Coinery

It’s an absolutely beautiful thing, though, gorgeous photography.

My thoughts: Essentially we have the Class 5 crown (image here from Withers’ Galata Guide to The Pennies of Edward I and II, 2006), common to Classes 5, 6 and the early 7s. Simply put (I think?), if a coin has crown 5 with a pellet on the breast it’s Class 5, and if it has crown 5 with a rose on the breast, then it’s Class 7…all other coins are Class 6 (as I best understand it). So onto Class 6 and some of the things I’m trying to reconcile? Firstly, Withers haven’t divided Class 6a into 6a1 and 6a2, unlike Blunt and North (North in his interpretation simply suggests there is a variety of 6a), which does make some sense given the following. Withers’ Class 6a (or Blunt’s 6a1) is primarily identified by the plain/greek cross and obvious crude workmanship and bust which has almond eyes - the Withers and Blunt images appear to be exactly the same coin for this type (believed to be a best known example, though I’ve yet to see the reverse), with my own (newly acquired) coin from the same die, the only other example I can uncover (so other known coins or images greatly appreciated). There is just one possible anomaly with 6a which I haven’t yet cleared up? The North 6a plate coin looks to be what Withers’ might be calling (at least in their text) a 6b? Essentially they are saying there exists ‘a London [6b] die with B of hYB punched over the initial cross,’ unless of course this also happened in another die they’ve seen? I managed to find a clearer online image of this error on a different coin (highly likely from the same die as North’s plate coin?), appearing to have been sold by Spink, who themselves attribute it as 6a. Maybe it’s a typo in the Withers book, with the line intended to go under the 6a text, or that there is indeed another die with a similar error but on a 6b coin? The North plate coin, and the Spink error-coin image, certainly appear to be 6a coins? Other than this the 6a (or 6a1) looks to be relatively straight forward. However, the difference between the other class 6 coins becomes slightly more tricky, with 6a2 and 6b both sharing a cross pattee initial mark. Withers and North go nowhere near the eyes for 6b, but Blunt states clearly that the two faces used on 6b coins now have pellet pupils, leaving (as far as Blunt is concerned at least) all the almond-eyed cross pattee coins to the rank of 6a2, or not belonging to 6b at any rate. Blunt also marries 6b with long, sloping shoulders and a better bust styling (I agree). However, where does this leave Withers’ 6b plate coin (rounded chin)? This would surely be a 6a2 under Blunt’s assertion? Unless of course these are pellet eyes, and where it gets complicated for me, in view of the example that follows? I’ve seen our own @descartes old 6a2 coin (changed hands again quite recently), which was validated by DG as such, but this appears to me to have something more transitional than almond eyes, certainly less almond than the Withers’ plate 6b coin? All very unclear, and maybe the reason Withers stayed well clear of it? I think the 6b (and the 6a under Withers) is a clear class with its new, stylish bust, long sloping shoulders and pellet eyes, but 6a2, where that one slots in is not so clear for me, even when taking the lettering into account? Anyone want to chuck something in the mix? I’d really like to wrap my head around this one, once and for all!

Further complicated by this ?6a (6a1) from the Harris sale. Definitely not the crude workmanship of the other examples?

And Descartes old coin that is thought to be a 6a2, the only example I’ve been able to look at!

Pellet eyes of 6b

Withers’ plate coin…almond eyes or not? What class would you call it?

Spink coin, likely the same die as the North plate coin for 6a with the B of hYB over the initial mark.

- Henry viii is a groat - All the coins marked XII are shillings - The Elizabeth I coin is also a shilling - The William and Mary (Maria) coin is a half crown. - William IV also a half crown I’d be very happy to be left that lot edit to add: these are all eBay coins, really, that’s if you were looking to sell? Provided you title them correctly, you will likely reach their true market value on that platform. Of course if they were top grade, you’d want to approach things very differently. Good luck, whether you sell or start to collect.

Ah, OK, thanks Rob, thought we were getting somewhere then…a big ask I guess when considering the sheer volume of the series. Nice coin though

So, just had a better look and only just put it all together…all the class 3 Newcastle coins are Es, and all the features of the obverse in combination with the full reverse legend corroborates this. So are we thinking then that this is the 3E from the ‘63 sale? Does it say anything else or suggest a collection? Much appreciated, Rob, as always

Thanks, Rob. I’ve not had a chance to fully study the coin itself, it was a quick ‘must-have’ buy. A brief look at the reverse legend of the coin suggests it’s actually a 3E, so could perhaps allude to the ‘63 sale? The only ticket with anything on the reverse is the bottom one in the images. The Seaby ticket is the top right, then, I’m guessing?

I don’t suppose any of these tickets leap out at anyone for provenance do they?

Yes, I was the underbidder, it would’ve been a very cheap coin for someone otherwise. I’d spent a bit already and equally had my eye on some other things, so couldn’t really chase it too far.

How much coin would, say, Elizabeth Tudor have given out as Maundy coinage, and how much of that coinage would’ve actually been handled by, or been in direct possession of, the queen? How would the ceremony have worked/happened? Would it have been mixed denominations, or just pennies? I’ve recently learned that pennies were given out as Maundy, would there be others? Many thanks in advance!

Matching dies for your acorn/eglantine penny, @jelida, sold this month in the US.

Ah, ok, many thanks for that…was looking on Richard’s site, too, but didn’t see that example!

Just picked this 1861 penny up…is it 8/6 or just wishful thinking?

Absolutely ridiculous isn’t it? What a nonsense!

I love their search engine for past lots, but really struggle with their online layout for upcoming auctions. For me their online experience falls FAR short of the competition.

I can’t seem to buy this book anywhere, not even here, any ideas?

It looks like such a perfect ‘bead’ relative to the condition of the donor coin that I’d personally be thinking it was an old ‘spatter’ of something unconnected with its minting…soldering, braising, weld, etc.?

Thanks, Peck, appreciate you commenting…not my natural playground at all, and all the more difficult to judge from a poor image. I’m looking forward to taking an in-hand photo!