Peckris

Sorry - not a good idea to post a massive number of links. Some of us don't have either the time or energy to look further. Far better to take individual pictures of your best few items and post them here.

If I could choose, all my types would be proofs. Problem is, there's no proof buns, well none that aren't hellas rare.

Speaking from practical experience (I'm not a chemist) - BRIEF dipping in Goddards (10 seconds followed by a further 10 seconds maximum after rinsing and inspection) can work as intended, but if this treatment does not work, the 'problem - whatever it is - should be tackled another way. I would only ever use Goddards in this way for a badly and ugly tarnished silver coin. It MUST be rinsed thoroughly afterwards, to removed all traces of the mild acid. Done this way, only surface impurities are removed.

There's also Warwick & Warwick, but they aren't what they were more than 10 years ago.

Not convinced it's a proof, though if currency it's a strong GEF example with very little wear. However, two points not in its favour: 1. the rim damage, as already pointed out 2. £80 is a bit steep for a starting bid, especially with its drawbacks It would be ideal to complete a run, but it would have to be a lot lower in price.

Goddards contains uric acid, same as if you'd dunked the coin into.. into.. well, you get the picture (I'm not taking the p*ss, honest).

It looks a lot better, though I'm not sure why it's so much paler? Vinegar will do that overnight, but not usually olive oil.

OMG - you're 90???????

..... since 1971

Yes, this is a common experience - the first toothed borders have short stubby teeth that are often mistaken, especially on a less than high grade example, for beads. However do note that beads are very obviously beads, they cannot be mistaken for teeth and are often distinct even on Poor examples. The outer edge of a bead is absolutely separate from the linear circle.

No idea, but two "heads" will be useful for coin tosses - just make sure it's you who calls!

A nice result for the seller there then What's the cost of a 1st Class stamp nowadays?

I'm having 12 curries with rice, plus 8 mini apple crumbles delivered by Tesco this afternoon. Cost? £25 (Yeah ok, they were all on offer, but I'm an 'offer vulture' anyway )

lol im not this bad at lest im under stud well sort of Satire, surely?

no I downt hav enny problam I don't no enny more than the nex man abowt tings like speling

Collectors Coins GB is probably your best place to start. Covering 1816 (1797 for copper) - 1967, it contains a lot of information including details of many varieties. Combine it with Grading British Coins (same period) and you can't go far wrong.

Welcome to the forums Chris Good luck with your new found enthusiasm for the hobby.

Happy birthday you - just.me

But they do have an appalling load of old tat in their shops

Though I was brung up in Liverpool, my musical life was mostly in Birmingham!, various festivals, and more latterly The Cambridge "Folk" Festival, which is where I caught the Fairports, Joan Baez, Steve Earle, Taj Mahal, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Robert Plant, Jools Holland, Penguin Café, The Levellers ... to which list you can also add Jackson Browne, The Oyster Band, Townes Van Zandt, Capercaillie, Divine Comedy, Beth Orton, Alison Krauss, Liza Carthy, Donal Lunny, Sharon Shannon, The Saw Doctors, Keb Mo', Jimmy Cliff (AWESOME), Natalie McMaster, and probably more too numerous to mention. I can always remember a good gig! The Who, Genesis, and Pink Floyd never let me down, but the one time I saw Led Zeppelin I came away somewhat underwhelmed. Though on record they are just awesome. Shame really. You were in the midst of the Second Merseybeat explosion. Kudos.

I'd agree with you on my own behalf, but if someone is rich as Croesus and can justify indulging his hobby, I guess £000's are just a sneeze to him.

I still have my ProJect turntable with Denon moving coil cartridge, Ion amplifier, and I used to have some great JPW speakers on stands, but sadly they went with a move and now I have to "make do" with Kef shelf speakers instead. I saw The Stones (twice), The Who (6 times), Genesis (5 times), The Floyd (3 times), Paul McCartney (once), but also The Grateful Dead (best gig I ever saw), Captain Beefheart, Steve Earle, T.Rex, Traffic, King Crimson, Hawkwind (3 or 4 times), Dr John, Dr Feelgood, Wishbone Ash, Focus (urgh!), Lindisfarne, The Faces, The Beach Boys, Joan Baez, Yes, The Kinks, Donovan, Brinsley Schwarz, David Bowie, Taj Mahal, Thin Lizzie, Elton John, Duran Duran, Incredible String Band, Steve Miller Band, Roy Harper, Mountain, The Afro-Celts, The Afro-Cubans, The Levellers, Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant, ELP (oh God I wish I hadn't ), Van Der Graaf Generator, Slade, Chuck Berry, Fairport Convention, Eric Clapton, Chris Rea, Average White Band, The Penguin Café Orchestra, The Dixie Hummingbirds, La Bottine Souriante, Jools Holland's R&B Big Band, Glenn Tillbrook, Misty In Roots, Annie diFranco, Caravan, Ian Dury, and others too numerous to mention. I always regret going to see a less than perfect set from Yes on a night when I could instead have gone to see Alice Cooper :( I'm told that The Sweet - despite their awful bubblegum start to life - were a really great live act, second only to The Who in 'heavy rock'. I never saw them, so I can't confirm that... Other acts I wish I'd seen : Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, The Buzzcocks, The Undertones, Magazine, Roxy Music, The Specials, Madness, The Beat, Simon & Garfunkel, Cream, Spirit, Steely Dan (we actually had tickets for a gig in Birmingham but they never turned up), Earth Wind & Fire, James Brown, Otis Redding, Tangerine Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre, Faust, Kraftwerk, Blood Sweat & Tears, Frank Zappa, Girls At Our Best!, and many others too...

I am, primarily, a collector of sixpences. It all stems from those childhood days when 6d got you into the ABC Minors and 6d also got you a load of sweets to guzzle. It is a very interesting denomination going back to Henry VIII with a wide range of varieties, patterns, errors, etc. and with more than a fair share of rarities. I'm with you there. I think the sixpence is not only a great little denomination, but it was fiercely loved by the GBP prior to decimalisation which is why it got a 10-year stay of execution. I do think the reverse from 1831-1910 is rather bland, but before and after that it was a miniature triumph of the designer's art. Having said that, the 1937-1948 reverse is rather lamentable, but not as bad as the quite awful florin, or the Scottish-lion-having-a-crap design on the shillings.

I remember exploring Corfe as a kid in the late 60s, but I can't remember if you had to pay to get in, or if so, who owned it. It's not perhaps the most fascinating ruin but it's in an exquisite setting and the village itself is as worth seeing as the Castle. I thought Avebury stone circle was on common land, but managed by EH? Maybe things have changed...

Ah. Those were the days….. I was a few years older than you, but yes, 76-77 was a fine time to be around. Never saw the Sex Pistols but I did get to see the Clash a few times. You missed nothing! The most overhyped band of all time, but I do realise it's impossible for anyone from the Punk Generation to be "unMacLarened" You're not wrong! I remember laughing out loud when they released Flogging a Dead Horse (Vol 1), talk about blatant (and blatant irony) - genius I guess! Presumably that was after Malcolm's passing on?