Chingford

1837 has the lowest mintage circa 30k, other rare dates are circa 150k with more common 600+k Joseph Crespo has a very decent site regarding the dates, types and history http://www.colonialthreehalfpence.net/Home.php John

If you look closely, you can still see some threads on the coin from its last clean

There are copies of the new £2 coin for sale, one UK based collector has bought 2400 copies, can't think they are all for his own personal collection I copied his details and the Ad over to the Royal Mint, see if Ebay will ignore, as they do our reports, any investigation from them once they pop up for sale.

Goodness me, this looks like a new VERY intelligent move by the counterfeiters to 'blend in' with the mass market by making lesser grade coins? The kind that might entice a middle-market collector to step unwittingly out of their comfort zone? Somebody needs to face this full-on with a dedicated and properly functional website, that looks at all these 'problems' at the die and micro level. All the Halfpenny counterfeits are reconisable by the smaller than genuine numbers in the dates, the first one in each date has an extended top serif. There are currently 1845, 1848, 1851 and 1860 Halfpenny copies out there, I haven't seen any new Penny counterfeits, only contemporay 1841 and 1826. I did a montage sometime ago showing genuine coins next to copies, I'll dig it out over the weekend and repost it John

This seller could become a regular http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-VICTORIA-HALFPENNY-1860-YOUNG-HEAD-/321692650165? CHP1860 forgery, says he bought in the 60's, but these have only come to market in the last couple of years. I have reported it to Ebay as fraudelent activity, as the text is intended to mislead

I noticed at the latest Goldberg sale you can now get 4th Party Grading, WINGS as they are known will give you a little gold sticker and tell you if you coin has been correctly 3rd party graded for a small fee.

Rodgers 1434 with the Mellions food ad on the rev missing

Rodgers 1434 with the Mellions food ad on the rev missing

The numbers and email addresses on the site should be functional,although he said last week he is changing his service provider and the site could be in transition michael@michael-coins.co.uk should still work, John

Unfortunately a lot isn't recorded, Michael Coins (website) does have a few images of Copper Pennies and Halfpennies, Pecks deals mainly with the key dates, Bramahs 'A guide to the varieties and rarity of English regal copper coins : Charles II-Victoria, 1671-1860' does go into more detail but tends not to be illustrated, if you can find a copy. If you do find anything of interest, post images and I am sure someone on this site will be able to help Regards John

Baz, unfortunately almost very date from 41 to 57 have the same error, probably a weakness tansferred from the master die With 41 look for inverted obv/rev and 54 A under V in VICTORIA, the rarer currency dates recorded in order of rarity are 48/3, 45, 48 plain date & 47 especially in grades EF and better John

I posted my thoughts earlier today,but my reply seems to have gone astray, we are currently moving office and the servers are playing up a little. I have seen a reference to an inverted CP1860/59, and have read of a proof coin, I haven't got access to my notes/libary currently, I will find them out over the weekend, these references are from text dating back to the the early 1900s and before, no modern book mentions Inverted or proof strikes for this date, and this is the first example I have seen. Personally, I am not 100% sure it is the genuine article, that is until I can line up the coin with other examples, examine my notes thoroughly and have taken a bit of time to read through this thread. The subtle differences in examples i have seen are skinner dates and legends, suggesting continual wear and filling during use, but I have seen nothing to make me think more than one pair of dies existed, the die clash flaws alone would suggest one Obverse die, yet within the similarities I can see there are differences. . John

Heard from Michael today, He has posted an update on the Front page on his 'old' site As other members have discovered and posted, the urls on the site are still active for looking at varieties etc,, but not for trade. John

Spoke to Michael, he is in good health, This area of Notting Hillgate has been approved for redevelopment for several years now, the premises were to be sold later this year, but things have moved a lot quicker than planned, an unexpected change in circumstances has meant the business had to be closed with immediate effect today.

Chris knows about it, has reported it, Ebay have done nothing, as usual

Reading through the 1853 four pence thread I picked up on Robs and Shargreens discussion 1853 Bronzed and Copper proofs, I thought it relevant to start a new discussion and have added my ramblings below to get things started in response to Robs observations. I have discussed the article in the SNC at length with Michael Gouby, and draw similar conclusions to Rob that the numbers achieved are from sales, as discovered with Robs researching the 1841 Inverted axis halfpenny. Many of the records quoted are duplications for the same coin, for instance, Lists published do not always result in immediate sale and the coin later relisted, also the coin being bought is put into auction or appears on the buyers own list leading to double counting, Of the 12 occurrences the 1839/43 is listed, the number of actual coins were whittled down to 6/8 probables, so it is likely numbers listed by Peter in the SNC article could be as few as 50% of the conclusions drawn. There does seem to have been a change after 1841 where Copper proofs replaced Bronzed proofs, Peck records all Proofs after 1841 as being Copper, with the exception of the 1853 coin, The distinct difference here being that both the 1853 Penny and 1853 halfpenny having an inverted die axis. There are several other dates recorded by Pecks as being Bronzed Copper, not described as proofs but having the distinct colouring of the earlier Bronzed proofs. Another observation I have made is in the quality of the Proofs from 1853, a large number are struck with flawed or repaired dies 1853 Halfpennies have the O in Victoria and the 8 in the date showing signs of doubling or repairs to the die. 1853 Proof pennies I have seen have repairs to the E in DEI and the E in DEF either or both showing doubling or repairs. Peter Duff also made the observation of a raised triangular feature on the Left knee of Britainniar in his article for the inverted axis 1853 Bronzed penny, I have seen this flaw on an upright 1853 Copper proof recently sold on Ebay so it is not unique to the inverted coin. It does raise a possibility that inverted Bronzed proofs where struck for a specific purpose, recorded references show the following occurrences. 1839/41,1839/43, 1853 halfpennies and 1853, 1860/59 pennies, all seem to be very limited in numbers, possibly unique in one or two. I have been trying to work out the number of dies and pairings on 1839 proofs after Robs post last year, but lack of good quality images make a conclusive study almost impossible. Internet available records start around 2008, most are without good quality images but I have been collecting records/images of all Victoria Copper/Bronzed proofs as they come up for sale, I would appreciate any images forum members could contribute of their own coins, including provenance to help exclude the chances of doubling up, also links to articles/sales and historical records as or when they appear I have had a few images from Forum members already in response to direct contact, and I would like to thank them for their contributions. John

Excellent coins, Thankyou John

A very Merry Christmas to you all, old and new, and all the very best for the New Year

Typo, it should have been 1825 to 1860, was trying to reply before the Companys Internet lunch hour finished so didn''t read before posting. Anyway, Sohos are Robs domain and Farthings I think I'll leave to you and Colin, althougn i do have a Roman I 1826 halfpenny! just cant find the Penny to finish the set.

I am assuming it is not Chingford then? Morning All, Robs right, unfortunately not me or Family, The chap in question used to attend the London Coin Shows in Bloomsbury, selling old catalogues and books, I saw him my last time there but that was at the end of last year, I haven't been to any this year. . He had a website called Springnumbooks, I tried it this morning but the link doesn't work anymore, John I bumped into John at Coinex (I think?) last year, selling old books and catalogues. I always assumed you were one and the same! Is he interested in the copper penny series, or is that only yourself? I'd once heard that one of you might even be considering a book? A definitive book is badly needed and, with a good numbering system, might even replace Peck and Bramah in auction descriptions for 1837-1860 (and perhaps even 1797 - 1860). The Chap you met wasn't me, but I think could be the Author of the book Peter linked to earlier in the Thread, I am the Copper collector 1828-1860, I leave the earlier Soho pieces/dates to those that understand them. As for a Copper book, not just yet, still at that stage where I am finding varieties and then trying to prove them and reasoning behind them, lots do get put onto Michael Goubys site for generally reference, and as I have said before I am always happy to answer any questions on the series, if I can. Regards John

I am assuming it is not Chingford then? Morning All, Robs right, unfortunately not me or Family, The chap in question used to attend the London Coin Shows in Bloomsbury, selling old catalogues and books, I saw him my last time there but that was at the end of last year, I haven't been to any this year. . He had a website called Springnumbooks, I tried it this morning but the link doesn't work anymore, John

They all look the same but could be increases of a few pence or a few pounds each, as you can't out bid yourself only the next bid increment shows no matter how many bids you place.

GB have never issued a Euro Coin of ny denomnation, all that have been issued are fantasy pieces by private companies,he following site will give an idea of cost, value will be in the metal content only, in my opinion. http://www.eurocoins.co.uk/unitedkingdom.html

You are correct 1502, I thought Paul Redford catalogued the coppers, I used to buy from him at fairs and 'Beefeater' on ebay, always seemed to have a good sound knowledge, but then having said that I have bought several Bramahs varities over the years from London Coins listed and priced as common.

Unfortunately as with most of the copper series, both Pennies and Halfpennies, the colons in all locations are suject to postional variations, in most cases it is very slight in alignment and/or placement between the F and Foot as in this discussion, The Peck 1503 in very different from the 1500 as it is one full bead closer to the F, as identified by Brahams. The montage attached shows 5 variations in colon position of the 1500 the bottom right being the 1503. I looked at the London Coin and based on my library my call was the 1500 proof.