Sylvester

If i recall rightly it's J. Smiths. I know for a fact it's on the Shambles. (That little old rickety medieval street not far from York Minster) He said he might not be open at the beginning of Feb though as he's going somewhere. But if you do get to go then it's well worth it, he's (from my experience) very honest, and prices things up decently. That's where i got my bargin on that James II Half guinea from! I often spend a good hour in there just looking before i buy, and about half an hour just looking afgter i've bought. Depends what denomination you like most. Currently if you like half crowns and shield reverse sovereigns you can't really lose!

What came to my mind was (from left to right) Phillip II of Spain (as Geoff said) Elizabeth I (Rather caricature i know) And Francis Drake or Walter Raleigh or the like...for the last one.

Thanks for that Chris. I'm sure the 1675 is a 5/4, i think i can see the top of the 4 and the horizontal crossbar at the very rear of the 4. Funny that because the dealer didn't note it down as such, but noted the 1676 down as 6/5 but the 5 if it's there is very very faint, that's if it's there at all. Although i don't think 6 NOT over 5 actually exists as such. But the 7 is rather faint too...so it leads me to conclude that the 5 is present but just weak.

Dunno Eliza, depends how good the scanner is. I've tried to scan writing before and sometimes it just comes out totally blurred! Oh Chris get out that book of yours and give me the R/RR/RRR treatment on these like you did for my 1680 sixpence. The two that i bought are... (Sixpences) 1675 5 quite possibly over 4. 1676 6 over 5. and the one i didn't buy; Charles ii half guinea 1674. (a pretty decent one at that!) Thanks in advance... Syl.

Yorkshire hey? Have you tried that coin shop in York?

1956 most likely, production of this denomination was terminated in 1956.

1958?

I though that was James I? I can tell you that apparently George IV was one of the more hygenic monarchs that insisted on regular baths. His wife didn't believe in them however, and no wonder why he couldn't stand the sight of her. But sadly partially because George insisted on remaining cleaner than many of his contemporaries he was considered very odd, and became rather unpopular, there were many other reasons as well.

Yes i meant Tower Bridge...sorry i'm an ignorant person from the north! The English one i believe is actually the Millennium bridge...at Gateshead? Now that coin is horrid. The Scottish one is the Forth Bridge. That's pretty decent.

And then Chris can email it to me...

Why have they not done London Bridge???

How times have changed eh? Of course in the US you've still got all the things that pull in new collectors by the bucket full. The state quarters, coins from before the Second World War can still be found in change, and of course so can silver. It's things like that that drags everyone into collecting, amongst other things. What have we got...owow 1971 pennies!!! And if you're really lucky you might just get a steel penny that has missed the copper plating process. And that's about it...

Hmmm did i not mention that sixpences are the scarcest of the whole lot? No? Well they are. If you think Charles II Sixpences are hard to find you should try looking for a James II one! I've only ever seen one in my entire life. And when i comes to EM; Half crowns are everywhere! when compared to the other 3 proper silver coins. (leaving out the maundy stuff, which wasn't actually maundy as such). The only things that are harder to find than the sixpences are the C2 and J2 Tin halfpennies and farthings. And the gold of course (except the guinea, but all other denoms; well...)

Glad to see you back on here! And happy Birthday to you!

One day Chris one day but i've just spent all my money till April...the rest is mostly accounted for from now till then... But mi' Coincraft's got them in!

Now there's a coin you don't hear all that much about. I've seen pictures and all. And all those pattern George V double Florins, and twelve groat pieces. And what about those octorinos?

Does anyone own any genuine edward VIII coinage? Erm there is always that foreign stuff; in E8's name... That's geniune E8 coinage! But i have a nice Edward VIII pattern Crown, it's got a decent portrait on the obverse (i.e the type that the circulation crowns would have had) and the reverse is identical to that of the George V Wreath Crowns. So it does look like what could have very well been a genuine issue, rather than that hideous set that Maklouf came out with. I must admit i was never a fan of R. Maklouf, it seems odd to me all the fuss that's made over his new 1985 obverse by the coin books/magazines etc, and yet all the 1998 obverse gets refered to is, 'the new obverse 4' no mention of the designer, no grand introduction, usually added on as an after thought. Strange really...

Woow i haven't seen a copy of Coin News in a shop in years... Most high street shops around my area seem to stock the stamp one occasionally if i really unlucky, but i haven't seen any coin ones for a long long time. I guess WHSmiths just don't cater for coin collectors as much these days...

I've often heard it said that it's supposed to be The Golden Hind... Which was Sir Francis Drake's ship? If i remember rightly, well i know i once went on a school trip to visit it, either that or a replica of it...

Me probably, but who's gonna make the 1001st?

Erm yes and no, some are and some aren't apparently, but i can't remember which are and which aren't...

Impulsive Chris, impulsive, mind you i did spend a good hour stood there 'umming and ahhring' (as my mother says) about whether to buy the penny or the C2 6d in GVF 1677 with 7/6 but the 7 was weak, if almost none existant, tone wasn't too bad but not exactly what i would ideally have liked. Stephen penny is pretty good actually, the dealer stated VF or better on the reciept (so that is technically a legal statement, + signed), what with the weak strikes on these issues and the appalling quality of them and the terrible dies they used, often with many smooth areas where there should be a legend, i'm inclined to partially agree but to go a little lower with an F+/AVF. Couldn't turn down a chance like that could i?

I wonder how that one went by unnoticed? Unless they thought it was brass...

Funny you mention hammered coins Chris... I was meant to post that thing off to you today, but by the time i got back the post office was closed, (What was it 38p stamp you said? i wonder if they take 2 first class stamps on it cos i've got two at hand doing nothing in particular?...that way i can avaiod the post office's dodgy opening hours). Anyhow the reason why i missed them is because i finished Uni early and nipped over to York coins shop...and this is where i'm afraid to say that what i predicted has actually come true. I actually went for one of those Charles II Sixpences, and yep instead i came strolling out with that King Stephen Penny, i knew that would end up happening... Oh well i stand by my decision. (And my train was late hence why i didn't get back in time). Sylvester.

Ah Land of Hope and Glory...