Coinery

Pah!

What's the date of that, Paulus? And for how much longer are you going to hide behind the smoke-screen of an 'early-milled silver collector'? I think it's time you came out and told us straight...you love a bit of copper, don't you! Don't be embarrassed about it, there's no shame in it! Is it your's?

The right-hand image looks a fair shout to me! Made all the more confusing by a head AND a tail on the left image!

This is quite funny, really, as I remember this topic also being a tad feisty a few years ago. Anyway, something I've learned since, regardless of the legal position, is that (a bit of a generalisation unfortunately) the majority of people who smelt and buy scrap, are mostly the same people who won't ask you too many questions about it. At least that was my experience, once! (Well, twice, actually!)

Classic! No it isn't. Why don't you just...oh, sorry, wrong room!

Classic!

I do wish, as TGH said, that this, and all debates associated with it, could be moved to a separate area, just so I, and probably a fair few others by now, could ignore it in the full confidence we haven't missed anything of numismatic value! For any future visitor, new to the idea of TPG, they can read just 2 pages ( at a push) and be fully conversant with just about every aspect of the subject! Understanding the rights and wrongs of TPG does not add one iota to our understanding or, more importantly, the coin inside! Once that is understood by newbies, or serious collector alike, the whole process fades into nothing other than something to laugh at, or abuse! I'm done! Edit: except, maybe, that I do find you rather full-on, BRG, but then I'm guessing you already know that!

Still going strong, Peter!17 days since I smoked properly, and 13 since my last puff (which wasn't strictly tobacco, but I'm not risking smoking that either this early on....too risky). Money seems to be behaving very strangely - appears to arrive in my pocket and stay there. It's never done that before... The solution to that is a vaporiser - no smoke involved. Hmmm, Peckris, so bad...

Morning, Rich, and welcome! Storing coins is nearly as varied in its practice as the coins themselves! Mahogany cabinets are a popular choice and, though others are likely to disagree with this, I wouldn't like to store modern copper or big-lustred/BU coins this way, I'd stress too much about atmospheric affects on the coins! This of course is a key factor, keeping a dry atmosphere, though most centrally-heated houses achieve this nowadays! I personally opt for 2x2 coin flips, which I then put into an A5 numis coin wallet (6 per page), and this allows viewing from both sides in the comfort of a chair...I love nothing more than flipping through the pages. They are of course sealed in this way, which is an extra protection! There are many other storage methods, I'm sure others will add! Re focused collection! I personally like all the metals, and all the denominations, so I would be dissatisfied with a shilling collection for example! However, having said that, the monarchs you've chosen are pretty complex numismatically, so I'd be tempted to focus on one area for a while, especially if you are a novice, otherwise your fingers will be repeatedly burned! The copper series of G3 is a lovely thing, with currency and pattern coins, etc. to choose from. The silver is pretty too, but well counterfeited and faked, so you really do need to know your stuff (threads on here, and seuk's website are good starters). My advice would be to find a more specific area, say G3 copper, or G3 silver, whichever takes your fancy, then come back for advice on reading and starting points! If it was me I'd likely go for the copper, as this is not an area known for counterfeiting, and a good place to get your head around the complexities of toning and lustre! You can work your way through the currency coins, and maybe take on a pattern coin or two (Rob would be your man for that), and then the sky's the limit, or at least your pocket would be!

brilliant! I'd be tempted to buy all his .99p coins, just to shake the trapped stamens out from the corners!

If I had a single-denomination collection, I'd probably be inclined to take the Adams approach, as I'd like the chronological and developmental context, as you mentioned.

Great groat, and news to hear it's coming out the slab! Hammered looks worse than ever entombed, plus we can now have the weight and a proper picture!Nice one, Nicholas!

We're in South Glouc. Yarp! Edit: congrats on the coin, nice! I just grabbed a cypher E1 halfpenny, so I'm more than happy!

I think a mental census is all there is to go on at the moment, aside from the obvious rarity of the two marks themselves! Gut stuff, and recalled experience of what's been observed, if similarly reported, would be a reasonable start! On reflection the information from others' would be more valid if I didn't submit a general consensus statement. It'll be interesting, though I'd be surprised to find any significant deviation from what's been said so far?? Edit: I managed to grab a cypher HP tonight, something I've never seen for sale before!

I'm going to email a couple of serious collectors of E1 coins to ask the question 'which is the rarer mark, Cypher or Anchor'? It's not something that can can be easily deciphered from the BCW work (though I will put it to Chris), as the Pyx is not available for either mark! The research collection of BCW is not a good reference, as the rarer pieces are commonly better represented by collectors accumulating the those pieces! What's clear however is that, excepting a couple of extremely rare variety pieces, the anchor and cypher are the rarest marks...but which is the rarest of all? It is my own personal observation that the cypher is rarest, any other thoughts ahead of further feedback?

It's interesting you should say that, as I was just concluding something similar from the BCW figures! In my above post I was saying the rarity of certain marks were difficult to evaluate against the general population of coins in the BCW sample. However, I guess, if you look at rarity against rarity, there is some useful information, as the rarity collector influence is ruled out to some extent!Looking at the BCW collection, the anchor would just appear to nick the top spot for the shilling, at least on paper...the sixpence looks to be split, depending on the year, with the 1599 (which is the anchor date most commonly seen, with 3 or 4 examples showing up recently) being less rare than a Cypher, but the 98 and 1600 anchor looking to be the rarest of all E1 6d's?? It'll be interesting to see what else comes back! Do you mind if I use your thoughts in my emails as part of what I might call an early general consensus? Anyone else fancy a shot for balance?

I had a friend who, years ago, found an old musket ball and brought it to the pub! The obvious chat was 'wow' 'rare' 'valuable' and then also was the view of the correct but doubting Thomas's! For the doubters he listed it on eBay and sold it for £50 I think it was?? He's still got it today!

I think you can safely assume, even based on the responses here, that such crazy views will never gain traction. I so very much hope so! I really don't fancy suspending myself from important buildings in defiance of a system I can't survive in! I struggle with it all as it is!

Blimey, TPGC's what? Yes, what's happened Stuart? Or have you, like me, just finished reading all the posts in this thread?! On the head, Paulus! Right on the head! Edit: it really needs its own dedicated forum page, it's such a popular debate! It would would probably get the google number 1 slot for search terms 'CGS' NGC' PCGS' ahead of the slabbing companies themselves, such is the volume of material in this area! Just sayin'! I am mostly finished with the subject myself, I have to say! I did suggest that a while back. We have surely generated over 100 pages of discussion by now.Just for fun, I have just search "CGS NGC PCGS" on google. Predecimal Forum only comes up on top of page 2 Ah, yes, but consolidate it under one title and the story would be different!

We have a member on here (seuk) who has made Giii counterfeits (mostly shillings at present) his specialist area! He has a website which you will find of great interest! I 'm on my phone at the moment, but you will be able to find his site by carrying out a member's search on this forum!

Don't kid yourself. A group of two will have diverging views. A political party will have as many views as members, some of which you will agree with, some you won't. Although all will pay lip service to the general policies of the party, more than a few individuals will have views you find disagreeable at the least. It doesn't matter whether your views are left or right because at the extremes of both sides they are much, much closer to each other than the moderates of either persuasion.Political parties can be at opposite ends of the spectrum, yet still hold basic human principles as a core value, surely (thy shalt not kill and all that!)? I totally understand that they pander to our most popular percentage to win power but, if the day ever comes that the UK degrades itself to such devoluted views (and only conscience can presently define those) en mass, then I'm done with this society!

They must by now have a very close eye on the monopoly ball! I did once hear that sub-contracting was not altogether a bad way to go for companies that are playing ever close to Mayfair!The customs collections could be foolish OR a genius piece of business marketing to world governments!

Blimey, TPGC's what? Yes, what's happened Stuart? Or have you, like me, just finished reading all the posts in this thread?! On the head, Paulus! Right on the head! Edit: it really needs its own dedicated forum page, it's such a popular debate! It would would probably get the google number 1 slot for search terms 'CGS' NGC' PCGS' ahead of the slabbing companies themselves, such is the volume of material in this area! Just sayin'! I am mostly finished with the subject myself, I have to say!

Sorry, but yes, a certain counterfeit coin! Just out of interest, what makes you say half-sov? It looks more HC in design?

I've got a little bit of unafforded auction fever coming up!