davidrj

Which is why, as a very junior employee in that era, I stopped collecting coins once predecimal stuff couldn't be got from circulation, just too expensive for me then - and that was before mortgage and kids

Agree, here's mine again

I'm no expert on french silver, I only dabble in copper and bronze, but I do have a library of single country catalogues This is from "Repetoire general des monnaies de Louis XIII a Louis XVI" 5th ed 2012 edited by Frederic Droulers looks like your coin (ref 614 9) - the nine is inverted on this issue. "fn" = flan neuf (new flan); "rf" = refrappe (restrike on earlier issue) values are in Euros - note no value quoted for the 1693 9 - so maybe your coin is rare if genuine! or it may just be no record of recent sale - many French coins are only known from just 1 or 2 examples so difficult to price suggest you email the editor with a decent set of photos - frederic.droulers@free.fr Hope this helps, let us know if you find out more david

Interestingly the cupro nickel pennies for Jamaica were minted exclusively at the Royal Mint from 1869 to 1928, except for 1882 when pennies were minted at both the RM and Heaton, 1916 (Heaton only) and 1919 (Ottawa only) The 1882 London (no H) pennies are scarce, and I've yet to be convinced most of these are not due to wear or a filled die - considering the total recorded mintage for 1882 was just 48,000 then possibly RM strikings were also just trial strikings of penny coins in cupro nickel The 1882 Mauritius copper 5c exists only with the Heaton mintmark, but a proof no H, Cyprus 1881 and 1882 copper is all Heaton, with RM for all other years 1879-1900 No Straits or Hong Kong copper for 1882 but silver is exclusively Heaton for both, Canadian cents again just Heaton for 1882

Aussie 1930 pennies are rare and expensive, mintage about 1500, also a few proofs tons of alterred coins and modern copies exist

Interesting new addition - Straits Settlements 1862, forgery with a genuine coin for comparison looks like a cast copy, oddly the 8 of the date was entered later

Odd yes, but not unknown but far rarer in the 19th century than fake silver or gold Gouby's catalogue illustrates two different forged bun pennies, both struck in bronze or copper, and both dated 1864 I have two examples of cast European bronze "pennies" an 1878 Spanish 10 Centimos in brass, and an 1882 Greek 10 lepta in a white metal plus my problematic 1894 S.African penny in nickel Anyone here seen any forged British bronze?

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

Happy Birthday to both Scott and Debbie!

I see what you mean Bob, but it's probably the weakest (or from the mint's point of view, the most successful) that I've ever seen. I think I would want something far more visible before I shelled out £1,300 for an 1865 penny

Nor me, looks a standard 1865

I think most of the world these days use US grading standards

Guide to gradng Australian pennies David

Thanks Bob David

agreed in spades! Is there a good reference (post Freeman) on bronze Vicky halfpennies available? I seem to recall there was a Coin Monthly article, but i can't find the reference David

Happy Birthday to you both! :D

I've never really considered it but you make a good point. With modern day mint sets the situation could be worse I guess, but looking at some bulk bronze coins I have (most of which have at least some verdigris), it could be better. Also, I think Fiji, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands at least used to have bronze coins before switching to plated. The three classic coinage metals - gold, silver and now bronze are no longer used in circulating coinage, and I suspect that even those "nominal bronze" plated issues will not be around much longer - Finland refuses Euro copper, the Canadian cent has now gone......... ?how long for our penny or the US cent?

Rennaisance Wax is favoured by collectors of ancients - anyone experimented on cheap modern coins? Don't think I'd risk it on a proof though

They are all very common I'm afraid - Check values of modern French coins here the site is in French but it's very easy to navigate David

A very odd festive season this year, my wife who has been in hospital over Xmas came home today Then this evening, i get news that my brother has just been admitted to hospital So sitting on my tod waiting for New Year - large Scotch at the ready! Happy New Year All David

Not if you watched the Xmas Day Dr Who! Stay warm and safe Bob! David

Merry Xmas everyone, and lots of nice new (or old) coins for all in the New Year

We answered your identical query back in October try here I suspect few here will be rushing to buy them

And of couse dates must be British 31/1/13 is fine as is 20/12/2012 They fail in computer logic - 2013.01.31 and 2012.12.20 and the the Yanks would turn them to the illogical 01/31/2013 and 12/20/2012 Dunno how the Mayans would write them David

Something for the Americans Rainbow toning ???