Peckris

I'll have to have a look at my 1870, my interest is piqued by there being rare examples! I wouldn't agree it is common - I think no bun date after 1863 and before 1874 is an easy date, especially in higher grades. It's commoner than 1868 certainly, but scarcer than 1872, 1873, 1866 I would say. Probably on a par with 1865, perhaps scarcer?

No predecimal UK bronze has circulated since 1971 (halfpennies since 1969, farthings since 1960).

What he actually says is : "Only one specimen found, well circulated, and with the area of the mintmark obscured. It is therefore not known if this reverse occurs with 'H' below the date, when accompanied by Obverse 9"

Is this the old dear who had all that nice Gold Declan? Did she ever sell it? No - it's a different old dear! I've known her for years but she only told me the other day who her Dad was. No idea, of course, how important his collection was. For most of his life, his family didn't even know he collected coins. And no, she's still got the gold - she got quite interested in it after all that. She may even end up buying some more....! She only needs to sell the single most valuable coin and she could afford lots more!

Freeman doesn't list the variety, only the rarity for the 1870 as a whole: R6 which = 30,000 - 50,000 (i.e. not that rare). You'd have to consult Gouby for the rarity of the variety.

Hi Cathrine, I think Dave meant "what was it graded as by the seller"?

Freeman doesn't list a variety, just 6+G. For wear I'd grade it just about EF but there are one or two strange deformities.

That IS satire! The first comment says it all...

They're still worth having - I've tentatively valued mine (conservatively?) at around a quarter of book price.

Yes, I have two George IV first issue farthings, both in high grade, but both artificially gilded. One is a flat yellow colour, the other is rather attractively 'lustred' with the 'lustre' wearing away. Either they are contemporary which means an attempt to pass them off as half sovs, or else they are more modern in an effort to convince collectors they are rare gilded proofs. Waste of a good coin, is my opinion.

I think you'll find that was a 1919KN - but yes, it went for a ridiculous price just because it was off-metal, and had been reported in some wretched tabloid.

Beautiful, Cathrine! I can only lust...

Very poor pictures so unable to see if it's one of the 1820 varieties. It would sell (by a dealer) between £100 and £200 depending on which variety it is. It's around VF.

It's possible that Coincraft took their mintage figures directly from a RM source? it's known that pre-Liz II mintages only state how many coins were minted IN THAT YEAR, and not what date was on them. It's entirely possible - probable, in fact - that those 116,497 florins were minted in 1927 but carried the date of 1926. What's interesting though, is that ESC has a break in its numbering system : 1926 florins are 945 while 1927 proofs are 947.

Perhaps he means he wants to meet for a drugs share??

This, from http://www.dutycalculator.com/dc/102145330/antiques-collectibles/coins-stamps/investment-gold-coins/import-duty-rate-for-importing-gold-sovereign-coin-uk-from-united-states-to-united-kingdom-is-0/ "Import duty & taxes for Gold sovereign coin UK The import duty rate for importing Gold sovereign coin UK into United Kingdom is 0% , the import VAT is 20%, when classified under Business & Industrial → Precious Metals & Stones → Investment Gold Coins with HS commodity code 9705.00.0090"

It's not true ghosting (where the actual metal deforms) - it's what you might call 'ghost ghosting' where only the lustre is affected; once the lustre has worn off you don't see any.

That's unnervingly like Nordle's buy! But still, a worthy tenner's worth (Anyone still reckon Spink's prices bear any relation to the real world?? )

The pictures aren't quite as crisp as they might be so I'm going to say GEF or AU. Book price would be around £20 - £25 so I'm guessing you paid less than that?

Wow, that's an amazing capture! You did really really well there. Just make sure the coin-in-the-picture is the coin-you-get!

Yeah, my 1930 has patchy lustre which is in distinct contrast to all the others in that series including a BU 1932.

Very little remaining lustre, some rubbing to the cheekbone, average strike ... you'd be lucky to get £20 for that one IMO. I think a real gem COULD rate £65, but not your average BU. Definitely! Where's the lustre? I've had a nice 1929 for a while but it's clearly been cleaned in the past, I've kept an eye on the ones on eBay but can never find one cheaper than around £30-40.. £2.50 : (Mind you, that WAS quite some time ago. From R&L Coins in Blackpool, of blessed recent mention. Still have it. )

Find what you like I've always been attracted to pennies and halfcrowns (nice large size), and sixpences (not sure why - perhaps the romance of the 'tanner' pocket money, and also the way they avoided decimalisation obliteration and hung on for some years after.) Brass threepences are a nice unique type of coin that only had a 30-year run.

Your picture is seriously blurred. Not much use I'm afraid

R&L were a staple for novice collectors in the 60s, and were still around when I worked in Blackpool in 1979 when I bought some coins off them many of which I still have. I believe they still exist, but now under the Chard name not R&L, and only deal in gold? Yes ... http://www.chards.co.uk/