Peter

As a nipper my Great Uncle Arthur lived in Southampton and through his shipping connections had access to 1000's of foreign coins. He never sorted them but just apparently kept them in a large box.Every time he visited my grandfather he would bring me a large bag of coins(and a £5 note ) There must be pikey in me (like Scott )but I was happy to sift through these and ID them.I am now the proud owner of a Danish 10 ore 1947 coin which is extremely rare. I feel a bit awkward about going through dealers junk boxes(I would love to) Right that is my confession I am a coinaholic.

I remember from my youth "Buy British" plastic bags with a Union Jack on them that were made in Hong Kong. More recently my daughters wanted some Union Jack bunting,flags,hats,flipflops,.They came back from town with 3 carrier bags full.I was expecting a £50-£60 bill but it came to £8 as they had gone to poundland....all Chinese imports. I try to only buy British meat and we source the majority of our fruit and veg locally (apart from the exotic). I work in the construction industry and value engineered out Swedish sanitary ware,French suspended ceilings.The Iron fittings and locks have to be Swedish(Abaloy)so we couldn't change these.It is the dumb Architects who spec all this.This is for a major Water company. We were also forced to use an Italian company to do the steel spall plates on MOD installations which I know for a fact was sourced from Turkey.(A spall plate is the inner lining to bomb proof concrete covered structures).I also think the Italian company was sponsored by the Italian government....too much info but we don't seem to be protecting our own industries.

Moving on from that, the people I won't give a discount to, are those who wander up to my stall, don't say a word and then spend the next 10 minutes fingerng through every coin I've got, put some of them back in the wrong place, keep genuine customers from my wares and without making eye contact pick up a £2 halfpenny and say 'how much is this?'. I'm afraid under those circumstances my response will be, 'the price is on the ticket'. Communication is everything in life. There is one dealer at the Midland who wouldn't give me discount on a £2 1/2d

Moving on from that, the people I won't give a discount to, are those who wander up to my stall, don't say a word and then spend the next 10 minutes fingerng through every coin I've got, put some of them back in the wrong place, keep genuine customers from my wares and without making eye contact pick up a £2 halfpenny and say 'how much is this?'. I'm afraid under those circumstances my response will be, 'the price is on the ticket'. Communication is everything in life. At fairs I will spend a lot of time chatting.Stops me spending too much.I can honestly say a chat and being remembered is part of the fun and enjoyment.If there were coffee machines on tables. At the Midland I head for one dealer first he welcomes me as an old friend.It works both ways .What I do hate is other dealers almost snatching nice stuff from trays I am looking at.

It is common commercial nous.I quite like it when there are no prices and let the bartering commence.One thing sticks in my mind when I agreed a deal for a farthing.I asked the dealer how did he know his base price.He said I don't but I know what I should of bought it for. Some of the dealers use codes.Quite easy to crack.

That is very nice. I'm not a little guy but put a few away for me. Dave you have a good eye.

Is there one publication that gives the average weights of earlier coins? Something i've been looking for to Derek. Now that this thread has made a kind of conclusion, is it possible to open a new thread called Fakes and post it in there and sticky pin it for future refrences? I think you have requested it before.It is a great idea.

Peck does copper.He gives a weight range and average of his studied coins. I weigh mine it is all good info. I think there was much tighter controls on silver and especially gold...hence adjustment marks.

Off to bed now but it is underweight and a Chinese copy.

No...we have them de-clawed and shave their tongues at birth. My cheeks are also very tough after living with Mistress...I mean Mrs Peter for a long time A fatal flaw in your cunning plan is the failure to have their teeth pulled. If they decide to have a nibble whilst licking you may find yourself feeling rather deflated (you know how puppies love to chew on balls)....... I like to hold a pair of puppies whilst my balls are chewed.... Make sure you're not reading anything provocative while sat there - you know what dogs like to do with sticks I think puppies would have little use for a toothpick though Peck :D I won't Whooosh peck.But us Suffolk boys fed on good grub and beer pack a nice package....So I hear.

No...we have them de-clawed and shave their tongues at birth. My cheeks are also very tough after living with Mistress...I mean Mrs Peter for a long time A fatal flaw in your cunning plan is the failure to have their teeth pulled. If they decide to have a nibble whilst licking you may find yourself feeling rather deflated (you know how puppies love to chew on balls)....... I like to hold a pair of puppies whilst my balls are chewed.... Make sure you're not reading anything provocative while sat there - you know what dogs like to do with sticks I think puppies would have little use for a toothpick though Peck :D I won't Whooosh peck.But us Suffolk boys fed on good grub and beer pack a nice package....So I hear.

Then everybody will start playing safe and begin buying up all the old farthings and hammered! Prices will rocket but you won't be able to afford to buy any more! Ashmore is an example when hammered coins were reproduced on a massive scale.I have bought a couple.If you can buy original silver (which is plentiful if you run your detector over a few fields) a die can be reproduced and hey presto.A few Viking dies have been found. Learn boys learn. I don't mind contempory forgeries in fact I will buy them. There are a lot of hammered(and milled)gold coins out there. Man up as Mrs Peter says as she thrusts the broom in my hand.I give her a smile and a glass of white and everything is Honkeydory. You might need a mop and bucket rather than a broom - it's more practical. We only need mops and buckets after visits from our Northern friends or we have bought new a new puppy or kitten. Last time my buddies from Knarsborough came the cleaners were called in. "Wot no gravey with me chips" and then honked in beautiful Bury St Edmunds market place.In Crete and the USA holidays over a few years after I think we tamed them.I could name an optician and a high standing chap...but I won't.

Then everybody will start playing safe and begin buying up all the old farthings and hammered! Prices will rocket but you won't be able to afford to buy any more! Ashmore is an example when hammered coins were reproduced on a massive scale.I have bought a couple.If you can buy original silver (which is plentiful if you run your detector over a few fields) a die can be reproduced and hey presto.A few Viking dies have been found. Learn boys learn. I don't mind contempory forgeries in fact I will buy them. There are a lot of hammered(and milled)gold coins out there. Man up as Mrs Peter says as she thrusts the broom in my hand.I give her a smile and a glass of white and everything is Honkeydory.

My pair of fake Croc's are better quality than Mrs Peters real ones.Copying 1849 technology won't be difficult. It is big business in Asia.Do you think they can every reproduce our crap early copper(I think us farthing boys are quite safe). The Chinese have concentrated on US coins but we have a few to worry about,Northumberland shillings,gothic florins and 1905 2/6's spring to mind.Get them slabbed if in doubt...no brainer.Or get provenance.Simples I might of mentioned that colleagues bought unbadged Lacoste golf shirts whilst working in Istanbul for £1 each,a badge added in India made them £50 when in the pro shops. There will be a time when the Asian fakes are better than our originals.

Turned this one down for $100 before Xmas...couldn't live with the black spot on the obverse.A good example of how eye appeal will effect the value. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370617835351?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_1059wt_1270

I cleared out loads of shrap last year.Amongst other tat we cleared £250 in 2 1/2 hrs and then spent £50 on lunch on the way home.The remaining £200 was split 4 ways. I did have a wander around the other tables but it was junk.Someone did leave their medical eyepiece on our table...which was nice.

No...we have them de-clawed and shave their tongues at birth. My cheeks are also very tough after living with Mistress...I mean Mrs Peter for a long time A fatal flaw in your cunning plan is the failure to have their teeth pulled. If they decide to have a nibble whilst licking you may find yourself feeling rather deflated (you know how puppies love to chew on balls)....... I like to hold a pair of puppies whilst my balls are chewed....

http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=6&threadid=728120&STARTPAGE=1 Interesting.Mmmm

No...we have them de-clawed and shave their tongues at birth. My cheeks are also very tough after living with Mistress...I mean Mrs Peter for a long time

Over $821,000,000 worth of business in the last 12 months. I have seen some lovely coins but never bid. I have never seen negative posts about them on any forum. Worth a punt if they have something you want.

I would send it to CGS.If it gets authenticated If it doesn't lessons have been learnt.A fairly inexpensive coin is good to learn on. I have a feeling it will be returned with a made in China label

Wow... just... wow. I have no words for that listing. It's been taken down, it seems. I sent the seller an email letting them know that brass is golden not gold. A bit of a sarcastic John!Most unlike you.

We just keep a stock of golden labrador puppies handy.

It's weight of 10.8g is wrong. 1849's should be 11.31g the other gothic's 11.35g.

Depends on what the coin is.Discounts for cash or cheque maybe offered (paypal/credit cards incur fees).On Ebay buy it now or best offer is an invitation. I watched a £300 coin for a couple of weeks.Put an offer in of £155 delivered which was accepted.This was a one off though. At fairs you can often get a sweetner.But if a £100 coin was being offered at £130 just set your limit.The dealer needs to make a living too.