Rob

Export licenses are required for any important artefact or antique subject to the rules here. http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/export-controls/export-licensing It's basically designed to ensure that national treasures don't get sold abroad when there is a good case to be made for keeping them at home. The Coenwulf gold penny was a good example of the licensing system in action as it provided for funds to be raised at home to ensure that the item didn't leave the country.

Only remember a bit of her.

The connected dots & rim were a result of Taylor's recutting of the 1806 proof die. See my article in the 2007 BNJ. The rim on the P1365 pattern halfpenny was degrading and showing signs of breaking up, so Taylor reduced the radius of the rim from 1-4 o'clock, filled in the 6 of the date and recut a 7 to make the 1807 proof halfpenny obverse die. There are no known Soho 1807 proof halfpennies. The coin which sparked the investigation is the one listed in the unrecorded varieties section. First page, I think.

It has suffered multiple die clashes. If you look above the head on the first ebay picture, there are a three displaced triangles. That is the triangle in the ribbon immediately above the knot. Multiple clashing happens frequently. There is a post somewhere else showing this, but I'll add it again to demonstrate. This shilling has a few die clashes with the usual rotational displacement, so you can see the inverted effigy.

The same filing marks apply to the 1807 gold proof - see below. Now consensus is that the gold one is unique, and I'm minded to think that the silver one is too because I can't find any references to suggest there are more. Peck recorded the Foster piece, but as that was graded EF and in a bulk lot, the implication is that it was impaired just as this one is, having a couple of scratches behind Britannia on the reverse. Having seen a single filed example of an 1807 in copper, I think it very likely that the three were together at some point. The gold one is definitely ex-Murdoch, and he also had a silver and copper example. My feelings are that these 3 were Murdoch's. The time they were made is likely to be the same, as the obverse die is in the same state on both, with a rust spot above US.

If you look at the raised rim, the surfaces have been neatly filed.

Sorry, I lied. The 'Gothic' bit is actually the first oak leaf

Part of the ribbon joining the two branches.

It's very common, particularly prior to 1882 when the Mint refurbished and took out the Boulton and Watt equipment that had been in place since the 1810 refurbishment. There are numerous examples through the years. In fact this occurs throughout history. Without the blank in place you will make an impression of the harder die on the softer one.

Die clash. The first picture shows the outline of the crown best, with the tie knot and immediate area seen above the head.

It could be that HM simply can't be a**ed to get worked up about it, unlike Victoria who was renowned for being picky about her portrait, particularly in her later years. The Jubilee head portrait took 5 or 6 years to gain grudging approval. Just look at all the slightly different pattern halfcrowns struck in 1884 for example. We also know the JH was unpopular, resulting in the veiled head bust being introduced in 1893. There was also the fact that the young head punches were nearing the end of their lives, so it all pointed to change.

The young head portrait was used up to 1895 on farthings in this country, and on colonial issues to the day she died.

That's what you do. Have a look. Look for as many reasons as possible as to why you wouldn't buy it. Compare it to the other items you have previously researched to ascertain where it stands in the pecking order gradewise. If it is in the top few and aesthetically ok then rule 1 applies unless there is one outstanding example out of a few known and the rest are crap. Hobson's Choice, you apply rule 1. If I haven't researched the available options, then more often than not I will move on, even if it seemed ok. Sometimes you regret not buying at the time, but more often not. If I know there are a few decent examples available then I avoid simply ticking the box as I know I will upgrade later if the right thing comes along. Things that only become available once every generation tend to fall under rule 1, as do coins with an impressive provenance.

Big Bang has a lot to answer for. I'm absolutely certain that Sheldon had nothing to do with the scale as he certainly wouldn't cope with 11 different categories of a statement of fact, namely, uncirculated. It's one of these sort of/very/extremely unique scenarios.

You have postage charges from everywhere apart from a coin fair, so I wouldn't worry too much about shipping. The overall cost is only really important when you are buying to sell on. If for the collection, then you will underpay for some and overpay for others. Then it is a question of desirability over price.

Anything coming from the US these days is costing $20 and up. Having said that, tracked and insured to either Europe or the US is a tenner and more from this country depending on value. As for pricing, for the past few years I have tended to use the $ hammer price as the proxy for the price in pounds, delivered. Keeps it simple, because a few pounds either way is neither going to break the bank, nor have a major impact on whether to buy or not.

Is that the legal equivalent of being sent to Coventry? Or is that Llantrisant?

Usually the regulation 5% whoever it comes with. Any taxed at 20% I have usually put down to a mistake by the individual concerned as opposed to a company wide lack of knowledge. They all appear to know the rules.

First, one of a number of patterns struck in conjunction with Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887. A sixpence by Spink / Thomas, ESC 1783. Second, a 1697 E over Y sixpence.

1807 proof halfpenny. I suspect this may have originally formed part of a set in gold, silver and copper, with possibly also a bronzed and aluminium example. The rims have been filed on this coin, and are similarly filed on the gold piece. Maybe 10 years ago, I saw a copper proof with filed rims. All this suggests they were done as a one-off on request from one of Taylor's customers. The filed rims aren't restricted to the 1807 either as my Wiener pattern shilling in copper (ESC 1383) also has the rims filed and again is the only example I am aware of. The question is who asked for them? Murdoch?

Just a repunched date to extend the life of the die I assume. The first I of VICTORIA might have had similar treatment.

Could do. Scrapping is environmentally friendly as it saves digging up Africa or Chile un-necessarily.

2p. As existing circulating currency, they are accepted at many outlets including banks, newsagents, supermarkets and any high street business. The can also be used in charity boxes. They are not suitable for on-line payments, because computers are not fitted with a coin payment mechanism.

Shilling

As all my previous contributions were lost due to changes at photobucket, here's a handful of previously listed examples that seemed popular for those who haven't seen them yet.