Coinery

Couldn’t see ‘em from ‘ere, Peck, but, by ‘eck I could smell ‘em!

If you know what I mean?

Not totally convinced about the underlying F in MAG, but my goodness what a series of misfits it is. Before reading your post properly I looked at the coin. I was thinking that the F (and I was going to ask the question) looked like the main body of the punch had been entered onto the coin as well, suggesting a very worn down (or filed down to repair???) F, a kind of shallow F on the punch, so to speak? I’ve never seen it before, so wondered whether that might also be another possibility?

Ah, I see, makes sense, a nice idea. So are you doing the copper/bronze issues too, or staying with silver in the reigns of say Victoria, Ed7 etc.? How are you handling the Plantagenets? I was thinking an example of every obverse class, and then finding the remaining missing mints on any class they happen to come on. So, effectively an example of each class and mint, on the smallest number of coins possible.

Not the prettiest by a long shot, but liked the provenance and accompanying tickets! Arthur M. Fitts III Collection. Ex Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin 437 (October 1954), no. G1465. (includes the Seaby paper flip, and ticket in the hand of Bert Seaby [Eaglen D22A]). Still can’t decide on whether it’s a keeper or seller, the jury is still out!

Any thoughts on the ‘corrosion/bubbles’ on the 3 o’clock arm of the reverse cross (and other localised places on the reverse)? Bad mix of the gold/poor flan? I wonder about this, as it would’ve been the most compressed of the gold, being forced into the devices? they are clearly minute, as this is a tiny coin...any thoughts? On silver hammered it’s clearly ground corrosion, acidity/alkalinity nibbling away at the contaminants in the silver mix...same so for gold?

Good point re the magnet! A modern 2p is magnetic, so i’m going for a bit of post mint fun plating! My son did something similar when visiting a comprehensive on an open day! Think I may even posted it on here?

@Descartes I absolutely love this coin, but I also really love the John in the same sale! I picked the govenor’s brains a while back about the Tealby, and i’m sure he won’t mind me sharing with you the Allen die pics, and info. etc. that he mailed me! I can only buy one or the other (John/H2) in light of my recent gold, though i’m resigned to moving that on, so your call, no point in us chasing each other up the tree! In all reality I can only go $700 on that lot, so if you fancy it more than that I’ll bid on the John instead and still be a very happy man! PM me your email If you want to touch base!

Maundy? 😮

Another detail to reveal is whether a cupronickel flan exactly matching a 2p actually exists, and whether such a mistake/error could then happen at the mint? It’s clearly a perfect 2p flan, so a bit of work ahead, unless some of the decimal chaps can offer information for you that suggests otherwise.

Your next challenge is to determine whether it’s silver-coloured to the core, or just a normal 2p that’s been plated? An accurate weight might be a starting point, otherwise you’re looking at lightly scoring the edge (on the actual outside edge, not the outer edge of the coin’s level facing surfaces) to determine whether the silver colour reveals a copper-coloured metal below. If you don’t fancy scoring, you’ll be looking at an expensive metallurgy test. I’d personally go for a teeny score and a look with a loupe. Good luck!

Tee hee! Keep up the good work Des, a fine collection in the making! 🙌

You could have one with a nice provenance if you like? £525 freepost

I feel your pain, Descartes, I can barely bring myself to look at my silver farthings! i’m very much a 2x2 coin flip fan, so if you find a solution please do post!

Thanks, Rob, much appreciated.

Yes a bit of gold fever I think. What’s the latest Spink 1501, I know it’s on your lap! Might give the NGC route a try and move it on! What’s your thoughts on the second offering? Getting there?

You see there are prettier, that’s the problem!

Talking 3ds, what a gorgeous Ebay coin this one was 202149723023 absolute jaw dropper, so nearly went nuts and put a must-win bid on it! Beautiful little coin. https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/1888-MAUNDY-THREEPENCE-BRITISH-SILVER-COIN-FROM-VICTORIA-BU-PROOFLIKE/202149723023#vi__app-cvip-panel

I really don’t like this seller, I got really cross with them about 4 years ago over an Elizabeth martlet shilling that was for sale at £1k. It was at a time I could afford it and offered 900 cash privately, and would pick it up! They wouldn’t budge, and I couldn’t make them understand they’d actually be better off if I bought it without PP and Ebay charges, and with no delivery risks! Grrr! They sold it on eBay about 2 weeks later, annoying! Anyway, I dislike them even more now, because these people actually know a little bit about coins...enough to know they are being deceptive here!

Goodness, that would turn in all on it’s head. I’m guessing there are too many people holding very expensive Scarborough coins to ever let that be a truth?

I thought that about the reverse, but it’s not consistent with the obverse, which made me doubt a full cast, though the sheet itself could’ve been poured and the reverse contact with a cold surface could potentially create the bubbles, before then being cut up and hammered from a clearly crude die? Now here’s a question...would it ever have happened that cut-off cavaliers, or even parliamentary forces, would’ve chanced producing a product like the OP coin? It could also be a very easy target for forgers in the new commonwealth period couldn’t it??? ? edit: some confusion...i was talking about the cast-like bubbles of the reverse, you were obviously referring to the irregularity of the bottom ‘die’

It doesn’t look like an electrotype to me, it looks hammered? Does that make it a contemporary counterfeit (weight and metal would decide that I guess), or a more recent attempt at forgery (though I don’t think it will have succeeded in that at any point)?

Gosh! Thank-you so much Peck and Sleepy, truly appreciate your efforts in explaining this! I’m back to feeling happy with the dynasty spanning H2-R3!

As per the title, what are your thoughts? Henry II or not?

Doesn’t sit well with me either, but then I do confess to having very little knowledge of the early pennies. It doesn’t help that it’s listed alongside a number of 21st century pennies?? ?