Coinery

The rare varieties are certainly not listed separately, at least not in the hammered section! If you look at S2578B which is an Elizabeth I sixpence, singled out in Spink simply for its bust change to 6C. However, there are 12 major obverses and 38 major reverses for this Spink number, separated by PM's, overmarks/over dates/unmarked etc. I really don't think you can mix up tuns, hands, anchors and cyphers in the same Spink number and ever hope to arrive at a standard value?The Spink guide for the above number 'feels' like it could possible represent the total sale value of coins sold within this category divided by the number of coins included. I don't think there's any algorithm or decision to include only the commonest type? Using the above number again, I'd typically expect to pay a third less (or even more [less that is]) than the Spink value for a nice pm hand 6d, whereas, for an anchor or a cypher, you could easily double/treble the Spink book value! If I were to guesstimate the ratios of the various PM/overmarks etc. of S2578B that have been sold, and divided it by the number of coins themselves, I reckon you'd be somewhere close to the figure they quote! As I said, it's one of those silly eureka moments for me!

You'll need a Visa AC I'm suddenly all in favour of an independent Scotland! I've got a Visa Debit, can I buy cheap single malt with that?

Nice to see...that Offa 'fragment' is amazing...if only to have spotted and ID'd it!Great stuff Mr Knipe!

Yes, I do like it! It just took a while for the penny to drop, and for me to calculate that one hammered Spink ref can cover 50+ varieties of one coin and numerous mint marks, common and rare alike!Rare mint mark of same S number sells £500 Common mint mark of same S number sells £140 Ref guide so far = £320 Simples! Edit: moral of the story is don't expect to get £320 for your common mint mark, just because the Spink's guide values it 'group' as such!

I have to say I didn't take such a close look at Nick's, being dazzled by that CGS 92, but you could be right! That is a beautiful coin Nick I definitely prefer the toning on your's too!

It's bizarre to have been applying the price-guide to so many of the decisions I've made, and only just having the penny drop on the true and actual dynamics of it! Reminds me of a moment when a relief maths' teacher turned up at our school and unravelled a great mathematical mystery to me, just from presenting it with a new twist that fitted my wiring...I'll never forget that!

Just a simple observation, and I'm guessing this is how the whole machine works???? Elizabeth I 6d...priced in Spink at £xxx, covering a range of 6d's from the most common type to the rarest! I've noticed good quality, but commoner types falling well below the Spink price guide, yet seen equal grade (but rarer) coins go for £500+ The above factors are the reason Spink's 'guide' valuations sit where they do...at least with the vagarities and rarities of hammered coinage! Not sure why I haven't had that literary expressive eureka moment before?

I suppose it's all relative! However, I never considered that someone who could afford to buy a mega-buck coin, would ever be thinking about money things...unless you were going to be holding a collection of just 1 coin, and were borrowing against the wife and house to get it!I know I buy beyond my means but, well, wow...

good spot, Sword! Thanks for the link, Paulus, what a cracking coin, doesn't seem real! I think it's the first time I've seen such crispness of detail on the strap across the chest!

Blinkin' 'eck, look at that 1920S!

Collecting broadly is a great idea for those who haven't a clear focus to begin with, but you seem to have a very clear idea of what you want to achieve. I'd definitely follow your first instinct...truth be told, you'll likely find yourself travelling down all sorts of coin roads, and will probably change your focus a few times before settling into something more focused, anyway!Welcome aboard DL...I like a bit of Elizabethan Hammered myself!

I'm no expert with proofs, but that certainly does look proof-like, a brilliant coin!

Great quality coin AND image, sound! If that's the actual colour of the coin, then there's nothing to add that would make a difference, photographically speaking...not from a fellow amateur anyways!

The greatest sense spoken on the matter, David... I also definitely agree with DaveG's observations on the nitty gritty of it all!I'd say your view David is enlightened in its origin, and a refreshing change to the common view on things!

I do agree...three coins makes the dynamics of 1 rejection easier...you're still left with a tough call on the last 2, however?I haven't developed this discipline, yet, I still flip coins over and over just wondering where to draw the line! So hard! If Turner had painted 2 images of the same scene, would it ever be possible to pick one over the other? I think coins are the same...when 'crafted' by a history of nearly a hundred years, how can we possible quantify perfection? The definition between junk and collectable is very clear...however, the top of the collectable range, always divides into what you would like/prefer/accept outside of perfection! And, truth be told, both coins in the OP have stand-alone qualities unquestionable! I come to a simple conclusion that it's impossible to decide, at least for me, and I'm thinking AC too, otherwise the struggle between the two coins wouldn't exist? Oh, don't we love dem coins!

Interesting point! Also, what would the situation be if England desired to separate from the UK, if its leaving were to plunge other country members into potential economic strife (not saying it would)? Just for argument's sake, let's say the population of Wales were economically a drain on resources (I'm not saying it is, of course), and England independently voted to go it alone, thinking itself to be financially better off, and then Wales were to go bankrupt and spiral into a state of civil unrest? Who would be the bad guys? I've just read the above...man does it sound cowardly (I'm not saying it is, of course! )

Very pretty example! Like it!

You forgot the most important bit Rob.. Pop Report: 001Woohooo! This is just like being PCGS! Only without the shedloads of money people pay us. And the slabs. That would make it the finest known! WhooooHoooo!

That's a pretty enough coin, though...for a man wearing a feather hat, at least?It's a decent coin, mark or not! Fun, fun, fun!

Not so funny, really...I don't actually have a Bognor Regis one...not from Tescos anyway!Was that Suzi on 5? No, hang on, she did Christmas Eve, I remember now!

Early days for me, David, I haven't got a single 20p...3 x 5p's and 2 x 1p's and 1 x 10p just doesn't make a collection! I'm sure I'll calm down once the bottomless pocket of the boat chills out a bit?

I confess, it does put a certain twist on things to realise the extent of business that the old SOHO mint got up to! I merely jest...send me that 20p you!

Go on, then! Cheers, TG! It's true, I've lost the plot, I'm honestly enjoying the time-old experience (one I never had, incidentally) of just picking out BUish coins from change! It fills a need!

I don't think it's so clear cut! I'd probably bounce them around from hand to hand, give myself an enormous headache, maybe even wish I'd collected feathers or something, and then put them both back until I was so skint I had to sell both! I hate those kind of choices! It's always the same with coins in the upper grades, there's always some aspect that's charming about each, mostly qualities that are rarely found together in one coin! I quite like the first, reminds me of a 1920 (or was it '21) I've got! I truly don't mind 'honest' and genuine period weakness!