King Norton

Hi I am a new member and this is my first post. I have in my collection a 1887 Victoria Half Crown - I would say UNC, but then again, as it is mine, I probably would. I would like to know whether there is an easy way of determining if it is indeed a proof as I have suspected for some time now. The field is as nice as they come and the detail is very sharp, but upon looking at others both 'normal' and so called proof, I am still at a loss as to how to tell them apart.

Thanks for that Rob. Better cancel my holiday, I thought I was on a winner.

I was looking through some half pennies the other day and came across this. I have found an 1862 Half Penny that has no rocks to the left of the lighthouse. The scans arn't great (coins are much better than the scans) and you will have to trust me that they are both 1862, upload limit caught me out with full scans. I have looked in Spink (and rotographic) and the only variants listed are ones with letters to the left of said lighthouse, there definitely isn't sadly, as I was on a winner if so. Has anyone anything to add. Sorry the next scan is on the next topic (upload limit again)!

The other scan

Hi Thanks for the response. If you look at the link below, there are two 1887 Half Crowns shown. The 'normal' and a proof (sadly just reverse side). The '1' of 1887 points to differing beads. The 'normal' points directly at a bead, the 'proof' is slightly offset. My coin appears to be similar to the so called 'proof'. http://www.ukcoinpics.co.uk/halfc.html Just as well I don't show you my 1887 proof sixpence, thats a whole new argument.

Hi RobJ Thanks for your reply. I have tried to upload some images but the message tells me that the files are too big (1.8mb & 2.1mb). The scans are at 1200dpi so if I get some more time tomorrow I will try again at a lower resolution.