1949threepence

As the saying goes Dave, "Big hairy arsed Scotsman' Yes, but shouldn't the grading be H (hairy), VH (very hairy) and EH (extremely hairy)? Where does the F come into it or does it stand for Furry? FDH = Fleur de hair

Just seen it in my catalogue. Absolutely stunning. Unfortunately, Neil doesn't put the new stock on his website for a few days, so we'll have to wait a few days to see a really good pic of it. edit: that's if it's not already sold by then !!!

Ebayer bronzepennycollector won it along with another. His name is Tony Crocker and any Penny collectors will know of him! I certainly know the name, but surely Colin Cooke sold his collection some years ago? Yes he did Steve but that only took a relatively short time for Tony to compile. It looks like he is possibly back into the groove? I see you bought his better F15 satin. I meant to bid but forgot so I was pleased that it went to another collector. Yes, picked up the F15 as it's better than my existing. Still kicking myself for not getting the F106 from 'Fiona'. It could be a long time before I find a better one. Right now I wish I'd gone into 4 figures as it was a beautiful example. It was gorgeous, and of course, very rare being an F106. Definitely a trophy win.

I note Fiona now has a very nice 1876H wide date on offer, which can be seen here Wonder what that will fetch in view of the extraordinary heights her 1876H narrow date reached ?

I think both your 1906 & 7 are definitely better than average. The reverses of mine are truly awful, with typically shallow relief and very little detail to Britannia. Every now and then I look for something better, in fact I think there may be one on eBay at the moment, but haven't got around to upgrading yet. My 1906 can be seen below. Although lustrous,. the reverse looks barely VF !!!

One day it'll probably be a rare error, like "RRITANNIAR" Or even an NCG for NGC error! I never knew dyslexia could prove so potentially valuable.......

He's just sold a BU 1867 bun for £440 tonight. Very nice coin & well worth the money for the winner.. Gordon Bennett ~ I never expected it to make that much

Both fantastic finds. Nice for the French worker that his honesty has been so handsomely rewarded.

Nope, possession would be "theft by finding", although you would probably escape arrest as the only 2 remaining police officers in the country would be trying to work out how many extra years they have to work now to get their pensions. Yes, I thought that would be the case. Although I know there was some controversy over a winning lottery ticket that was found a few years ago. Thanks John. I assume your other remarks are an observation that Police officers can no longer retire early (or early compared to most others). It's a tough one because on the one hand a good level of physical fitness is usually required, and the ability to run, for example, may be lost by the age of 50 due to, say, painful knees. On the other hand, there is the demographic factor of increased life span affecting affordability. Someone who retired at 50 might easily be drawing their occupational pension for 40 + years thereafter. Actually, you don't see many actual police on the beat these days. I hardly ever see one, even in the town centre. I do see quite a few PCSO's, but they're not quite the same thing. A lad I worked on traffic with was due to retire in 7 years time at 48 1/2 having joined at 18 1/2 and done his full 30 years service. Due to one of the schemes advised upon by Mr Tom Winsor his service will now have to have 10 years added to it so that he will retire at 58 1/2 after 40 years service. Some may think that it is disgraceful that police officers could finish after 30 years on full pension, but, that was the case when I joined under my conditions of service, just the same as the fact that I received no rent allowance as that was ended the year I joined for new entrants. 30 years of constant shift work in a high risk/stress environment is more than enough and, as you touched upon, physical fitness is a key element required, as noted by HM forces who pension off the lower ranks after 22 years service. Add onto the above that the @rsehole is now advising recruiting fast track higher ranks from external sources and making it a requirement that PC entrants must be A-level qualified and the whole question of UK policing becomes an absolute nightmare. I worked with some PC's that were graduates and they were absolutely useless, good on paper but no commonsense or people skills. It was also evident that a higher proportion of graduates lacked the minerals to take on the physical aspect sometimes required in an arrest (maybe they were thinkers rather than doers?). How can anybody with a grain of sense ask a person to compile a report on an area of expertise in which they have absolutely none? I personally think that this country is absolutely finished. The current incumbent government are as much use as tits on a bull and the opposition are even worse than that. The financial climate is showing no signs of improvement and even less signs that they have a clue what's wrong never mind how to fix it. A kneejerk reaction in an economic slump is to cut everything to the bone that is paid out and increase anything else they can without riots ensuing. The benefits system is an absolute disgrace with some people unable to live as it is without taking even more cash from them. Nobody deserves a free ride, but some people do need a lift! Add onto that the fact that we are still giving economic aid to countries that "need it" and the whole thing really leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Rant over, I'm away to play monopoly with toy money so that I am suitably qualified to become a government think tank economist or I may just apply for the vacant HM Inspector of Health Services post (no experience necessary apparently) They shouldn't alter the terms and conditons for existing members of the police pension scheme, and definitely not using the cliff edge approach. That is just plain wrong on so many levels. Someone like your mate who's done the 30 years, to serve maybe an extra year at most. Sliding scale perhaps, depending on age and length of service.

1906 & 1907 are really difficult to get with good strikes. My 1906 has good lustre, and still looks worn

One day it'll probably be a rare error, like "RRITANNIAR"

Nope, possession would be "theft by finding", although you would probably escape arrest as the only 2 remaining police officers in the country would be trying to work out how many extra years they have to work now to get their pensions. Yes, I thought that would be the case. Although I know there was some controversy over a winning lottery ticket that was found a few years ago. Thanks John. I assume your other remarks are an observation that Police officers can no longer retire early (or early compared to most others). It's a tough one because on the one hand a good level of physical fitness is usually required, and the ability to run, for example, may be lost by the age of 50 due to, say, painful knees. On the other hand, there is the demographic factor of increased life span affecting affordability. Someone who retired at 50 might easily be drawing their occupational pension for 40 + years thereafter. Actually, you don't see many actual police on the beat these days. I hardly ever see one, even in the town centre. I do see quite a few PCSO's, but they're not quite the same thing.

Imagine if there really was a million pound note, and you lost the bloody thing. That said, it might be difficult for the finder to cash it in anywhere. Possession 9/10ths of the law ?

Any radio, TV or internet content with adverts for me, although ours are probably the most tolerable anywhere in the world For the first time in a few months I ended up on ITV to watch the FA Cup last weekend. Why would anyone watch five minutes of play, then the same amount of adverts all repeated ad infinitum? I watched three games before stopping as it was excruciating. Given that I probably only turn on ITV four or five times in a year, this recent tale of woe reminded me that even this is too often. I wonder if they realise there is more to life than LCD programming? Just kidding, nobody could really expect them to raise the quality above current levels. You're not really a football fan, are you Rob? I can only think you switched on 5 minutes before half time - has no-one told you that even on ITV you get two entire halfs uninterrupted by ads? You must be thinking of Formula1, where ITV indeed interrupted the race for adverts at frequent intervals! (I wonder if Sky do the same, or if you get the whole race?) They do show live matches on ITV, which are not interrupted by ads, except at half time. Match of the Day on the BBC shows edited highlights, but of course, they have no ads.

Michael O'Leary was walking down the road when he saw a pub with the sign "Draught Guiness €1.00 a pint" So in Michael went and ordered his pint "That'll be €1", says the barman ...................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................... "will you be wanting a glass with your Guiness, sir?" David Michael O' Leary aka prize wanker ('scuse my French, but the way he treats passengers warrants it)

Price guides for coins are just that "guides". They don't necessarily reflect reality. Coin appeal consists of four factors, a) Rarity, Grade, c) Eye appeal, d) Popularity of the series concerned. You have to take all that into account when determining what a coin is worth to you, and whether you should buy it. Assuming your target type is popular, always aim high as far as grade is concerned, but strongly take into account the highly important concomitant factor of attractiveness. Just because a coin is GEF, say, doesn't necessarily mean it will actually look as good as a coin which is GVF. You might have to take a hit on grade, if your given specific target is rare, but take my advice and NEVER buy "clear date" or other space fillers. You will invariably regret it and want to upgrade. is whereas b( could be bc. I think I'll be cool, and stick to nunbers from now on.......

Price guides for coins are just that "guides". They don't necessarily reflect reality. Coin appeal consists of four factors, a) Rarity, Grade, c) Eye appeal, d) Popularity of the series concerned. You have to take all that into account when determining what a coin is worth to you, and whether you should buy it. Assuming your target type is popular, always aim high as far as grade is concerned, but strongly take into account the highly important concomitant factor of attractiveness. Just because a coin is GEF, say, doesn't necessarily mean it will actually look as good as a coin which is GVF. You might have to take a hit on grade, if your given specific target is rare, but take my advice and NEVER buy "clear date" or other space fillers. You will invariably regret it and want to upgrade.

Don't you mean Luton Town Peter? My postmanperson. Who yet again popped a Sign For package through the door without getting a signature. Seriously, if I wasn't such an honest chap (and it'd cause a headache for the seller) I'd be tempted to say I never got it and demand compensation. Thankfully it was the correct address and it was untampered with, but I do worry one day it won't be ... I've had many recorded & special delivery items just chucked in the porch. I've never yet failed to receive anytthing, but I would much prefer to sign for it myself, later, at the local post office. As you say, Tom, an unscrupulous person could easily claim they never received the package ~ and nobody could prove them wrong.

Happy Birthday both

I agree with Peckris, it looks more like 5/5. Certainly not worth a punt at over £1,000! Oh, definitely not, That would not be a wise move.

Hmmm....jury is out on this one.....

I bet those are the coins that had sentimental value though.... To him, possibly. Not to her otherwise she'd probably hang onto them.

I went for the 1874, F70, for an upgrade to the rather scruffy looking one I've got now. It was at £180 when I bid with 5 seconds to go ~ bid nearly £100 more (£275.75), and still missed out to the winner who bid with 2 seconds to go. Christ knows how high they bid. I was watching both of those. The 1894 money was only worth it if the obverse had matched the reverse for full blazing lustre, otherwise it was way too much IMO. As for the 1874, once I'd spotted the flaw in the planchet behind Vicky's bun and the light wear to the robes across Britannia's lap, I retired immediately. That was disfiguring ultimately, though in all other respects it was a nice penny. Just not £300 nice. You're right about both those two, Peck. Great shame about the flaws to the 1874 - without them it would have been a smooth and very nicely toned flawless item, and probably worth £300. Ultimately, as Derek said, they were going for silly money. Some of the coins she's got for sale are very ordinary, and seem slightly incongruous when set against the quality ones she's already sold.

The picture I posted is of my own coin Dave, which is of a fairly clear example (though it's not a great photo, I admit). I'm still not convinced about the coin for sale, even comparing with the various photos in Michael Gouby's book. There's nothing to the left of the five's top bar, whereas on all of Gouby's examples, there is. Even on the weakest.

It's very subtle isn't it, Bob. I agree with David ~ I'd want something a lot more visible beforwe parting with over £1000. 5/3's are not easy to spot with the naked eye, even at best.