Accumulator

You don't seem to have read any of my posts? I suggested that acid has eroded away the metal to such an extent that the underlying stress patterns caused by the teeth area of the strike (normally invisible) have been exposed to view. I'm going with your acid theory Peckris. If I had some concentrated H2SO4 laying around I'd throw a penny in to see if I could replicate the effect on another coin.

That's a classic case of acid bath (post-production, of course). Typically all the detail remains in a semi-ghostly form, but the planchet goes very very thin. I've never actually seen a coin that's been in an acid bath. I would have expected it to be surface pitted though and also not to have the extended teeth, as Rob points out. Would this just be someone having fun with H2SO4? I ought to get some acid and try it for comparison. Rob, the portrait and legend are all correct but the overall diameter is slightly less, with the edges almost ending at a point, suggesting there wasn't sufficient metal.

Your penny is definitely not a proof. Proofs other than for 1937, 1950 and 1951 are extremely to excessively rare. A proof will have mirror fields and very sharp features which once you familiarise yourself with them are obvious in most instances. Your 1946 is actually quite worn and may exhibit a shine only because it has been polished in the past. Here are a couple of a proof pennies for comparison (1937 & 1970):

I'd say EF reverse, GVF obverse

I too started accumulating coins as a boy in the late 60s, along with stamps and other bits and pieces. The stamps actually took precedence but just don’t excite me any more. I may sell them one day but stamp prices are so low that I’ll probably just leave them in cupboard. I’ve always held a special affection for pennies and am presently working on a way of displaying the collection on-line. I do have other denominations (but mostly unsorted for variations, other than by date). It’s always been milled coins for me but I’m sure that one day, when time allows, I’ll venture into hammered. I especially love the gold triple unites, angels, ryals etc. But who doesn’t? Many years passed without the coins being touched, but they always remained in the background. One interest sometimes fuels another so I also have a collection of vintage slot machines and many thousands of pennies bought for those. Amongst those pennies I have found some great rarities… so not quite beginner’s luck, but something like that! My other interests are nothing to do with coins and mainly family or business related. I’ve never been a motorcycle fan but I do have a classic sports car!

Sorry to hear about your problems, but I would strongly suggest you don't go to a doctor for issues relating to your teeth (or gums and jaw, come to that). This is not their area of expertise and they should refer you to your dentist. The antibiotic will tackle the infection but not the root (no pun intended) problem. Whether NHS or private, please take yourself along - you are clearly suffering trauma and they must see you.

When you've stopped digging that hole, shall I pass you a ladder.... Only joking!

I hope the author won't mind me saying, but for anyone who collects model coins, these books are invaluable. I have the penny/halfpenny one.

I was about to comment on the awful quality of their coin for the 'third coinage' until I moused over the image! Quite a clever idea, and one that could be used to show subtle die variations in other coins. Overlaying the two 1905 pennies, for example.

Typical... Hiding your dirty deeds behind an anonymous eBay pseudonym Actually I really need a BU 1953. Mine is full lustre but an awful strike and I made a mental note to upgrade it ages ago. If you find a perfect one (currency, not proof), I'll buy it!

As a young whippersnapper with all most of his brain cells still intact, it caused me no problem whatever! It has to be said that people were eased into it all very gently - florins and shillings became 10 and 5 pences of identical size, and were first introduced three years before D-Day. Then halfcrowns and halfpennies were demonetised, and the ten shilling note was replaced by the 50p, two years before D-Day. All prices were listed in new AND old money for those three years. So by the time the Big Day came around, all that happened was that 2p, 1p and 1/2p's came in. Six months later, old pennies and threepenny bits quietly disappeared. I well remember 'play shopping' at school in the years leading up to 1971. I'm fairly sure the schools were issued with cardboard (?) coins to help. Some of us would be shopkeepers with dummy packets of food etc. while the rest of the class were shoppers with these cardboard coins. It certainly brightened up the maths lessons and really wasn't that difficult.

Do you mind if I have a dig at this one? I'll get in first so I can reflect on any other grading suggestions to follow. I'd personally go with fine/good fine, probably pulling the whole thing back to a fine overall, in view of the obverse scratch, and the reverse 'stain'. So I'm going for 'fine'. I'll watch out the other opinions with the greatest of interest. Ouch! That's a modern scratch? The reverse is certainly GF but the obverse is such a poor strike I'd say F money for the coin.

By all means have insurance and a safe at home, but take good photos of any really valuable items and keep them in a bank. For most everyday purposes, the photographs will suffice. If someone comes knocking you have nothing of real value in the house. You'll sleep better at night.

I bought mine from: Magnifico. They now call it a 7x round led magnifier, listed under illuminated magnifiers.

I have various things, including a loupe, but get most use from a simple handheld magnifier with built in led. I recommend the "UltraOptix 7x Aspheric LED lighted", which cost about £7 and can be bought from several suppliers on-line.

VR Court lists it in his 1972 survey of pennies. Only 36 out of nearly 29,000 1921 pennies sampled showed this filled die error, so it's rare. The same filled die appears in 1920.

Certainly the reverse looks at first glance like a wearing die, but on reflection, it doesn't look quite 'right'. What Freeman says, however, is : "the date numerals of Reverse J in 1879, when combined with Obverse 9, usually appear thicker and in higher relief than in other years and with other obverses." That might be the answer? I missed that footnote in Freeman! It could well explain things though I've definitely seen other 9 + J's that have the usual slim numerals. Thanks!

Continuing to sort through my pennies, I've found this 1879 which frankly I've never liked 'in hand'. Although the coin would be classed as EF, with much original lustre, the reverse strike seems rather 'blunt' (I can't think of another more technical word). Even allowing for this, though, the numerals are particularly thick. Could the 'fat' 8 really be accounted for just by a very worn die? Unfortunately I don't have a Freeman reverse K for comparison, but I have it as a J. Anyway, your thoughts would be appreciated.

I think that's a fair assessment. Most of us are in 3. but working and dreaming for 2.

Very true Dave. I must admit, it's hard not to think of the collection as part of your pension!

Hopefully I'll be opening my new Spink on Christmas day. It's funny how most of us collectors like to see prices rise but, as we buy many more coins than we sell, are consequently just spending more cash to pursue our hobby!

Freeman & Gouby it is then, many thanks for that! At the risk of sounding pathetic, this is such a great forum. I'll check out MC's site too. I second Freeman and Gouby. If you buy one it would probably need to be Freeman as his references are far more universally used by auction houses, sellers generally and on forums such as this. Undoubtedly Gouby goes deeper, especially in the position of date numerals, whereas Freeman confines itself mainly to die pairings. As Declan suggests, the combination of Freeman's book and Michael Gouby's website covers most angles.

Well done for bringing the post back around to coins, political/religious discussions always end in disaster Surely you mean Euros. The Betamax, C5 and video disk collectors of the future will love them!

Surely you mean that... By the 39th day the Ark had shipped water to the gunnels. Captain Frau Angela and First Mate Nicolas stood proudly on the bridge, in time honoured fashion, as the ship began slowly to sink. Below decks the animals swam to and fro, blaming each other for the debacle and for sneaking aboard without the correct ticket. Just then a jetty hove into view and purser David managed to leap to the safety of dry land. Others looked on but were too slow to follow him. The Ark drifted back to sea, taking on more water and resigned to it's inevitable descent into the murky ocean depths. Glug, glug... May God bless her, and all who sail in her.

As it's the first real (pending) collapse in over 50 years of a Common Market, that's not a bad achievement. It's rather funny watching The Pied Piper of Rothermere calling the tune for the Little Englander Europhobes scurrying out from their various landfill sites, all ready to canonise David Cameron for being a dodgy second-hand imitation of Maggie Thatcher. That's like saying, "as it's the first real collapse of the Eiffel Tower in over 50 years, that's not a bad achievement"! :D