Peckris

We'll have to come to some agreement about that then Dave. My main difficulty would be packaging up and posting (due to disability) so you'd have to allow a degree of delay on that. (Vol 1 wasn't it?) I have a few penny gaps, but I have the vague feeling we explored that avenue before? Anyway, I'm happy to talk more.

Well, if you have an 1897 high tide, or 1899 mint dot, or 1903 open 3 ... I'm interested!!

I wonder who you're talking about? My question too. Here's my memory of the guys I used to frequent in the 1990s : Dave Craddock - had some very nice stuff, but a lot of cheaper stuff too Wayne Nichols - another mixed-bag guy, who could probably exist off his best stuff Stephen Lockett - an enormous range Dan ?Daley (the other half of Lockdale) - ditto Dorset Coins - a lot of modern stuff, but nothing VERY highly priced Windsor Coins - some nice pieces but generally trading off the lower ends My first thought is that none of those guys fit the description, but maybe I'm WAY out of date? KB coins.....a super copper section but too hot. Oh yes! I remember them. I'd also forgotten Carlton Coins, and also ?Ian Richardson?. Plus Michael Beaumont was still alive then too.

Welcome to the forums Chris To start with a bit of grading : your 1935 crown is better than VF (reverse NEF I'd say); your 1937 crown is at least EF though it has one or two scratches on the obverse; the 1951 is Unc (prooflike). "Halfcrown's" (You're not a greengrocer by trade, are you? ) : 1887 VF+ but it's been cleaned; 1895 is Fair; 1899 is Fair+; 1914 VF+/NEF; 1915 (ditto); 1931 VF+/EF; 1947/1948 Fair+/Fine It's a good starter collection - the George VI halfcrowns could do with upgrading, especially as they are inexpensive. I'd suggest one between 1942 to 1946 (i.e. 50% silver) could be picked up UNC for less than a tenner, or EF for less than a fiver. A 1948 could be got UNC for around a fiver, and a 1949 in EF for around the same. Common mistake is to overgrade coins, and therefore overspend on them as a beginner. Learn to grade as your number one priority! At the top of the page you'll see a banner ad for Rotographic books - on the left is Grading British Coins which would make an excellent first purchase. And take grades you see advertised on eBay with a LARGE pinch of salt. There are some dealers who grade more or less accurately, but many others on there who describe everything as "UNC" or "RARE" or both. If you see something you like, and it's got plenty of time left on the auction (or Buy It Now), post the URL to it in these forums and someone here will assess it for you, and let you know 1) if it's worth going for and 2) what's the most you should pay. The best places to buy from : - your local coin club if you have one - a coin fair but go with someone who is more experienced, the first few times - online dealers (doesn't have to be eBay), for example Colin Cooke, Michael Gouby, Rendel Ingram, (Google), and a few members here have their own websites - the home page of this site, which sells a whole range of British coins at reasonable prices - a friendly local dealer (I'm sure there must be a few in Belfast?) - find them from a magazine such as Coin News Welcome to the hobby and good luck!

It's a long shot I suppose, but your out-of-date Seabys wouldn't be from the 1970s by any chance? (No, they aren't mega rare, but they don't come up that often, I need one from the mid-70s and I'd happily swap it for a more up-to-date 2000 edition, or 2002.)

Indeed. It just so happens that I have a broken PC and some spare cash free for fixing it (however much it costs). Could you give me a quote perhaps, or give me some ballpark idea of how much I'd have to pay? (This is a serious enquiry by the way.)

Only pay that if it's EXCEPTIONAL (a crisp, well-toned example). Otherwise I'd suggest leaving them alone or beating the seller down to the Spink price.

I wonder who you're talking about? My question too. Here's my memory of the guys I used to frequent in the 1990s : Dave Craddock - had some very nice stuff, but a lot of cheaper stuff too Wayne Nichols - another mixed-bag guy, who could probably exist off his best stuff Stephen Lockett - an enormous range Dan ?Daley (the other half of Lockdale) - ditto Dorset Coins - a lot of modern stuff, but nothing VERY highly priced Windsor Coins - some nice pieces but generally trading off the lower ends My first thought is that none of those guys fit the description, but maybe I'm WAY out of date?

im not that interested in pennies that much as they are the bulk of my collection . but i have a 1854 pennie that i like A picture or two would be nice

My bet is that they had a trial striking & then ordered a meltdown, and one got trousered but what if more than one got trousered??

A genuine 1954 penny would be worth many thousands of pounds. Only one is known for sure. But you have to ask yourself, "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya? My bet is it's either a counterfeit or a typo.

isn't 'Friendly Competition' an oxymoron pennies are good but im a Shilling guy Well, yes and no

Welcome to the forums James Many of us like pennies, so you'll have plenty of (friendly) competition! Good luck with your collecting, and also detecting (but don't expect to find many collectable coins that way, though you'll find plenty of interesting stuff).

Welcome back young Patrick. Looking forward to 6 weeks off school? John Oh those heady days of no mortgage,cycling 25 miles with a kreel and rod bag on my back to fish the fen drains,being fitter than a butchers dog...the big attraction of young ladies and beer ahead of me. Grandparents still alive. Any youngsters reading this appreciate what you have now and while you're at it come and mow my lawn. Make a good job of it and you'll get a bob (but not Dorriens and Magens, though if it's a VERY good job it could be a 1959S )

They are very good reproductions usually - worth having in their own right, especially if you can't afford the originals.

Just a bit confused here.... can you tell me what edition the 1980 figures come from? I have 1972 being edition 12 and I have 1989 being edition 24. It appears there weren't publications every year. Cheers Seaby Standard Catalogue of British Coins Volume 1 17th edition. Coins of Engaland and the United Kingdom You a football fan, Gary?

In spite of its lack of value, it's clearly given you great enjoyment, reading up about George III (actually Cockney rhyming slang that... ). Who knows, it might lead you into the far corners of our tremendously captivating hobby! Welcome.

Walking holiday from Salisbury to Lyme Regis. Nearly 100 miles and 200 horse-fly bites! Wow! Half a mile to the bite! Thats pretty good... I managed about 30seconds to the bite down the allotment the other night! Was only about half hour, but my legs think they've been run over by an Abrams tank! It must be our pure blood my arm looks like a junkies where I have been scratching it.Damn mozzies Hahaha. Don't mistake a horse-fly for a mozzie! Horse flies are like mini wasps and have a very nasty bite. I have been bitten by a horse fly...funnily enough only when in the SW & yep its painfull...the mozzie attack is more of a nuisance due to the itching. One little tip...Poundland have a great range of insect bite preventers and soothers. problem sorted...now just the Adders to contend with. HM Customs and Excise?

I simply do NOT aim to get every damn bronze penny, for the simple reason that certain gaps are unfillable : 1933, 1952, 1953 type 1, 1954. Therefore I took the philosophical view that if a variety is approaching the same degree of rarity - i.e. things like early 1860s die numbers, narrow 3s, numerals from halfpenny dies, etc - then they will remain gaps, in fact there won't even be a gap created for them.

I vaguely recall seeing a better version (EF ?) that definitely looked like RBITANNIAR, although I'm not certain it was a sixpence. I think it was at DNW, but can't find a decent picture. I did find this one 1821 RBITANNIAR Again, that one (though a respectable grade) really doesn't convince either. The first character doesn't look like a convincing B or R. In fact, it rather looks as though someone made an error (BITANNIAR) and then made a crude attempt to correct it with a B in front, but got it badly wrong and mixed up with George's syrup. The left hand downstroke isn't even nearly the right thickness - it really looks like a botch job.

1966 (Fifth edition) : F £70 VF £95 EF £120 Proof not listed. For what it's worth, Seabys didn't list UNC prices for anything but George VI and Liz II until sometime in the 1990s. No, Seabys wasn't strictly an annual until sometime in the ?1980s. I think the 1980 was Edition 17? (It's in my bedroom but I've only just come from there!) The edition I REALLY want is the one that marked the huge increase in prices between 1973 and 1975. But I've never seen one. In fact, I don't have any for the 1970s, though I do have the Coins & Medals 1970 annual (some zany prices in that!), the Coin Monthly blue pages for 1979, and Collectors Coins also for 1979.

I remember wasting hours of my life as a schoolboy, peering at an 1865 even worse than that, trying to convince myself it was 1865/3 (it could well have been, but ... )

Walking holiday from Salisbury to Lyme Regis. Nearly 100 miles and 200 horse-fly bites! Wow! Half a mile to the bite! Thats pretty good... I managed about 30seconds to the bite down the allotment the other night! Was only about half hour, but my legs think they've been run over by an Abrams tank! It must be our pure blood my arm looks like a junkies where I have been scratching it.Damn mozzies Hahaha. Don't mistake a horse-fly for a mozzie! Horse flies are like mini wasps and have a very nasty bite.

That DNW specimen is too worn to be conclusive - it could easily be BBITANNIAR, with wear or damage to the first B which is only half there anyway.

Nah - a good fish'nchip supper swilled down with a few oysters, is more her scene (and if she was a true Essex Girl, a few whelks and jellied eels wouldn't go amiss) Essex girls are great. They may not always be the sharpest knives in the drawer, but their hearts are usually in the right place Yes - behind a skimpy leopard print top and a Big Badge saying "I'm Sharon - my sister is Tracy"