RobJ

I think that one way to look at it is in the future, if your Grandchildren should appear, at the very least they will have a couple of nicely preserved examples.

I see that it was finally sold for £142. With another example selling for £255, I wonder if we are about to see ' Upside Down 5p Mania?' lol I'm also wondering how long it will be before a chancer lists a 'Rare 2008 5p' with the description of 'Both the Heads and Tails are facing the RIGHT way up! I don't know if this is correct or not' with a starting Bid of 99p? lol Seriously though, I think that, if genuine, these coins along with the '20p Mules' have certainly made collecting and looking for modern coins in your change a lot more fun and exciting and does show a genuine interest from the Public at large and Coin Collectors alike about them. I do have a theory as to how it may have happend, although I'm not sure how accurate it may be. lol I have seen various coins with the OBV rotated by varying Degrees, although never by a full 180 Degrees. It has crossed my mind that the Die when minting these coins has some how become loose and as the coins are Minted the Die is 'Rotating' around its axis, possibly up to a full 180 Degrees. This could account for the varying amount of difference in the rotated OBV of the coins as some may be Minted when the Die is in movement around its axis. I hope that at least kind of made sense! lol At least that is my, albeit badly explained, theory. lol

I thought that the Britannia issues were in fact Legal Tender Coins? Or am I missunderstanding your definitions of what makes a coin? Sorry to ask, I'm just being curious.

Hi Grace, Welcome to the Forum. I must agree with the sound advice that has already been given to you so far. It may be helpful for you with the identification of the coins for you to perhaps organise them by Monarch, or perhaps by Denomination (Those can be found on the back of nearly every coin, For example, Farthing, Sixpence, Florin, etc.) That would certainly help you to identify the coins more easily than just having a large pile of them and not knowing where to start. It would indeed be extremely helpful for you if you were able to obtain a copy of 'Spinks - Coins Of England' as suggested by Peckris. That is arguably the most complete, yet readily available book available about coins and has a wealth of information and would be a very good place for you to start. As already mentioned, rather than listing each and every rarity and variety, as the list would be very long indeed! A better idea may perhaps be to have a good look through the coins and select the ones that look to be in the best condition and Post some pictures here on the Forum. There are some very knowledgable Forum Members with ranging areas of expertise and I'm sure that someone would be able to assist you. Again, as already mentioned, the condition.of the coin is primary to its value. I do understand that you may not have an interest in selling any of them, but I do believe it is worth reiterating the point. Perhaps a small bit of information that may assist you. Silver Coins minted until 1920 (Including your 1840 Shilling) are composed of .925 Silver. Silver Coins after 1920 and up until 1946 are composed of .500 Silver. After that the 'Silver Coins' contain no Silver at all and unless in the very highest of Grades are usually of very little value. I wish you luck with your endevour!

I have seen quite a few of the New Design coins with all manner of 'Cuds' and marks etc. on them. Particularly the 1p and 2p, but on other Denominations as well. I'm not sure if it is a problem with the actual Minting Process or with Quality Control , or a mixture of both, that we are getting to see so many examples of them. They do make for an interesting little oddities, but I agree that there would be little value to them. Although the last time that I browsed E-Bay, there were several examples on there. lol

I was re-reading through this thread and remembered that you had said that 1949. I don't know if you collect Commemorative 50p Coins as well as Commemorative £2 Coins, or if you have managed to obtain one since you posted your reply, but I have a spare 1992 'Single Market' 50p Coin if it is of any use to you?

No doubt it will some form of a 'Micro Implant' embedded somewhere in our bodies. Perish the thought!

To me, there is little difference, when it comes down to it, in say a 'Dot to Dot' 10p and some Pre Decimal coins. After all, they are essentially the same coins, except certain letters or numbers point to certain places that the others do not. To me personally that is what Coin Collecting has always been about. Looking through and checking your change to find the varieties and nice examples of coins that we use daily. After all, if people of previous generations didn't put aside or collect coins from their time, then we simply would not have the variety or qualilty of coins that we as Coin Collecters today have. For example, the much coveted 1905 Shilling. Yes, they were produced in much smaller numbers than their contemporary coins, however, to the average Edwardian the 1905 Shilling would have not been any different to any other Shilling of the day, yet if they had not been put aside for whatever reason or collected at the time, there would be even fewer of them today and virtually none in higher Grades. I believe that I made that point earlier in the thread that people living in The Victorian or Edwardian eras didn't pay too much attention to the coins in their pockets as they were used each and every day, and what was at the time common today fetches a high premium due to it's rarity, and it may be in the future that the same could be said of some Decimal Coins. One of the main differences that I can see is that of sheer numbers, that is to say that coins today are produced, as a whole, on a vastly larger scale than Pre Decimal Coins. Today they are produced in the Hundreds of Millions as opposed to Millions and Tens of Millions for the later Pre Decimal Coins. There are however certain Decimal Coins that do have low Mintages, certain 50p, £1 and £2 Coins for example, and the certain varieties of other coins that do exist. In all probability, it will be those which are sought after by future generations of Coin Collectors, but if we do not put them aside now or collect them, there will be very few of them for those future generations to collect! Sorry to ramble on. lol I just thought that I would add my thoughts on the subject.

Sorry Scott, this only seems to work with coins.

OK, Just for you David... I haven't seen a 1954 Penny for a little while. Well, it's worth a try, is it not? lol

Agreed.

I'm really not sure at all what will happen. As you have already stated, traditionally there are not only new OBV Designs but usually new REV Designs as well. Even if not every REV Design has changed, there have usually been a few that have. The thing that we also have to consider as wel in this Sylvester, is that when our present Monarch does pass, her Heir is not getting any younger. So what will happen to our coinage after his passing and his Heir suceeds him? Will they all be totally redesigned on both the OBV and REV again? We may end up in similar situation as Victoria and Edward VII, wherein she had a long Reign with several Design changes and he had a short Reign with only one Design. It certainly is interesting to speculate. However, I'm sure that all will be revealed in due course and time.

It is typical that I should say that, as I received one in my change this morning. lol Ok, let me try this again... I haven't seen a 1933 Penny for a little while.

Thanks Peckris, I do try. lol I'm still not sure about the New Designs if I am honest Chaps. They are certainly original, innovative perhaps, and yes it is fun to to sit and complete the 'Jigsaw' - Which I believe was the Designers intent - But after a few times the novelty wears off, at least for me. I think that like with so many things before it, history will be the judge. In years to come they may be deemed one of the 'Design Masterpieces.' On the other hand they may be replaced for our next Coronation Coinage whenever that may be. lol

I think that is a very fair observation Sylvester. If you take for example, the 1953 Elizabeth II Issues, which are well known for being struck with a rather low relief. They used to wear rather rapidly and were in the end redesigned to make them more durable. The other factor perhaps is the quality of the metal used to make the coins. Perhaps the metal used in the more recent coins is not as durable as it once was and that may also add to the seemingly rapid wear and overall condition of the coins? I'm not expert in this area by any standard, but they could be possible reasons.

That is really hard to say 1949. Speaking purely from personal experience of checking the coins in my change over the years, I have some quite shocking sights. lol I think people must carry out bizarre experiments with coins. lol I have received coins that look like someone has tried to 'Slice' them in half, some that look as if they have been set on fire and some that look as if they have been 'Dipped' in heaven knows what. I once found an old large 50p with words 'Inscribed' that would shock a Sailor! lol Then on the other hand, in the same handful of change you can receive a coin that looks like it left the Royal Mint earlier that morning. Overall, it ever ceases to amaze me the condition that coins turn up in. lol

Sadly I doubt that I will be here in 50 years time to reap the handsome return. lol

Hi Mike, Welcome to the Forum. As Azda has already pointed out Die Cracks are fairly common. May I suggest that you upload a picture. There are several Forum Members with extensive knowledge of Farthings (Sadly I'm not one of them. lol) Who I'm sure would be able to advise you further.

The Shop used to sell everything from Hammered Coins to Pre Decimal Coins (And everything inbetween. lol) The owner always told me the same things that you have said here about Decimal Coins Rob. And for them it was just a way to have some added income when they were sold. As far as I am aware, the owner only closed the Shop as they were relocating to a different part of the country and they would remain in business. Sadly, it was the only Coin Shop in my local area which did have a decent range of Decimal Coins, there is another one but it only sells a few Royal Mint Sets. So I now need to find somewhere else to obtain the ones that I would like. It does really highlight, however, that there is no real secondry market, as such, in modern Decimal Issues. Perhaps in the future that may change.

They certainly are Dave! I haven't seen a Darwin £2 Coin for a little while, and I have only seen one 'Robert Burns' £2 Coin to date. All I seem to see now is almost Mint State 2009 'Technology' £2 Coins. lol

Some people do precisely that Sion.

The downside that I see is that if the Vending Machine Industry do decide to stop their machines using 5p and 10p coins, is that it will be the Consumer that will pay for it, as all of the prices will need to be adjusted and rounded up. As they are very unlikely to drop the price of, for example, a Chocolate Bar from 55p to 50p, instead it will go up to 60p! Also as the Vending Machines would not be giving 5p or 10p coins in their change any longer, prices as a whole would have to be reworked to allow the change given to be a minimum of 20p. It's all a bit of a headache really! I'm sure that things will be sorted out one way or another eventually. lol

That is not something that I have noticed if I am honest with you. I only usually keep the very best condition ones that I can find and put them aside. The rest I simply do not bother with. lol I think that you are right, if you want to own a true BU specimin then you would have to purchase it from the Royal Mint and pay extra for the privilege.

That certainly is an interesting point that you raise there. I would think that the Royal Mint would have carried out extensive research into this matter before and during the process of creating these new coins. I would also think that they would have to adhere too and be bound to any Legislation pertaining to Nickel content that may be of a hazard to the population at large. As to any liability regarding a reaction from the coins against the Royal Mint, I have no idea. Or they could just have left things as they were. lol

Indeed! The bigger problem that I think that the Royal Mint will face with the new Nickel Plated Steel 5p and 10p coins is getting the plating process right. If they do not, it will not be good for them at all. As for the Vending Machine Industry, the answer is simple. Do not allow the Vending Machines to accept 5p or 10p Coins. I know that may sound very blasé, but to me it makes a lot more sense than having to spend a fortune to create new machines that can deal with these new coins and having software written for existing machines to be able to use them. Instead just have the Software updated in existing machines to not allow 5p or 10p coins.