Peckris

By MP, or the previous owner? Even with the field disturbance behind Ed's head, it's still the best 1905 halfcrown that I've seen. But £12,000??? That makes it the rarest halfcrown this side of 1952. (I mean, the other side of 1952.. well, you know what I meant ). I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by silly prices anymore really.

I once watched Liverpool on Match Of The Day in my Students Union TV room. John Peel was sat next to me at the time

Only among Brits could such a conversation take place! Puts me in mind of Bill Bryson in Notes From A Small Island, where he compares a typical pub conversation between Brits planning a 50-mile trip over Bank Holiday, with Americans who wouldn't bat an eyelid driving 100 miles for a pizza. Or 'Mr Hilter' in Monty Python - "Ja, we make a little, what you call it? Hike, ja. Hike, for Bideford." "Oh, you'll be wanting the A39 there.. oh no no no, you've got the wrong map there - this is Stalingrad. You want the Ilfracombe and Barnstaple section." "Oh ha ha ha, Reggie, you haf ze wrong map." "Oh so sorry Mein Fuhrer -" [slap] "- I mean Dickie old person, you leg-before-wicket Englishman."

Wishbone - you pull one and I'll pull the other

It was well-known among sheep

LOL!...Make that Feb 11th......not military time. I knew that! but I can never resist having a pop at the totally illogical US date format

2nd November - what's the rush?

Red, George is one of Charles' names, and I also heard the same thing...that he wants to Crowned as George. There are rumors that he may "pass" in favor of his son...what do you think? Pass what? Wind? That is not how it works. Charlie will just have to have a short reign, assuming he outlives his mum Victoria 64 years.. Edward VII 9 years.. Elizabeth II 62 years and counting.. George VII ??.. I see a pattern here. Wonder what Wills will call himself? Katesman I?

OY. Less of the 'old' if you don't mind. Every morning I wake up and feel like a 17-year-old (supply your own "badoom" punchline here ). The problem with collecting decimals is that bronze, um I mean steel, goes back to the early 90s, 1/2p's haven't been seen since 1984, 5p's and 10p's go back to 1990 and 1992 respectively and feature nothing of interest compared to their larger brethren, ditto 50p's going back all of 15 years. Decimals as a whole have a 45-year history, but most of them aren't in your change anymore. However if commems float yer boat, that sounds like a good plan Photos? You can include the bags too.I don't want to see your truncheon. Alternatively you may start a members' wives/baggage thread. Seconded. Thirded.

I don't mind referenda on any subject but I would like that everybody who intends to vote take an exam on the subject first just to make sure they know what they're talking about. Could be some surprises there...And whilst talking about unelected bodies, can I have a vote on who becomes our next head of state? You mean you aren't looking forward to seeing Charles III coinage? Oh, he won't be a Charles - they always change their name! (At least, George VI and Edward VII did, I'm not sure about George V - but who was? ). My bet is that Charlie-boy will be Fred the First, or possibly Camillum the First.

Astonishing to think that the first decimals appeared over 45 years ago! Go back another 45 years and you're at 1922-3.

So mine, which is in around EF condition, but only shows a small bulge on the middle bar of the '3' plus metal at the bottom of the top curve was probably a late strike where wear was slowly degrading the details of the overdate? I doubt the overdate was ever clear, which is why the variety remained 'hidden' for so long. I shouldn't think even an early strike would show any more detail.

Mein Luftkissenfahrzeug ist voller Aale

Thanks. GEF with traces of lustre.

LOL My sister, who is a local authority adviser on environmental matters, gets livid when she hears the phrase "global warming" used - as a scientist she says it should be "climate change", which of course would account for snow in Indianapolis! (Assuming that's a rare event )

It's said a majority of businessmen advocate staying in the EU as it's their biggest market. Rather than rely on hearsay, or ask only a subset of the population, why not give everyone the chance to decide? It's called 'one man/woman, one vote' or more succinctly, 'democracy'. An old fashioned idea, I know. I saw the interviews. Anyway, I'd rather put Britain's future prosperity in the hands of businessmen than a bunch of Daily Mail readers.

That works

The world as it really is (not according to bl00dy Mercator): http://odtmaps.org/images/1_peters_new.jpg

Ok, here's another theory. The Mint was originally going to change to the OH bronze design in 1893 along with other metals, but it was too big a job so they deferred it for 2 years. However, before they abandoned the idea completely, they decided to fulfil the need for 1893 pennies (like 1895 YH farthings, they would be the last of the design) by reusing 1892 bun dies. Then, during 1892-3, they decided all bronze would be pushed to 1895, so suddenly there was a need for 1893 bun head dies, which got produced for the remaining 1893 penny requirement. According to that theory, the 1893/2 dies were used FIRST, but how many were issued is unknown. Quite a lot would be my guess, and not detected before because they are so hard to see.

It's said a majority of businessmen advocate staying in the EU as it's their biggest market.

Very very nice indeed! I'd rate that GEF at least. You have my sincere envy.

RAR is a container format for compressed files, so it may contain files that Picasa would open, but you'd have to extract them first. Download a trial version of WinRAR (or something else suitable) to extract the files, then use Picasa to view/edit the files. Oh yes, WinRAR - I couldn't remember the Windows name for the Mac's UnRAR. But it will do exactly the same job.

Just a "This Album is Empty" dead link

You're welcome Alan. This is the original..

N-I-I-I-I-CE! That puts my 1903 halfcrown in the shade!