Paulus

That's a nice benchmark Rob, and already had the images for reference. I'm under no illusions, the coin I am considering is VF at best

Umm ... Your knowledge is astounding, as is often the case. This is why I love this period in English history, One of the major reasons for having coins at all was to pay the troops, look at what happened with James II Gun Money! Guess it's only genuine antique stuff from 350+ years ago after all ...

For those that are interested, this is how the coin was last attempted to be sold at auction, at Lockdales A111 Jan 2014. It's probable that at the time this coin (and many others in the collection) were over-priced, allowing for commission etc: Wouldn't grade it GVF myself, but still learning with hammered, and will be for some time!

Your knowledge is astounding, as is often the case. Regardless of how common these coins are or are not, I am so taken by what must have been taking place at the time! Love it.

I think it's harder than most things I was given to solve at school, certainly before the age of 16. But it's not really maths, just logic/deduction.

Indeed!

It's a Charles I Half Crown, produced some time in 1643-44 (English Civil War) at the provincial mint in York (Ebor - short for Eboracum, the Latin name for York) I've wanted one for some time, now that I have shifted my focus back to later hammered it's easily justified!

I like this! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32304126?SThisFB&fb_ref=Default Edit: Oops, posted in the wrong thread, sorry ChKy!

Please bear with me while I shift my focus from milled English silver to late hammered and early milled. I already have a few nice Charles I examples, and it is this reign I would like to focus on a bit more. My question here is simply regarding terminology, I thought a testoon was simply an old word for a shilling, and according to Wiki this was the common word for a shilling until the Act of Union in 1707. But many collectors and dealers refer to Tudor and earlier shillings as testoons, until sometime during the reign of Elizabeth I, when they are suddenly referred to as shillings - can anyone shed any light on this?

Simple as that, ok, thanks Rob!

This is a nice enough coin on the face of it: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391102654290?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT But what the smeg is going on here with the bottom left shield??

Er indeed Debbie! Guess you have the word 'engraved' in you search criteria!

Anonymous DIY TPGs add authenticity and certified grading apparently http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stunning-Rare-UNC-Graded-George-111-1799-Half-Penny-ship-5-incuse-gunports-/221737652481?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a0981101

Bizarre, was GIII considered to have 'died' around 1800 when the Regency period started? Or is this just a 'silly' coin with non-contemporary graffiti on it? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1797-King-George-III-Cartwheel-Death-Penny-/251910891180?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3aa70f26ac

PWA's 1887 CGS78 Half Crown - unhelpfully photographed inside the slab

I don't have a problem with people asking any price for anything on eBay, you see it all the time with antiques, for example - as long as the item is as described and the pics un-photoshopped! I guess the word 'mug' applies to people paying over the top for these items, without doing any due diligence, and not returning them if they are not happy. However, when it comes to experienced coin sellers, while it doesn't breach any rules, trying to take advantage of human nature lusting after a bargain, without offering a grade or current price guide, is not going to win many friends or loyal customers.

Clearly these items are worth a fraction of what he is asking, and shilling is out for BINs, what is he hoping do you think?

The irony is that, as I scrolled down the listing, the first ad I saw was for a similar Eddy shilling from Buckscoins at less than half the price and a good grade (or two) higher ... . Ironic indeed! Probably worth 100-150 at best ...

I am in the process of upgrading my Viccy old head crown type from the coin on the left to the coin on the right. Nowhere can i see reference to a horse with a closed mouth vs an open mouth, any thoughts?? By nowhere, I mean not in any reference material that I have, i.e. Spink, Groom, Rayner & CCGB Here is the comparison, have I got a fake lurking?

A couple of close ups of my 1899:

I don't know that story Copper?

Are we all bored now?lol, I will attempt to get better pics!

The 2 1899 'closed' mouth pics I posted are not the same coin Here are 4 examples side by side for ease, there are many many more out there. The first 2 are 1899, the second 2 are 1900:

I'm sure you're right Rob, I find it impossible to think that it was by design, yet remains unlisted/unrecorded. Nonetheless, I find it surprising that there is no mention of it that I can find, given that the 'damage' changes the appearance of affected examples so noticeably! Seems to me that a lot of Viccy penny 'varieties' are down to damage rather than design ...

The only 'closed mouth' examples I have found so far have been from 1899 and 1900. Here's a 1900 sold through DNW: Anyone got an 'open mouth' 1900?