Rob

I concur. As one of the last children taught both imperial and metric systems in parallel, mental numerical agility came as second nature. 2.4 old pence to a new penny - no problem.

Many countries have used the word 'New' following a recoinage, with India and Israel immediately coming to mind. As for the retained use of the same large flans, it is quite helpful to have this as it requires no changeover for meters, and there were a large number of those across the country. e.g. Many houses had a gas meter. Many countries also have or have had smaller sized larger denominations, particularly at the changeover from the low denomination base metal coins to the higher value silver ones.

Parliament has just sold the electorate down the river. This is probably the last opportunity we will have to get out of the EU with a clean break and there is now a real danger we will never escape from the EU. The MPs' message that we will never leave without a deal means they might now pass May's crap deal as the least bad option. When we will be served by a bunch of politicians who put this country first? Their decision increases the likelihood that our lives will be determined, probably in perpetuity by a bunch of people in Brussels who frankly couldn't give a s**t about this country. Given Parliament's apparent collective desire to be ruled from Brussels, we can rest assured the no-deal will provide all the funding the EU wants, plus a bit more as a goodwill gesture. Needless to say we will have to pay heavily for the right to have no say, this despite effectively signing up to virtually all EU rules. The EU will be laughing all the way to the bank.

The arrogance of politicians was at its highest before the referendum when they didn't bother to make a case for remaining, thinking that the public would simply do as they recommended. After all, if 80% of MPs say remain, then there is clearly no point in pressing the case. And yes, they didn't bother to canvas public opinion before the vote, relying on the sheep to deliver their wishes. The EU liked Labour's idea for the simple reason that it means we would be tied to them indefinitely, having to adopt every ruling they make and accordingly would have left in name only whilst still leaving us to pick up the bill, without a say. Have a second referendum and Parliament could probably only offer the single option of 'tick here to remain', with them having voted to reject no deal which was the only other viable option. We should not underestimate politicians' contempt for public opinion. People on all sides of the divide(s) have rightly become very cynical of anything MPs say or do. The question of what happens next and its timing is moot. As it stands we leave on the 29th, but even a negotiated extension to article 50 won't satisfy the remainers because we will still have passed the cut-off date to rescind it. There might have been an EU ruling that we could rescind the decision unilaterally, but that would surely expire on departure day. Irrespective of views on whether it is right or wrong, a second referendum would therefore only be of any use if the legislation had already been repealed. Otherwise, we would have to re-apply to join the EU with the attendant problems of having to join the Euro as a new member, sign up to Schengen, pay even more per month to a system that would give us little in return, not to mention the views of various member countries as to whether they would want us back in. Joining the Eurozone would merely cement our position of weakness given the overwhelmingly strong position into which Germany is locked via the Euro exchange rate. One thing is certain, they wouldn't let us join the Euro at a rate 10% below the status quo. I can see Germany welcoming us back as another net contributor, but French opinion might not be so favourable as they stand to increase their political clout following our departure. Ireland aside, I think most member states would be indifferent to our remaining as they have little to lose if Germany picks up the tab - quite affordable given its trade balance. I also think the EU would be very reluctant to offer us anything in the way of EU infrastructure in case we decided to leave again. All in all, we are still better off leaving than being tied up in a straitjacket at the whims of the other 27. On the plus side for the EU, I read today that the woman replacing Merkel had suggested they stop relocating the circus to Strasbourg every month and remain in Brussels permanently. Cue French disagreement (for which read hurt pride) - yet hypocritically claim to be pressing for improved environmental pollution targets despite the unnecessary mass movements from monthly relocation. She also suggested that EU officials should be put on the same tax basis as the rest of the population - perish the thought. Maybe the EU's core is having a few internal rumblings. Shame it's too late.

I think there could be a trace of a stop both before and after the date. No stops either side is P683. You need a decent example to confirm no stops as they filled easily.

I suspect it is them covering their backsides on the evidence of past degradation seen. If there has been a significant number of cases where toning has changed after 20 years, then you guarantee it for 10. It would be interesting to have an independent view on the long term results of the cooper/bronze cleaning agents used in 'conservation'.

I think a sample to the NHS is in order. God knows what they will find.

That's just a general wish list of things. We want to get something cheap and add value - we all do, but maybe it was fairly or overpriced in the first place. The list of faults is one we would all like to avoid, but in the case of the less obvious ones is a matter of opinion. I could give quite a few examples of repaired high value things getting into a slab, including one, which some will remember was the blatantly obviously scratched gold halfpenny I sold which came back as a proof 64 cameo after repair. Repaired nobles with graffiti removed, an Anne farthing with a scratch polished out, hammered shillings with crosses scratched before the bust........ - funny how they all got graded without a details label. My take on it is that the label confers legitimacy, irrespective of the quality of judgment.

As has been said many times before, there is no right or wrong way to collect. People might be a tad misguided in the opinion of others, but the decision to collect in the way they do is theirs and theirs alone. I have no idea who numistacker is, but surely he is entitled to consider what constitutes a sensible price and to collect as he wishes? Just about every one of us believes in what he or she thinks and wants. Time alone will tell us whether it was the best decision in terms of 'return on investment', but then, not all are collecting to make money. I know I have overpaid in the past and will do so in the future, but I've also bought some things cheaply. Only with divergent opinions on pricing is it possible for collectors to acquire as much material as they do, because a fixed price and regulated market would leave no scope for bargains, and nobody would bother dealing if it meant you couldn't buy cheap and sell dear. The fixed pricing would scare off those who collect speculatively because they happened to acquire something cheaply in the first place. The only good thing about a regulated fixed price market would be that it could then act as a place to deposit spare funds - but a bank account would do just as well.

You need to weigh it and look at it alongside a known good piece. Unfortunately I only have one with initial marks both sides. There is a bit of leeway in the bust position looking at the number of dies employed and there are quite a few punches used. The F is probably blocked or not struck up in the first place as it coincides with the ghosting of the reverse cross.

The OP coin's obverse legend ends in RA, not F, FR or FRA. That would be wrong.

If you can't see it, then it isn't. The last one I saw was obvious, but don't have a picture. ESC has a picture which isn't obviously 8/7. You should be able to see the ends of the lines, the angle or a straight line crossing through the 8 to be certain.

Or a wheelchair hurtling head first into a black hole.

I read somewhere that they were delivered individually wrapped - not something you would associate with a currency piece.

Correct.

I'm surprised they didn't put a wheelchair on the reverse. Surely that is synonymous with SH for the masses in a way that black holes never will be?

I don't understand why he is trying to dissuade bidders from offering higher than a pound. Surely the object is to raise as much money as possible.

It is S1882, but Henry VI, not Henry V. Archbishop Kemp at York. The legend does match EBORACI, in fact you have the full extent of the reading with the letter bases visible. What threw you is the mascle after EBO. It being a pinecone-mascle penny, you get the symbols variously distributed in the legend.

I was wondering if they had recycled the ad recently, that's all.

Probably bags of them found in a bank vault. I know a former bank manager who acquired some halfcrowns following a discovery in a vault. They would have been on the bank's books at face value and presumably it would have been unethical to sell them on at a profit.

That's quite an old Viz. I recall that advert being posted on here 5 or 6 years ago, maybe more.

This gives cause for thought and needs a careful looking at. https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/world-coins/great-britain-george-iii-1-2-penny-1774-ms64-red-and-brown-ngc-/a/271912-36390.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515 A small attempted piercing(?) by the rim at 6 o'clock below the date and in a 64 slab. The shadow says it is probably twice as high as the datal figures deep. That's too much for a flaw, which in any case looks too round for my liking.

Try hearts. The Hanoverian shield has hearts on it as noted on the 1787 coinage, so would be appropriate for anything commencing with G1.

I wonder who is sitting on them? But I suppose one or two fits the criteria of any number........

It's horses for courses, as someone somewhere will like it whether it is dipped, retoned, cleaned or whatever. Last weekend at Wakefield I had a guy visit the table who was upset that he had a coin that he'd tried to clean, scratched it, and now couldn't find a buyer or even give it away (I also refused to accept it at no cost). He had come to find an uncirculated replacement coin he could clean. When I pointed out the error of his ways, he said he likes his coins to have a nice shine. I guess there's nothing wrong with trashing value if you have no intention of selling - ever.