Peter

Thanks for that Gary....I will hunt one down. Peck... if you PM me with your Email address I will send you the letter (Pdf)from the April 1979 coin monthly. Its just an observation when a couple of examples are referred to.

Apart from hammered or gold metal detecting silver or copper won't be above fine values.....on a beach...even worse

Next to my bed I have a pile of old coin monthlies which often send me to sleep (next to my Jazz mags ) I will try and find the letter over the next few evenings. I have put post it notes on all the interesting articles and I'm sure I did this one. There were a couple in Colincookes sales...The Oxford collection....which on the face of it went cheaply. I received my mint darkened 1918 today (delivered 1.99) and the condition AU is spot on...happy days.

Nice job - just need to correct you on 1914 and 1915 farthings (haven't looked further than Geo V) - there are TWO known varieties of each farthing for those dates (a different obverse introduced in 1914). Also, in 1918, there is only 1 obverse and reverse - the "variety" as such, is that some farthings were darkened at the Mint like pre-1918s, others were issued with full lustre. Apart from the rare 1915 I've got them all (well the darkened 1918 has been ordered) Only 1953 has produced a few varieties....I'm sure there must be more.

You have the 1915 Obverse 1 farthing? No I haven't got the closed TT version. It hasn't quite reached superstar status. I do have the coin monthly when this variety was 1st mentioned (letter to the editor). I'm not sure about rareity because it is quite difficult to spot (Ebay pictures are not usually good enough to ID from). As an aside 1915 regardless in high grade is / was difficult. Colins aboutfarthings site has listed many new varieties....if an encyclopedia is ever produced the market will boom....get in there now.

James Good to see you back...how ever you find time to hold down a job and produce a web site beats me. I've got a massive back log of coins to catalogue.....months work made no easier by Mr Goodes efforts to check over my existing 1/4ds. A few years back I remember your wife bought you some gold for Xmas....good on her and take the profit.....I just still get the socks and aramis.

I have a comprehensive mass of coin mags/publications etc going back to the 60's. Here are some of the biggest pups sold. 1960 LIZ crown including polished dies OOps All h & kn 1d's Basically all the published key date modern coins (who wants 40+ 1959 scottish 1/- as an aside). The coins that have done better are the common pre 19C silver issues (1746 lima 2/6, 1758 1/- common Annes 1711 etc) These were cheap but have become desirable. There are still underpriced bargains out there....I just know especially 1/4ds as some dates Ebay,fairs,dealers just don,t have any stock. know your market. I'm going to make some silly purchases's over the next few years ( A couple of 1771 types,1860 mule' 1874 both G's over etc to complete my collection) but these will hopefully be funded by other dealings.

The verdigris is just below the 8 and looks a but greenish between the F & A. I zoomed the picture to 200%. A cast iron VF only books at £5 and no one pays book price.

Its a standard 1865 and looks cleaned. Its got dings and verdigris so value will be about £2 or £3

Look out for the 2 prong 1840 version....it took me years to get one.

Over the last few days Rendel has put on Andy's website (Onlinecoins) a few nice pieces of copper. Two really interested me but didn't quite tick all the boxes. A 1714 Anne 1/d in GF £375 & A 1860 mule for £195 (described as GF+ looks more like NF) I would of thought the Anne would do OK on Ebay.

Talk about flooding the market.

Pictures of the Anne depending upon cheque clearance etc.....I'm not looking for patterns but I've convinced myself this was currency...just the rare varieties to chase down now as I've faithfully informed Mrs Peter that my farthing purchases in the future will be rare (albeit expensive)...I need 1771 a&c 1856 R/E 1915 rare variety(I actually have a copy of coin monthly which identified this type)....Those were the days of a decent publication.....Coin news is TAT.

There are still a lot of the old time dealers about....Peter Ireland....Jeffries etc. Joan Allen was the leadiing light for detectetorists but she died in the 80's. New dealers are rare until you go to the top end of the market. If you need to make £400 a day there are easier ways.

Whilst I acknowledge CGS pertain to set high standards in grading I'm not sure they are not milking the system. This farthing went for £90 in their Feb 09 auction and was subsequently graded at CGS85 and now on offer for £150. Once its in the slab you won't see the problem at 3 o'clock. I also emailed them regarding a "finest" George 1 farthing which had spots of verdigris....no reply. Whilst I welcome london coins in the market.....don't buy the slab. http://www.londoncoins.co.uk/webcatalogue/124/L295R.JPG

Hi Gaz There doesn't appear to be anything of value (I did look for the silver 1945 3d) Peckris is probably right in shifting them on Ebay. A couple of rarer coins are the 1950 1d,1952 6d, 1959 scottish shilling & 1949 3d. Unfortunatly the majority of coins are "well circulated" For your information 1920-1947 is 50% silver and currently goes for around 10x face so a halfcrown (12 1/2p) will be worth £1.25 in silver. Pre 1920 silver is 92.5% silver and worh approx 18x face. You may get some interest on the Victorian bun 3d's as these are quite rare (even on Ebay) I hope this helps Peter

Bargains....you should show a profit on Ebay

Thanks Colin I took all of the variety data from your website and input it into a spreadsheet for my quick reference, I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t realise your website was so detailed with so much information, it’s a credit to you. I will second that although I have completed my currency copper farthings from 1672.....the collection is still growing

I won't be bidding as I have overspent big time this year....although Mrs Peter realises everything I buy is "probably" an investment...at least its not all up against the wall.

Few too many proofs for my liking, but in mitigation, I love this 1919H penny on page 2. The sales blurb associated with the lot is a bit economical. It suggests that people have difficulty grading coins that aren't mint red and that the slabbed grade should give added confidence for bidders. What it doesn't mention is that a penny with wear to Britannia's fingers isn't uncirculated, shouldn't be called mint state, and shouldn't be graded 64. There also appears to be some trace of rubbing to the portrait. I am sure it will do well. A beautiful example and whether graded MS64 or more probably CGS AU78 it would be welcome in my collection.

Unless I've not kept up with some of the rarer varieties, I'd say that all 20th Century currency farthings are easy to come by, bar two : The 2+A 1953 pairing (especially the proof) - the 1+B is quite easy The 1915 'TT', Obverse 1. I have no real idea of the relative scarcity of the 1953 2+A, but I do know the 1915 is exceptionally rare. It's when you get to the Victorian bun and copper series that it really gets interesting. The different TT obverses are applicable to 1914 and 1915, there is also the 1911 hollow neck/normal neck versions, and you could possibly include the 1917 bright/dark finish. Other than coins that escaped the artificial darkening that about sums it up for the 20th century farthings at the moment Isn't it 1918 with the bright/dark finish ?

Offers are always considered

I just cracked and bought the Anne

A Newcastle mint 1/4d made over £700 on Ebay last year.

and another.....what a complete farce. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120456365825