Peter

For some of the really horrid pre 1920 I take it to a man on the local market who gives me cash there and then @55p/g.No postal worries and cash.He will pro rata 50% silver and USA 80%. If the coins are reasonable say NF+...eBAY.

I'm sure they do, but I would not like to be the onwer who's item they might be gambling on! Or do they only gamble sell their own items for sale!? They offer to buy as well as auction coins. I have bought several coins from them.

Peck...sit down old chap. he doesn't exist.

Lockdales aren't the only "monkey" dealers.I bought an R/E 1856 farthing (you can't get clearer than that) for peanuts it was described 1856 1/4d :)This was from a major dealer. I'm not sticking up for Lockdales but fine art auction houses often put few low estimates in to attract the punters.

I'm afraid unless the dealer/seller on Ebay is known and I trust them after good deals I just ignore the grading stated. There is frightfull overgrading/cleaned/dipped/tooled coins and some people must have a dumb switch in their brains to bid. I have thrown away better stuff...how do some people have the cheek to try and sell it?

I find him a bit steep. Go to BNTA'S web site and look in the members section.You won't go wrong with anyone there. I have a few other favourites both home and abroad but its taken years to dig out the wheat from the chaff. What about the dealers on this site?Red,Rob,John. The back of coin news gives loads more options. I keep harking back to fairs but when I constantly bought from the same dealers...it clicked.

Rob is right You could say the horse has bolted for investors.I'm shifting my lower grade silver and only buy the best I can afford now (unless it is a debatable variety I'm after when VF will do) I have never looked at coins as being a huge investment but everything I've bought over the years is holding it's own. I bought sov's and half sov's only about 5 years ago for (£80 & £40 each)..some of those have gone Word on the street says Maundy sets are undervalued.Start to read up and become educated in a series.One bit of advice is don't touch the modern chuff that is aimed at the uneducated.

JNC The dealers lists on the net are random and under many formats.A lot of good stuff will go before it appears on the net. Either get to know a few dealers or occassionally strike lucky. Try a coin fair where you may have 50 dealers stock to look through...although I have had success on net searching to find what I was after coin fairs have always produced. Look at auction catalogues on the net. Good luck. Peter

It is right here on the main predecimal site. http://www.predecimal.com/gradingchart.htm

There are also 4 published varieties of the 1957 calm sea 1/2d...you are a bad bad boy

I've ended up with farthings myself there are 1 or 2 which are out of my range or simply not available.I stll need a few accepted and unaccepted varieties.I sold a bit of my gold and a lot of silver and now don't bother with silver date runs just good quality examples.The same with my 1/2d's and 1d's. I need to relook at the hammered section and shift a few which don't cut the mustard.I have foreign with some nice examples but these need thinning out.I've got a big plastic container which so far is packed with about 2,000 coins to sell. Like Colin I've started picking up a few hammered farthings but they do get a bit expensive with a few monarchs for such a tiny coin and try to ID all the classes for Edward 1.

Here is a link to the double leopard found in a field and reference to the other 2 in the river Tyne Oh I wish http://www.spink.com/resources/press/doubleleopard200602.asp

Information overload that has legally been put together for you.Unless you want to be a scholar on the subject(s) But there are a few naughty boys selling Krause aswell.

Hmm I think you may have some difficulty as the forum is onwned by Chris who is based in Germany.(but experienced on rdio broadcasting)The guy who runs Cambridge coins is also radio experienced If you are portable you might want to try the London fair this weekend and try potluck with punters and dealers. Good luck

I've got good memories of Southport (the Prince of Wales Hotel)where a Company I was working for at the time sent their staff on courses. There was also some dodgy pick up joints (The Scarisbrick?)

I had access to my parents "CARD" tin and got reasonable quality date runs. I also fondly remember trips to the coastal arcades and always came home with a handful of Vickies.

It varies and sometimes I go for a few months without a purchase and then I may have a little spree. I have been selling and buying.I don't buy like a headless chicken and have specific targets.

Hi Luis Welcome to the forum.Spink gives every coin a reference. You might find Collectors Coins Great Britain useful on sale on this site for a few £.This covers coins from 1797 to date.It also gives the ESC,Freeman or Peck reference for the coins and lots of snippits of information.

I have a digital SLR and a USB microscope.I'm sure a normal compact can do the job and the USB microscopes are dirt cheap.I have tried to use my scanner but it is hassel.Daylight on the window cill is now my main method.

I dont have Gouby but I'm really not a 1d man.I do have Freeman. We all pay for the library and why not use it? Peck is always a reference I use again and again.

It is shame Chris but a task like that....I shudder.The Wyons are already around here peeling the spuds.Ahhh Dr Johnson and Montague have just arrived.

Peck died in the 60's.How I would have welcomed him around for dinner.The same with John Minishall and the late great Colin Cooke. I spoke to Colin several times and he didn't suffer fools. While I'm at it there is space for Sir Issac and all the Crokers.

Before I bought most books I used the local library. I would advise this as I must have bought 30 books and rarely use them all....However I love a book and they look good on my coffee table.

I must say my taste buds have changed over the years.I can eat olives,salad and a splash of balsamic vinegar till I'm blue in the face. It must be those romantic ventures to the Greek islands before kids.

I think Peck needs an update to bring everything together.The donkey work has been done.Varieties on farthings need to be listed.Even reading a Cooke farthing catalogue there are a lot of additions. Spink don't even list the 2 types of 1842 which are clear as a bell.