Rob

Code? Someone elucidate, please.

Because designs aren't set in stone in perpetuity. The 1982 coins have the date on the rocks below the lighthouse. This was a single year issue.

Briot is reported to have had a lot of problems with his weights, with a significant percentage of pieces rejected for being out of spec. For some reason you don't often see marks which could be adjudged to be adjustment marks being applied to the hammered tower issues, so it begs the question whether politics came into play here as there is ample evidence of a wide range of weights occurring. Half a century later, the recoinage during William III's reign produced a serious number of coins with these marks, though the obverses were often filed through the hair or drapery and the reverses at the crowns and not across the centres. This difference may have been due to individual worker preference. e.g see 16(9/6)6 shilling below. I don't think there is any consistency in where the marks are applied, as I have also seen Briot pieces with the rims filed. Again, see below.

OK, I stand corrected.

Not really. To take a coin at random, Edward IV heavy coinage halfpennies N1545 with lis on neck and im. Plain Cross has 4 legend varieties in Withers' Small Change. N1546 with quatrefoils, saltires or nothing by neck and im. Rose has 4 varieties for nothing by neck and 19 varieties with quatrefoils or saltires....... As usual, it is a case of how deep into varieties a reference goes.

Normal. There are 2 reverses, one as this and the other CHRISTO. There are also 2 obverses,with or without the mullet. All 4 combinations exist. cf Brooker 729-732A

That's normal (except for the red dots!)

Have it regraded by NNC and you can get it regraded MS71. If you genuinely think it would make a 65 then send it in to NGC or PCGS and see if you are right. There are a number of dealers who frequent this forum, none of which gatecrash the forum owner's business. Given it is the season of goodwill to all men - have a thought for others instead of peddling NNC's lumps of wishful thinking. Merry Christmas.

Whatever the reputation of the seller, the coin pictured is one of Stamford, not Lincoln as per the description. I suspect the title might be closer to the coin received than the one pictured.

That has to be dodgy. The top listing has the same obverse die as the bottom two. Bottom pieces are both Lincoln, ending within a quarter of an hour of each other on the same day with two separate listing. The top one might have a Stamford reverse, but the same obverse die makes both wrong. These two pairings need to go on a list as do the second and third looking at the metal.

Excluding the Lancastrians. They weren't Plantagenets. I have a Richard that I might get rid of when I can. Neither cheap nor nice, but I do so badly want a better one.

Bid what you are prepared to spend, and if it goes over that, go for the next one. They aren't impossible to get, and I guarantee that you won't have filled every gap in the collection when you pop your clogs. One gap is as good as the next.

It seems fairly uncontentious to have the Plantagenets running in parallel with the Lancastrians. In the case of Henry II, I suppose this could be resolved if we know what he called himself. If he called himself Henry Plantagenet, then all the historians in the world can't change that.

Yes. What alternative did you have in mind?

Given all letters on the second one aren't perpendicular to the rim, it would be impossible not to have a 'variety' of one form or other. Make up the description in your own words.

I like the fact they are always prepared to give voice to both sides of an argument. I had a letter published in it the other day concerning the ludicrous suggestion that the UK should have an imposed internal border with the EU just before the Brexit 'successful' announcement was made. To the paper's credit they published 4 letters on Brexit from opposite standpoints. Wouldn't get that in any Murdoch mouthpiece, or the Grauniad et al. They have regular writers that clearly have political leanings one way or the other, but to their credit have always had editorial political independence. Long may it continue.

I still think it is a phrase that has been hijacked.

The far hill in the picture is Lose Hill, which is not too far from Win Hill (you can see the shoulder on the extreme right skyline). This was postulated by W J Andrew about a century ago as having some connection with the Battle of Brunanburgh, the location of which is still uncertain. Various theories put this on the Wirral, around the Humber or anywhere in between. Truth is, nobody knows. The location of the Battle of Brunanburgh is one of history's holy grails given its significance. However, Andrew's theory could have some merit, as the old Roman road to the north passed close to this point, up from Buxton to Batham Gate and Edale, and we can make a reasonable assumption that the size of both English and Viking armies required the use of existing roads. And it's about a day's quick march to the sea in either direction which would tie in with the Sagas.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/must_see/42288252/prankster-defends-cementing-head-in-microwave Not entirely stupid as he does wear a cap, helpfully marked O(bviously) B(rain) D(ead)

Or park a couple hundred yards down the road for free and walk the difference.

Wind direction is going to be all important relative to the pub. It's always windier at the Nick because it funnels through the gap, but away from there it is mostly consistently exposed and so consistently windy. The bit before the stream crossing and the made up path is the only potentially sheltered section, but again that's wind direction dependant. Good for taking the kids to fly their kites It's still worth a walk up there on a clear winter's day, cold or not. Summer is too much like a zoo.

How does anybody get lost walking to the top of Pendle Hill? I assume they parked at the Nick, so up the track to the top is a motorway. The ruts are deep enough to be a walking hazard! We went up there 6 weeks ago - it was windy as always, but a really clear day and a good view of the 3 Peaks.

Have a word with argentumandcoins. John is the dealer nearest to you. Apart from York, there is also the Wakefield fair on the last Sunday of every month (except December) at the Cedar Court Hotel just off junction 39 of the M1. Doors open at 9:30. It isn't much further to travel than York, but York will be the next fair.

Maybe so, but that gives me another denomination to add to the list of things to collect. I shall wade in with both feet and bid face value..........when I've composed myself.

Welcome. Sensible approach. Your starting point is as good as any. You won't know what you like until you have seen the full range of choices available, so if you want to expand on the above list, try a type collection, i.e. an example of each type without putting yourself into the position of having to spend a lot more than you are accustomed to just to acquire the key date. That will expose you to the widest range of coins. Some you will like, some might have seemed a good idea at the time. We all change direction somewhere along the line. Buying books is the best decision you will make, irrespective of what you eventually decide to focus on.