Rob

We aren't talking about a letter punch, but the initial mark which will be a separate punch. What I'm suggesting in the previous post is that the mark punch has a high relief C cut on top with the basic pomegranate in lower relief. I think Stuart is right in saying that the position of the C is too consistent to be a separate mark, which means that it has to be a single punch. It always wears down to the same basic C shape.

I'm not convinced about a reworked punch because the obviously higher relief of the C would not be possible to add to the punch, so it would have to be a new one. The 1st coinage pomegranate mark has a foot as per the bottom left, so to be missing as per the others it would have to be damaged. A C superimposed on a pomegranate would make sense in terms of the mint (Canterbury) and as the mark leading up to the end of the 1st coinage was a pomegranate, I considered the subtle change in design a possibility to reflect the start of the second coinage. The shape of the C is consistent across all 8 marks with the slight undulation on the bottom bar, the inner angles and its position relative to the stalk. Images 1 & 4 have a small dot which would tie in with a degraded foot if you compare with the bottom left. That has a definite blob on the left side in the right place. I could do with a high grade example of a mark with a foot, but that's all I have.

Seeing as nobody has contributed a single picture, here is a montage of uncertain marks. The earliest would appear to be the bottom left where there is a clear pomegranate with a bottom line. The bottom right looks as if the majority of the bottom line has broken off the punch. The high relief of the angular C is seen clearly on top row nos.1, 4 & 6. The profile of the bottom arm of the C suggests the punch probably degraded quite rapidly, where there is a consistent lump and indent irrespective of the presence of the bottom line. They are very common as a halfgroat, so it is inconceivable that nobody else has one. Anyone has one with a clear image to support or refute the above, please could they send it to me - thanks.

I don't think it is specific to this country, rather I think part of the problem is there are too many trying to make a living from eBay. It's no longer the preserve of casual sellers because people now realise that you don't get anywhere near book value in all bar a few cases. They also take the book as gospel. They also think they can grade. In many cases they also have the 'rare' variety, and if they don't will soon find something that makes it one. There is potentially so much at stake relative to salary which is why they feel defensive. As always, from politician to salesman, it is inevitably a case of style over substance. Most people don't get very successful or make themselves popular by giving an honest opinion. I have been there before.

Not necessarily. The post that started this thread was one Richard deleted this morning. As it was a post that I made verbatim, it was clearly a spam related issue, but got deleted just as I was going to report it. If they have links it is easy to see, but no link spammers are a bit more problematic. One of the regular features of the spammers with links seems to be that there is a capital letter at the beginning and again in the middle of the id, which is in itself about 8 or 9 letters long.

Shipping isn't free to the UK though. The $12 cost seems a strange amount to me. why is it not at least a grand?

Yep. Another example of multiple bidders with line of sight connection between the earholes.

And the second is Weight 8.56g. 2.4mm thick, 25.4 – 25.5mm diameter. Edge partially grained with even diagonals of insufficient depth. Die axis is 90o acw (270o) from correct position for en-coin. Seller on Alibaba, Sir Liu

Two lumps of sh*** landed on the doorstep today. I'm going to send them off to Stuart as he requested. If anyone else wants to have a look at them afterwards, they can do the rounds as long as the last person sends them back to go in the dodgy reference cabinet here. Broad indicators are the die axis is a joke, the weights are way over and one of them is thick enough to be a piedfort. Add in the obvious casting and I find it difficult to believe that anyone could be taken in by them. I suspect there are more varieties of copies out there. Any way, for future reference. Weight 7.82g. 1.9mm thick, 25.7mm diameter. Plain edge. Die axis rotated 20-25o acw (335-340o) from the correct position for en-coin. Seller on Alibaba - coins store

Seller probably doesn't know it's a copy given they are selling for charity. Drop her a line.

There's a lot better out there without double striking smacking you in the face

Nah, it's not gonna happen. Worst thing you could do. Go and enjoy your birthday and have a good one.

I like the line stating you should avoid 1866 and 1871 halfcrowns, as these are forgeries. OK, thanks for the info..

Usually, modern things that are off-centre are struck without a collar. What's the edge like?

drop Chris a message

I know the forum software doesn't like more than one link in a post, but I'm not sure if it takes previous links into consideration.

As a bit of a solipsist, I have no problems personally you would associate with a herd mentality. People? Take 'em or leave 'em depending on how I perceive them as individuals, starting from the principle that most people are decent.

Stuart. I don't think it really matters what insignia are on the planes - there will always be goodies and baddies irrespective of the identifying mark. Replace Germans or whatever with mushrooms and eventually the mushroom will be synonymous with evil. Human nature looks for something or someone to rally round. Safety in numbers or herd mentality, call it what you will, against the enemy or danger that must be there and is the default position. As desirable as it may be, it will take a great deal to change opinions despite the events of WW2 being 70-80 years ago. A few years ago, my wife (who is German) looked after an autistic Jewish child on a one to one basis. The family were great, but when it came to taking the child to school it was a different matter. A large number of children were at a loss. Obviously conditioned to think ill of anybody German, she was looked on with great suspicion despite the attempts by teachers and the head to explain that she was doing good. If you don't have broad minded parents, you are unlikely to achieve a balanced view from your ethnic or religious group in your school, social club or place of worship as these were often formed to create a rallying point for the culture or the 'oppressed'. Part of any nation's culture is remembering the historical wrongs done to your people as it provides a glue to maintain the group. Putting the past in the context of the time is hard. Being outward looking and treating everyone the same is even more difficult as it will inevitably be at the expense of your group's cohesiveness.

Looks like 6+G, but the pictures aren't the best.

There are no die numbers on halfpennies. A few 1862 halfpennies were struck with letters by the lighthouse, but numbers were only used on some 1863 pennies, silver (2/-, 1/- & 6d) from 1864 -1879 and gold from 1863 - 1874 sovereign and 1863-1871 half sov.

Legends and dates are frequently seen overcut. This was done to either change an old die to the current date, or to recut blocked characters. With use, a die becomes blocked with compacted rubbish - usually metal dust from the act of striking. As the die is otherwise ok, i.e. not cracked, recutting letters allows it to have further use, thus saving on the expense of a new die. It is particularly common in the Victorian period.

Given the legitimate owner, I think you can safely assume they have been researched. Conspiracy theory says it was Scottish Nationalists , after all, it was the Scottish coins that were stolen, not the English.

It's not that simple. An idea of the target together with approximate numbers to each section is as follows: Persons in whose name a coin was struck, including the episcopal issues. - 250 Denominations - 130 Metals used including the various degrees of fineness or debasement - 50 Examples of an attributed designer' handiwork - 190 (This is the one with the largest prospect for expansion) Initial or privy mark including overmarks - 330 Mint locations - 150 Miscellaneous which includes errors, metal sources, minting techniques etc. - 90 This list makes some sections difficult to complete without duplication, and in some case impossible. eg. the 26 new designers used for the Olympic 50ps are on coins with the same basic obverse as are most of the decimal issues. There are a number of mints which only existed for a short time which coincided with historical events. These will also be impossible to complete without duplication.

I don't have a main focus area. That's the point of the collection. Anything which offers variation in design is acceptable from Celtic through to the present, but although I try not to duplicate, sometimes it is necessary to have different years with the same basic design. e.g. the maundy reverses are essentially unchanged for nearly two centuries, but occur with a reamped obverse every time the monarch is replaced. I will confess to being unable to completely break up the Soho G3 halfpenny section and so only disposed of approx.30 pieces with the aim of having an example of each Peck type (DH1, DH2 etc). The cast -offs were examples in different metals of the same design.

Me, specialising...............in diversity The ultimate oxymoron.