DaveG38

I too want a Churchill Crown! Before you all rush to offer me yours, or send for the men in white coats, I actually want the variety which has a larger loop to the R in CHURCHILL. As far as I can judge, my one, given to me when I was a kid, is the small loop variety. Anybody got one? I appreciate it means a tedious chore of checking through stock, so am prepared to pay a reasonable price plus postage. The two types are reported to be equally common, so it shouldn't be too hard to find. The problem I have with ebay is assessing the coin shown since the photos are often not good enough or else a stock photo is put up, in which case I can't be sure of getting the right one. Many thanks. DaveG38

Couldn't agree more about this particular 'coin.' On a slightly different subject what do people think of the new 2008 Elizabeth I crown? I don't usually like modern coins made for profit by the mint, but I have to say that this one, particularly in the proof form, is very appealing. What does the panel think?

Gary, I'm now confused and bewildered (my usual state). Are you saying that there is the common flat neck variety of 1911, plus two hollow necks, one of which is rare and the other much more common? If so, do you know how these correlate to the I of IMP types mentioned by Salzman? My guess is that these are the same as two of the types above, just identified in different ways. Or have I missed something here? Also, my copy of Freeman (1985) mentions hollow neck varieties on 1912 coins - anybody seen one? DaveG38

Hi, This variety is not especially new. It is mentioned in Michael G Salzman's book entitled 'A Handbook of Modern British Coins and Their Varieties.' My copy of this runs up to 1970 and from the looks of it its a mid-70s publication. Unfortunately some idiot removed the title pages, so it has no publication date. The ISBN is 0 9508457 0 1. Interestingly, Salzman describes the varieties as 1) Hollow Neck, I of IMP to a space and 2) No hollow neck, I of IMP to border tooth. He also classifies them as Common and very common respectively, which is clearly at odds with Michael Gouby's assessment of rarity. Also, of course Michael Gouby describes them by reference to the I in BRITT, but as far as I can judge they are the same two varieties as Salzman mentions. This variety is also reported in Collector's coins 1990 and 1998, but not in Collector's coins 2007 - not sure why Chris left it out of the later edition. Hope this helps. DaveG38

They've obviously been on this site and found my earlier post about a 20p piece where the queen is wearing a bluetooth mobile phone, and liked it so much the're going to use it. I'm so excited, and looking forward to fame and fortune!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DaveG38

Nice coin, but to me this looks like Obv 1 Rev A. Obv 1 has the I of BRITT pointing to a bead, whilst Rev A has the I of FID pointing to a space. These seem to be the conclusions from the pointings of this coin. However, it could be that the pointing isn't absolutely clear from the photos. Info by the way from the 'Micheal Coins' web site. Mmm your right it is 1+A, I've got my : and I confused. Michael Goulby uses I to space / bead and Davies : after FID to space / bead. Oh well never mind 1+A is still as rare as hens teeth and must be worth £100+ Gary, Sorry to have pointed out the error, but as you say, still a very nice coin and pretty rare, so a good deal. A bit of a cheek I know, but would you object to my making use of the photographs you posted in something I am currently thinking of putting together. That sounds a bit mysterious I know, but until I am sure I want to undertake this task, I would rather not commit myself on paper or screen! Until I am sure, I am just collecting material in the meantime, just in case. If you are not agreeable I quite understand.

Nice coin, but to me this looks like Obv 1 Rev A. Obv 1 has the I of BRITT pointing to a bead, whilst Rev A has the I of FID pointing to a space. These seem to be the conclusions from the pointings of this coin. However, it could be that the pointing isn't absolutely clear from the photos. Info by the way from the 'Micheal Coins' web site.

I have just purchased a 1839 quarter farthing in EF condition, with the intention of selling my existing one, which is of a lesser grade. However, before I do so, does anybody know of any varieties of this particular coin, and if so, what the differences are? I haven't found any in any of my books, but I do seem to remember seeing some reported differences on the Colin Cooke site. Thanks. DaveG38

You have copies of Bramah and Batty!!! If ever you get the urge to sell let me know I have been looking for ages without success I know my luck I will buy one the day before it is scanned into google books!! The 4 volumes of Batty sold on ebay for £357 finishing last weekend. Unfortunately I got waylaid and didn't get a bid in. Many thanks to Bronze and Copper collector for the information from Batty. I've checked my two coins and both are identical and show none of the characteristics of the varieties shown. So I guess I'll have to sell the lower grade one. Once again many thanks for the info. DaveG38

Dave, I seem to remember there being a variety where the pearl numbers on the crown were different, but I cannot find reference to it at the moment. Eleven pearls either side of the crown is the norm. If I find the reference I will let you know. Thanks Colin, any help gratefully received. DaveG38

I can't find it, but I am sure I have seen this one before on the forum? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EXCELLENT-ELIZABETH-...1QQcmdZViewItem Am I right or is it my eyesight?

What do you think of the new style, modernised Queen's portrait? On this 20 pence coin, she's got warts and is using a bluetooth!! See the url below

To be fair, it was me that alerted them, and I made it pretty impossible for them to be in any doubt that it was a con. As I pointed out, how can two separate auctions be selling the same coin as lot 568 from the Glendining Auction on 11 May 1954! Even ebay couldn't get that one wrong..... or could they? Mmmmm.... Was the coin the actual one in Parsons' sale i.e a worn 1697 crown 3rd bust, 2nd harp with a NONO edge? It is illustrated in the Parsons catalogue despite its grade. The coin is this one, which sold on ebay a couple of days ago. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VERY-RARE-WILLIAM-II...1QQcmdZViewItem Looks like the one you mentioned.

To be fair, it was me that alerted them, and I made it pretty impossible for them to be in any doubt that it was a con. As I pointed out, how can two separate auctions be selling the same coin as lot 568 from the Glendining Auction on 11 May 1954! Even ebay couldn't get that one wrong..... or could they? Mmmmm....

Hi All, Fraud alert - see the link below. From the description, this item was sold for £2051 on 12 August on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VERY-RARE-WILLIAM-II...1QQcmdZViewItem There's no picture, the description matches the sold item, and the seller has no feedback - the item is also starting at 99p and no location is given! With all this against it, I can't believe anybody would be taken in by this one, but you never know. DaveG38

On a more serious note, has anybody got some quality photos of the satin churchill crown for comparison with the common type? I'm not suggesting that the idiot in this story has one, but to me the normal crown looks satin like - horrible, but satiny. If so can they post a pic - you never know any one of mine might be a £600 one - ho ho!!!

Yes, but it went for only $2.76, so nobody was really fooled this time. How could they be with a photo like that? DaveG38

For what its worth, I personally wouldn't. Sure its a spectacular misstrike, but the coin itself is fair at best, maybe not even that. To me the coin doesn't have eye-appeal, and for that much money I would expect to find something much nicer. However, if misstrikes turn you on, then its unlikely you will find another one like this, and it may be worth it to you. Only you can say! DaveG38

I can't see what the discussion is about, and I'm intrigued. Can anybody post a picture or a description? The link at the start doesn't work for me. DaveG38

Is this item for real? http://cgi.ebay.com/1652-New-England-NE-sh...1QQcmdZViewItem I don't particularly dispute the age or rarity (I don't know about the latter), but $215,000 buy-it-now price for a coin described as EF, yet has hardly any detail left on it, apart from that which presumably identifies it! I guess these were poorly struck like Henry I pennies but even so this seems an extraordinary grade. It appears to have plenty of pedigree, but I do wonder who would pay about £120,000 for waht is not much more than a flat piece of metal. Nobody has bid yet, so maybe that's the answer. DaveG38

Windows XP. I would highly recommend 'dumping' IE as a browser, and opting for Mozilla Firefox. This is a free download, is much less likely to be targeted by hackers, phishers etc. and for me has been quick and reliable for the 5 years or so I have used it. The only thing you have to watch for are the odd sites where some functionality is lost, but these are so few I don't really notice. Daveg38

Methinks there's going to be another disappointed punter on this one? http://cgi.ebay.com/1687-RARE-JAMES-II-ENG...1QQcmdZViewItem A modern re-strike unless my old eyes deceive me. DaveG38

Mustry harder be learning Chenglish auction eBay business This guy has a whole load of apparently very nice coins ending on ebay shortly. Coins include a 1714 farthing, 1716, 1709, 1707 crowns plus many more. However, his feedback is obviously dodgy, his english is terrible, he works a one day listing, and I doubt very much that he is in the USA at all, despite what it says on ebay. In short one to avoid like the plague. The only thing that isn't clear is exactly how the scam works. The coins might be fakes, but if so they are very good, so I suspect they are photos of genuine coins. Assuming this is so, then he isn't selling fakes, but is operating a payment scam. However, he does say paypal welcome, so any scam should leave buyers with some protection, and paypal out of pocket. It must be my inate sense of honesty, but I really can't see how this will make enough money to be worthwhile - am I missing something here, or just being naive? DaveG38

Hi all, Saw this item go on ebay - from China! A really good deal, or another fake? What does the team think? At $1146.36 ie around £600 it looks far too cheap to be true! http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-1601-GREAT-BRITAIN...1QQcmdZViewItem DaveG38

I am a collector of 20th century varieties, as well as a date collector of milled coinage, and I am having real difficulty finding one of the varieties of the 1965 sixpence. According to Collectors Coins 1998, but not mentioned in the 2007 book, (I am a regular repeat buyer of this excellent publication) there are two pointings for this date - the I of regina either points to a rim bead or points between. I have the one, which points to a rim bead, but have never been able to find one which points between. I'm not sure if this is because they are pretty rare, or its because dealers are reluctant to check through a mountain of coins of this date, trying to find one, all for a pound or two of profit at most. I have tried some of the less obvious places for coins, like boot fair and antiques fairs, and always its the type I have that turns up. So any ideas anybody? Or better still, does anybody have a spare of the type I want? All info gratefully received. DaveG38