Geordie582

First. The book is a cracker and just what we need, especially to point out to beginners. But--- I don't suppose you want to hear this! Here are a couple of errors for any reprint! P46 6 lines from the bottom. I don't think Richard II was brother of John! P90 bottom picture is a repeat of the left Durham coin above. P105 I'm sure the first pictured Sovereign Penny is Henry VII ( especially according to the statement of legend above it!) Tell me off if this has all been pointed out before!!! Yes! You can tell I've read it already!

Wouldn't you say the surface wear was more than 'bag wear'? I wouldn't have said FDC

As I sold my first collection to buy my first computer (yes, a Sinclair!), my current collection is a poor reflection. I was posted to Malta in the 60's when they were still circulating Victoria and subsiquent coins. The farmers also did not trust banks, so often paid for purchases in hoarded silver, a lot in EF condition. Paradise! I also had some excellent hammered, bought at very low prices. Ah! Well! the folly of youth made me want to join the new computer population more than have a good collection. I still yearn for the helmet Canute I sold! I think I paid £5 for it and it was EF.

In that state, only a couple of pound, if you're lucky! Try e-bay, you never know!

I'm 76. Where does that leave me in "Geek-hood"?

It appears to be an Edward I penny Class 10cf3 of London. That's as far as I can tell from your picture. "New Coinage" with solid long cross reverse. A fuller coin would make the class alocation easier!! Edward reigned from 1272-1307. Your coin dates from 1279.

Perhaps the only consistant thing would be the relative cost of war?

You would be pushed! Potatoes didn't appear until the 16th century!

Great stuff, Chris. Best of luck with your approaches.

Let me drop a pebble in the pond! When grading hammered, as has been said, a lot depends on the series you're discussing. Take the Henry II 'Tealby' series. flans so thin that this is a frequent result! Try grading that. Now that's a split!

Along with splits, especially in 'light' coinage, there is the usual "test cut" where a small portion of the coin is removed to prove that it is silver (gold) all the way through. There were lots of contemporary forgeries made. Perversely, some of the forgeries are rarer than the coin they copy! So the test cut works for both varieties. Complex isn't the word for it!

I have bought 'uncleaned' lots, but usually because I've spotted one of the bunch I'm interested in (always provided the auction doesn't decide to go astronomical!) By the way, I got the coin I use as my avatar in such an 'uncleaned' lot!

It still comes down to - Who on earth certifies the people who grade? As grading is subjective, it all seems to be a matter of opinion. (Assessing 'mint' state coins against each other aside, though I personally think it a pointless exercise!) Lets seperate the investers from the numismatists and give them their own website!

I agree with Tom! Centuries of coin collectors have used the coin cabinet without the polution of the dreaded plasic. Besides, I need a coin to be circulated to give it a sense of history. Many quite admirable coins I've seen slabbed look as though they were made yesterday - where's the romance of history in that?

I have this sixpence of William IIII 1834 that is counterstamped what appears to be "MAB". I was wondering if anyone has come across information of a collector with those initials, probably Victorian?

I'm surprised to see that Krasnaya_vityaz and myself are the only members to use the 'post a photograph of yourself'. What's wrong? All shy?

But always enjoy a good fight???

Ah! The rewards of dabbling in politics and religion!

Some Continental contemporary copies of the English 13th/14th centuries are worth MORE than their equivalent "real" coins.

Nice! But do you know who she is/was?

Isn't it strange that all religions profess to believing that "Thou shall not kill" yet all spend inordinate amounts of time killing people who do not agree with them!

Bann all religions - then wars will have to be fought for the real reasons!

I keep asking this - who grades the graders?