where the 90 is slightly lower than the 18 - I'd not noticed it before my assumption being that its probably fairly common And I wondered what years you would recommend I should check for "date widths" aside from 1877 and 1889-92 ? Thank you for your help ! Very Best Regards Richard

And another minor one ... 1881 Farthing H mint, which I think its an H next to H (rather than damage). Fairly common I would expect but still nice to find as I re-order all my Bronze Victoria Farthings Best Regards

1865 Farthing - Victoria ? Hi I was started sorting out some more Farthings , finding (not a surprise) a few repairs that were new to me This is from an 1865 Farthings I wondered - is it post mint damage or something else ? Very Best Regards

Many thanks the feedback Peckris 2. On checking further all of the obverse legend has a similar "offset" as if the die slightly rotated. Possibly QV head is slightly rotated too For example on the right hand side you can see the same for G R A and the teeth again show "die bounce" while on the Left Hand Side Victoria's Nose and Lip etc is probably best evidence And many thanks to Bronze and Copper Collector for the 1854 Penny date, which I'd not seen before Very Best Regards

1853 Halfpenny - Wondered if this was damage or an attempt to repair Victoria's Nose ? Hi Hope all's well I have working through my pre 1860 copper halfpenny's and noticed this for 1853. It looks as if it might be a repair to her nose and lip ? Victoria Dei Gratia doesn't look as if it is "doubled" in a similar way - maybe it was mint damage as I can see a trace of what I think is the shield from the reverse "hanging down" from her ribbon at the back of her head Any thoughts ? Very Best Regards

1854 Halfpenny I quite often seem to find up repairs to the numbers in dates pre 1860 I think this is first time I've found all the numbers in the date moved slightly to the right (what looks like) the same amount I wondered if the date had been doubled rather than repaired ? Very Best Regards

Hi, I received another pile of circulated pennies over the weekend and had a look last night. Over half of pennies in this accumulation were end of QV reign 1896 -1901. So far had a look through 1896 and 1899. Under 1899 I have one example where spacing of the 9's are clearly closer together (first one I think I've seen) assuming its Mr Freeman's 1 B (I have the 2006 reprint) not sure if there is any other description. I also started to tidy up 1880 and found just one where the 0 is set slightly higher. Lastly having found missing serif's in 1888 (quite a few so must be quite common) I thought I'd check 1889. No luck so far on 1889 missing serifs, but on comparing my 1889 in the main tray vs the 1889 next best (which I had relegated to the box of next best's) I noticed some differences on the obverse on Victoria's face. I assuming the smooth nose might be 12N and the one with a triangular depression would be 13 N ? Very Best Regard

Many thanks Rob, So there is a Master Die, made out of particularly tough material that is used to create further dies, which need the last two digits added, to mint the halfpenny So, if I check my other 1850's Halfpennies, I should find the same "tooth" on other dates Here is my 8 over 6 / R over R in GRATIA (I think that there is a blob at end of the foot of the E in DEI) Very Best Regards

Many thanks Rob, Great to confirm its an 1858 over 6. But as you say , its even more interesting that the overcut R is different and the date vs the teeth positions are different especially the last eight. Many thanks for sharing the photos ! (I've been determined to get my money's worth since buying my Tomlov microscope - now I wouldn't be without it) I'll photograph the obverse and reverse and share later Query - is it usual for the teeth. including that odd one under the 5, would be identical on different dies ? (the bit jutting out from that tooth looks identical in both examples ?) Very Best Regards

1858 Halfpenny Hi, Couple of images from an 1858 Halfpenny. Wondered if the last 8 might be an overdate ? If not - still very pleased to find a R over R in Gratia Very Best Regards

Usually if I strike a deal with a seller, the seller changes the auction to a "buy it now" at which point I need to keep calm, waiting for it to pop up again, and then quickly buy it. Worked well so far Very Best Regards

Maybe they arranged to buy it privately

Amazing collection Paddy , thanks for sharing !

One possible repair on "F" in F.D. 1862 Penny . Top of the F seems to slope upwards. And an 1858 Farthing , with a slightly broken 5 in the date Best Regards

Minor Addition 1840 Farthing I tracked down an affordable upgrade my 1840 Farthing last week, and was about to evict the previous 1840 in the tray, but before doing so decided to have a closer look at the obverse under the microscope. Not sure if these were repairs or just an accident, V over V in Victoria and T I A over T I A in Gratia I'll just have to find space in the tray or start o new one Best Regards

Hi, I very recently bought a 1964 edition of English Copper, Tin and Bronze Coins by W. C. Peck (I have accumulated quite a few earlier halfpennies and farthings) I'm trying to make sure I describe them correctly This circulated example is from 1699 . I assumed it was Pack 687, but on looking closer the first A in BRITANNIA looks to be unbarred ? (the second A isn't so clear but might have part of a bar) I wondered if this was normal for the standard 1699 ? [The obverse looks a bit better than the reverse] Best Regards

1877 Halfpenny Date Widths and yet another problem with HALF, EYE, EYE, EYE As I was putting my 1877 halfpenny upgrade away in the tray I had a look at some of the others. Currently I seem to have three dates widths The first two are very similar, the last which is in poor condition, is quite a bit wider. Are there any others to look out for ? And in the same small collection of coins along with the 1877 was an 1862 Halfpenny , with what might be a repair to the Right Leg of H, maybe one to the downstroke of L and the back of F all from Half, I, I or I. I. I Very Best Regards

The seller mentions the "This 1863 One Penny Coin features the young Bun Head of Queen Victoria, it has a feature that looks like the 8 over 1, it could be just a dye strike error but either way YOU won't find another 1863 error coin, minted in Great Britain under the Victorian era" Surprised that they didn't comment on the obverse picture 1863 VICTORIAN BUN HEAD ONE PENNY COIN SEE PICS B 173 | eBay Best Regards

Hi Richard I don't think you have anything missing via the link - looks good Very Best Regards

I can see Victoria Bronze Obverse at the moment - Victoria Bronze Obverses – HALFPENNY VARIETIES

Hi I had an attempt at removing the old DNA and gunk. 1855 Halfpenny date with 8 over 8 ? 1st 5 over 5 ? and possible overdate on last 5 ? Very Best Regards

Phew, What a comprehensive system and such a lot of information on "historic" and current prices. I guess at some point you need something like that to avoid duplication (I should have done this for my newspapers) and if you decide to sell bits off, it would to keep the Tax authorities happy, not to mention your insurer

The Ebay description was rather erm "odd" as well. "This is a British Victoria Penny coin from 1862, minted during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). It is a copper coin with a brown colour. The denomination of the coin is one Penny. It was manufactured in the United Kingdom, specifically Great Britain."