Coinery

There is no point increasing the resolution (despite what you see in the movies), you can't just invent something that wasn't there in the first place. Sure you can average neighbouring pixels or interpolate or some other clever algorithm, but what ever you do it won't be an accurate representation. I wouldn't worry, your pictures look better than most do at that zoom level. Many thanks, Nick. when I converted the cut-out image to jpeg, the program asked me how many pixels I wanted to save it at and, never having played with this stuff before, I wasn't sure what to save it at, I plucked 600 out of thin air.

Rose 18 Does anybody know if you save an image with a greater dpi whether the image is clearer, as the above picture explodes with greater detail in the original. I saved this at 600dpi...any ideas? What would be a maximum dpi to save at?

Here's mine, taken through the plastic of a lighthouse coin flip, so excuse reflections, smokiness, and dust!

You know what, though? I love coins that have good compositional balance, I think this is one of the key aspects of hammered aesthetics ( not forgetting tonal balance, of course), I just wish there was a pinch more of the beading present at 2 O'Clock on the reverse. I'm not asking for full plump beads here, just enough of a 'raise' to pull the reverse design together a bit! Then I would really, REALLY, like it!

Thanks very much for your additions. I did feel something was different about this coin in hand, it had that cleaned appearance, without looking cleaned, if you know what I mean? I was phased by the presence of lustre, not really considering this coin was possibly, as near as damn it, as-struck (it was barely in circulation before the PAS's proposed burial in the 1640's), and looking in my hand as it likely did to the Stuart that buried it along with the rest of his fortune! I rather like it for all that!

That would be very kind. Apparently this coin is from a 2009 auction, would that seem right to you? I'd be really interested to know whether the coin is described as 'bright' or not? Also, do you know whether the coins actually came from the hoard 'bright,' or are these just the ones that were so cruddy they were cleaned? The date is wrong for the sale. The hoard was found in 2009, the first part was auctioned on 14/09/11, part 2 18/01/12 and the final part this Wednesday. Lot 14 or 18 from January looks like it could be the one? Both lots mention multiples of CI shillings with mm triangle in each. "good portrait detail and most with lustre" forms part of the description. Lot 14 had 5 shillinga and 15 sixpences, hammered at £540. Lot 18 had 10 shillings and hammered at £750. Thanks for all the effort, I have managed to find the online photos for the lots you mentioned and, whilst the images are poor, I was able to see that mine wasn't amongst them by assessing the shapes. Hopefully something will turn up, I've sent out a couple of emails, so maybe something will come of them?

That'll be great, the more images to work from the better. I've had a coin-related 'unpublished' domain for some years now, that I've been itching to get out there! Roll on June, then! Thanks Historic Coinage, very much appreciated!

Checking on the Portable Antiquities Scheme, it seems there were 23 Triangle Shillings in the hoard, around 6 fit the weight range, mine's 6.11g!

It seems to share quite a lot of the same characteristics as the fakes that were discussed last time. With this sort of suspicion associated with them, I would only consider buying one from a top auction house or reputable dealer. Or a verifiable provenance which pre-dates the appearance of these copies. There were few copies around prior to 2003 2004ish, and those there were tended to be quite recognisable, and crucially, documented. You see, provenance CAN actually add a decent premium to a coin! ;-)

That would be very kind. Apparently this coin is from a 2009 auction, would that seem right to you? I'd be really interested to know whether the coin is described as 'bright' or not? Also, do you know whether the coins actually came from the hoard 'bright,' or are these just the ones that were so cruddy they were cleaned?

Thanks very much for the information. Re the 'clean,' you see this is the thing I can 't quite put my finger on! It looks new, rather than polished, the weirdest thing, I really got a sense it was straight from the mint when I saw it. Do you know how the Bedale coins came to have a 'fresh' look? I'm thinking that if this is a Bedale coin, it will have been recently bought from auction by someone who presumeably realised that cleaning a coin is not condusive to a good investment! I'm thinking it may have come from the hoard this way, if it is indeed FROM the hoard. Any thoughts?

I really don't know, can't hoards be really well sealed in old pottery sometimes? Maybe even waxed closed, who knows? I'd be really interested however!

I agree - it's preferable to ugly toning, and it is possible to dip LIGHTLY without destroying all lustre. what silver dip do you use?

Let's hope not for the buyer's sake! Would anyone care to post a pic of their 1905 HC, I would like to see a high grade one! (It wont be me, mine is gF) Here's mine, any good? If you're after a fake, that'll do nicely. If I was in the market for one of these (I'd love one, one day), I'd certainly do my research well in advance. But, if this is indeed a fake, I have to say that upon first impressions i wouldn't be able to spot it from the pictures alone, not without being pre-armed with any pre-purchase research, that is! Yes it is a fake, I wish someone would point out any clear indicators though as I can't tell the difference Absolutely, anybody out there already done the legwork on this one and holds information that would help in the identification of a genuine 1905 halfcrown?

That's a One Penny, Gary! ah! What a plonker....... ok here's my 1902LT Halfpenny That's really rather nice, I have to say. You'll be pleased with that, then? :-)

Thanks, Peter, It's a shame about the small spot in the right field of the reverse, though!

You'll do well on eBay ;-) If your coin's as good as the one you've posted, I'll buy it! I rather suspect it isn't! Good luck with the collecting, you'll never come to the end of it! Here is an effort, hope it works, I think it is good and this has not been cleaned, any comment appreciated. Very nice, have you got a photo of the other side, and how much are you looking for? Not sure about this side, I forgot what size I made the last one here goes anyway. I dont know what I want I am open to offers, I only started a couple of weeks ago and I collect shillings this was in a pail of coins I got for the shillgs contained in it. I would not be offended at any offer. Dont think this is a good pic. What about a good old-fashioned swap...online, for fun? If you're new to it all, we could have a forum-guided look at a couple of my old shillings, what do you reckon? If you can wait until Sunday evening, I'll post up a couple of options for you to ponder on, maybe the forum chaps and lady could throw in there twelve- penneth worth and help you out? Fancy it? Suits me Coinery not a problem. Thanks for the offer. OK, great stuff, I'll start a new thread on Sunday evening and post up pictures of a few shillings, and see what you think. The last thing I ever swapped was a pannini football card around 1978 or 79 :-) Sorry coinery, old age does not visit alone, out of interest what kind of date/s were you thinking, just to save you going to the bother if I have them. Cheers. I'll have a sift through and let you know what I've got tomorrow, if that's OK?

You'll do well on eBay ;-) If your coin's as good as the one you've posted, I'll buy it! I rather suspect it isn't! Good luck with the collecting, you'll never come to the end of it! Here is an effort, hope it works, I think it is good and this has not been cleaned, any comment appreciated. Very nice, have you got a photo of the other side, and how much are you looking for? Not sure about this side, I forgot what size I made the last one here goes anyway. I dont know what I want I am open to offers, I only started a couple of weeks ago and I collect shillings this was in a pail of coins I got for the shillgs contained in it. I would not be offended at any offer. Dont think this is a good pic. What about a good old-fashioned swap...online, for fun? If you're new to it all, we could have a forum-guided look at a couple of my old shillings, what do you reckon? If you can wait until Sunday evening, I'll post up a couple of options for you to ponder on, maybe the forum chaps and lady could throw in there twelve- penneth worth and help you out? Fancy it? Suits me Coinery not a problem. Thanks for the offer. OK, great stuff, I'll start a new thread on Sunday evening and post up pictures of a few shillings, and see what you think. The last thing I ever swapped was a pannini football card around 1978 or 79 :-)

That's a One Penny, Gary!

You'll do well on eBay ;-) If your coin's as good as the one you've posted, I'll buy it! I rather suspect it isn't! Good luck with the collecting, you'll never come to the end of it! Here is an effort, hope it works, I think it is good and this has not been cleaned, any comment appreciated. Very nice, have you got a photo of the other side, and how much are you looking for? Not sure about this side, I forgot what size I made the last one here goes anyway. I dont know what I want I am open to offers, I only started a couple of weeks ago and I collect shillings this was in a pail of coins I got for the shillgs contained in it. I would not be offended at any offer. Dont think this is a good pic. What about a good old-fashioned swap...online, for fun? If you're new to it all, we could have a forum-guided look at a couple of my old shillings, what do you reckon? If you can wait until Sunday evening, I'll post up a couple of options for you to ponder on, maybe the forum chaps and lady could throw in there twelve- penneth worth and help you out? Fancy it?

Kind of wandered off topic hasn't it Great stuff! Now where have I seen that happen before? :-)

Let's hope not for the buyer's sake! Would anyone care to post a pic of their 1905 HC, I would like to see a high grade one! (It wont be me, mine is gF) Here's mine, any good? If you're after a fake, that'll do nicely. If I was in the market for one of these (I'd love one, one day), I'd certainly do my research well in advance. But, if this is indeed a fake, I have to say that upon first impressions i wouldn't be able to spot it from the pictures alone, not without being pre-armed with any pre-purchase research, that is!

Here's mine, I think it's EF, maybe better, but a weakly struck reverse, any thoughts (said I wouldn't ask about grades again)?

You'll do well on eBay ;-) If your coin's as good as the one you've posted, I'll buy it! I rather suspect it isn't! Good luck with the collecting, you'll never come to the end of it! Here is an effort, hope it works, I think it is good and this has not been cleaned, any comment appreciated. Very nice, have you got a photo of the other side, and how much are you looking for?

In my experience coins have gotten more expensive over the short(ish) 8 years I've been collecting. I would be very happy to pick up some of the coins I've sold since then, if I only had to pay what I did at the time! I have to admit I was lucky, but when I checked I still have perhaps half of the coins I bought in 2004, either remaining happy with then or having failed to find better examples to upgrade. Real rarities aside, modern coins are easily available. You will be able to pick up a 1970 proof shilling or an 1887 in decent condition any time. But drop back to James II or William & Mary and you'll struggle. So if you see a good one now, it's inadvisable to wait. I started collecting shillings of the first year of issue and for any major bust or reverse change but eventually, as I said, had to narrow my collection or face gaps that would always challenge my budget if the coins were even available at all. I know some people do, but buying one or two coins a year is not much fun for me! So I echo what Rob says. Buy some cheaper recent coins but don't ignore the older ones. And remember, you can always ask people here whether they think a price is acceptable or not. Not that that will stop you from making mistakes, because we all do, but it might help a bit with damage limitation! Absolutely, damage limitation is the best anyone can hope for in the beginning; at any time actually, particularly if you're a bargain sniper. I've said in a thread somewhere before, that I learnt more in 1 month on this forum than I'd learnt in the previous 10 years. We must of course remember that mistakes present the greatest learning opportunities and, for all the many mistakes I've made in life, I've certainly learned proportionately more from those made collecting coins. Anyway, it's not all bad, because there is a certain pleasure that comes from a mistake made only once!