Rob

From a trade perspective, hopefully they will keep the collection intact in a museum as it would overhang the market for years unless sold off cheaply. As a collector, there is a good supply of these already, which mostly satisfies the market, so for those who just want an example there is little to be gained from dispersal unless they are quick off the mark to acquire an example of a particular type and mint. Whereabouts was it found? Looking at the contents in the picture, it was assembled over quite a period of time.

EU law has taken precedence over UK law as required by membership, so anything at national level has to conform to the terms dictated by Brussels. European wide standards require EU standard laws. Not being tied to the EU would provide flexibility if desired, not to adhere to their instructions. A common position might be desirable, but so would the ability to respond to changing circumstances. The EU doesn't stray from its rules based operation, so even if we need to react to a situation we may well not be allowed to. Our hands are tied by a group who owe us nothing. The point is that over the past 40 years, this country has gone down the economic tubes somewhat. We are in an unhealthy position and the status quo isn't working for us, but that doesn't stop us having to pay year on year for the privilege. Only in 1974 have we been net beneficiaries of funds, and I remember the refund was flagged up at the time as being the exception. If we were net beneficiaries in bad times and funded others in good, then it would be easier to sell the concept of the EU to the man on the street - but we are only allowed to be net contributors. What would have happened over the past 40 years had we not been members is speculative and hypothetical and we could have been better or worse off - nobody knows. But it is apparent that this country is haemorrhaging money as it stands due to the highly negative trade balance, and resources are finite. We need to take positive steps to move closer to self-sufficiency where possible. Being bound by EU rules is never going to let us nurture or support home grown enterprises. I would prefer that we spent our money on developing our own facilities rather than on propping up another state that needs life support. No country can be entirely self-sufficient with the exception of possibly Russia , or the US if it became less consumption minded. Europe works very well for 5 of the 6 founding countries along with a few immediate neighbours, but southern Europe is a mess socially because of the commercial and financial flows back to the geographic and economic centre, i.e. Germany. Ultimately people need jobs, and that can only have any chance of happening with political union - which is only likely to happen in the short or medium term as the least bad option. The rules are simple and straightforward. Any access deals require us to take instructions from Europe, who won't be wanting to do us any favours. All I see going forward is that they 'negotiate' continued payments to prop up their spending habits in return for access, while we have no say. There will be 27 countries, all pressing for their Brexit bonus. If we are 10 billion worse off now, then one can assume they will want that deficit to enlarge, to show that we are worse off. It's pretty unedifying. There are many facets of an economy, but the best thing people could do is to put their money where their mouth is and conciously buy goods produced by people in this country. Supporting your own workforce is key to a healthy economy because it costs a lot to have people sat on their backsides doing nothing. Whilst we have a reasonable level of employment, we are effectively paying to provide for a lot of people in other countries. Whilst this might seem simplistic, we do need too start somewhere. Charity begins at home.

Sorry, meant Spelman. Got tied up in rant mode.

Perhaps we could get the EU to agree to no deal? That would satisfy the Cooper amendment and its supporters by leaving with a deal.

Cooper and Brady amendments passed. That's unhelpful. The pressure for taking no deal off the table emasculates our negotiating position by tying our hands behind our back. It's the one route we can take that would result in our getting something from the EU. Removing no deal means they could cherry pick access to all our markets whilst dictating how we have to behave, just to allow us some access to theirs theirs. WHEN WILL MPs HAVE SOME FAITH IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE TO THINK AND ACT INDEPENDENTLY? I want someone to stand up for this country, not pander to the unaccountable in Brussels who dictate yours and my lives. Why be part of something in which you have no say?

They are just another section of the rich panoply of numismatics and as such are eminently collectable. Collect too narrowly and you miss out on the eclectic and frequently interesting. Dies, trials, proofs, patterns, errors, off-metal strikes..........

Just looks like a die flaw which is a natural feature of wear and tear where a small piece of metal has flaked off the surface. You do get clashed dies with a mirror image of the other side, but this is too mucky/rough to see it should it be there and the flaw too prominent to be this.

I think the OP coin looks good too with no obvious porosity. The die combination is illustrated in Borden & Brown's article in the 1983 BNJ, p.128 - 23-O2, R2. The left hand flaw on the illustrated example is earlier, showing as 2 discrete lumps. There are 6 examples referenced in the article (3 in private hands) which formed part of the study, but it is very unlikely this list is exhaustive. Somewhere, someone has the original. I would suspect this is one of the large number of copies which surfaced soon after the turn of the millennium. If a copy, the weight and thickness will be the key. It is likely there is a join line from the two halves as made, but this might have been filed off.

Inverted die axis too on the 1933 - which helps.

Anything you pick up in a charity shop could be iffy. As long as they only cost a pound or two though, you can't go wrong, but any more and you are playing with fire if you don't know what you are doing, because the charity shop won't have a clue what they have. If you want a forgery/modern copy, you might as well use alibaba.

FWIW, 3 years on I'm still waiting for someone to provide an argument as to why we should vote to remain. Not why we shouldn't leave, but to actually state a positive reason for doing so.

I suspect the vendor may still not realise judging by the condition listed immediately below the title listing

The stylistic connection is obvious, but with different geographical locations for the various designs, that begs the question whether the stag or horse is a representation of the animal shown, or an allegorical portrayal of a deity. eg. The sun (or moon?) could be indicative of a heavenly design, such as the stag representing the pincers of the constellation Scorpio. I know very little about Viking legends, so what is the significance of the triquetra? Does it represent a comet? If a sun or moon applies, then a comet is unlikely to be far behind, and that just leaves the animal. Any gods known to be represented by a horse or stag? Just thinking out loud.

I don't think the question of those too young to vote at the time but are now, is not relevant. This has been and will always be the case, but a line has to be drawn somewhere. I had to wait 41 years to vote on the membership issue, having been a few months too young to do so on the last occasion. I lived with it then and think those affected now should do the same. The proper time to have had this vote would have been prior to Maastrict or Lisbon, but the country wasn't consulted. Every successive EU treaty reduced the options available for those who are unhappy with EU membership, making the cost and difficulties of leaving increasingly onerous. I do believe this represents the last opportunity we will have to break free from the EU. There is little evidence of a significant swing in the opinions of voters on this subject. The polls all indicated that we would vote remain in 2016, so why should the figures be more indicative now of a small majority to reject Brexit than they were then. A second referendum could easily result in a similar outcome given the entrenched positions of many. If in the view of Remain the country voted 'the wrong way' in 2016, a 52:48 vote to remain in a second referendum would be no more conclusive this time round, though the argument would undoubtedly be put forward that the country has spoken and we must uphold the result. Vive la difference. The current impasse is simply the result of asking a group of non-believers to act on behalf of people who voted for an opposite view.

Correct

A large number of slabbed British pieces are overpriced in the US, whether it be eBay or saleroom. Stick a higher number on the label and the price often doubles or more. eg. the latest Heritage sale has an 1887 crown currently sitting at $1100. A good few years ago now, someone paid approx £300 after add-ons for a 1901 penny, and there has been a number of Elizabeth II bronze selling for £50+ against a couple of quid for a raw coin. It's a parallel universe.

Why would a majority view in Parliament for a second referendum be any more legitimate than the original referendum? Ok, I appreciate we have a problem here with the decision of the people given to a bunch of opponents to implement. A group who in the main reject the outcome and can't be trusted to deliver, but could work for and possibly deliver a no Brexit outcome would be an absolute disgrace, and I think would lead to considerable unrest on the streets. The view of those MPs saying we should have a second, third etc referendum until we produce the right outcome would be entirely in keeping with EU standards, so one can only assume that MPs are comfortable with their emasculation from decades of being told what to do by Brussels and have lost the will/ability to do things first and foremost for the people of these islands. It should not have escaped people that the French and German leaders recently agreed to discuss, formulate and enact a policy of greater integration with cross-border projects connecting the two countries on various subjects whereby there is joint ownership of projects. This onward drive to a European superstate is the reality of the future and just one aspect of the EU that voters rejected. If this country's MPs aspire to be under permanent Franco-German control (because the EU is essentially their project, being the two major economic powers), then they should be honest and say so. 40+ years of EU membership has had mixed benefits for this country, but it is fair to say that since the introduction of the common currency, that path has been resolutely down. The hopelessly undervalued German economy vs the Euro has ensured they will be in clover for years and years to the detriment of the rest of the EU, which probably helped the French decision. Yet despite this, you still find a majority of our politicians refuse to contemplate going down a path that would free us from their control. Why? Germany is on a free lunch relative to the other member states courtesy of the Euro rate, and the French want to see the back of us anyway as it would improve their clout in the 2 country ruling elite. Somehow we have to get a no deal outcome from this mess as it is the only way to no longer be subservient to Brussels. All other options would negate the referendum result.

Josie has been around for years, just not posted recently. English is not his first language.

Blocked dies. When coins are struck, a small amount of metal debris is created which over time can gradually fill the incuse detail on a die leading to what you describe.

We really do need a button saying this item was listed because there was an error in the member.

There were a lot of problems at the beginning trying to register etc which I'm not convinced have been ironed out properly, as I usually have to make a phone call to find out if the registration has worked. As for the lot won, you were lucky. Last auction in London I wanted to buy a piece and was willing to go to about 1K all in. Bidding opened asking for 600 so I bid, but there was no reply bid at a higher level, just a comment that 600 wasn't enough because they were looking for 700, so the lot was passed as I couldn't increase my bid due to the fact I was highest bidder. Not to worry as no coin is a must have at any price, my life won't end if I don't get it and there are many ways to spend the funds available - which I did the following day. But it p's you off at the time. CNG didn't cover themselves in glory last week either.

Nothing special, just a regular group D obverse. Ex Lockett 4451, Brooker 90A and Selig 28

If you look at the letters on my FLORENNT unite, five years on you can see the letters are now a single punch. I would suggest the later piece is also Briot's work, as it has his characteristic A with the slanted top. Much better workmanship than in 1630, even if the literacy has gone downhill.

I think the same exercise has been performed for all 3 Ns. They are of similar style and both appear to be a composite letter made from 2 Vs, one upright, the other inverted. Many letters were composite at this time. I would say not an error, just a reflection on contemporary engraving and limitations. Advances were made in the following decade, such as the shilling E3 bust punch which was the first one punch bust, previously all having been made from separate crown, head and chest punches.

Surely a general collection would include Maundy money? Anyway, books about topics other than a collector's personal criteria expands knowledge and may inspire to branch out.