Cristatus

I have been looking for a reference work on Taylor without success. I have Peck and various other books and articles that mention Taylor but all in passing when covering Bolton and Soho. Any suggestions welcome.

Here is an unusual item. If made by Taylor as I think it was is was probably during the 1860s to 1880s when he is known to have been re-striking many coins from the dies he acquired when the SOHO mint contents were auctioned off. The inscription is not quite correct, see my other post under heading Taylor. Has anyone seen one before, I have 2 and am aware of a third? Clearly this is badly worn from years of polishing but as a collector of SOHO and Taylor it is of interest to me.

I have 2 dishes that are most likely by Taylor. I found them both on eBay in the last few weeks having never seen one before. I have found a third photographed on this website www.oldcopper.org\/commerative_tokens.htm. The inscription is not quite correct as the coin obverse is from the 5s6d pattern of 1811 not the 1804 Dollar. There is no mark to confirm it was a Taylor product but it seems almost certain to me it must have been his output. The 2 examples are identical as far as I can see although one has much more wear and a much brighter finish from polishing. It looks to me like it is a coin soldered onto the dish rather than stamped into the dish. I am tempted to try and remove the coin from the most worn example to satisfy my curiosity to see if the coin is a uniface or if the reverse 5s6d is present

Hi here is one of my favourite coins in my collection. The 1841 proof penny is much rarer than the 1839 proof. See Michael Coins website for Michael Gouby's comments on the relative rarity and the fact that they appeared in 1839 proof sets and it is assumed this is because the 1839 die became worn. The coin is graded PR66 by PCGS. I always find getting good images through slabs very difficult, any apparent marks are on the slab not the coin

Sorry a few auto correct typing issues above - the author is L Forrer, and it is Vol VI

I have continued to research Taylor but have not managed to get copies of the documents I identified in the post about 3 weeks ago, but I have found a 1916 publication Biographical Dictionary of Medallists, Coin, Gem and Seal engravers, mint masters ancient and modern BC500 to AD1900 Volk IV by L Former a Spink publication. The book and other volumes are available as free downloads on the internet as they must be very hard to an original as the cover says limited to 300 copies. So Taylor 1802 to 1885 trained by Halliday (who had worked for Boulton as an engraver) Halliday also trained Joseph Moore and William Wyon. Taylor set up business in London 1829. Taylor does not actually appear to have gone to Australia himself but sent a coining press and complete plant to Melbourne in 1852 and Mr WR Scaiffe was in charge. Forrer credits Dr Stanley Bousefield for a lot of the information he obtained and Dr SB seems to have bought various items when Taylor's business closed in 1908. The business in Australia did not succeed in minting gold coins as planned but did produce various tokens. Back in London Taylor seems to have been mostly producing medals, but did produce patterns for French coinage 5,2,and 1 Franc and 50 centimes. He also produced penny and half penny tokens for William Till in 1834 and 35. The 1847 and 1862 Liberian coins are mentioned (I have now bought one each of these). Undated half penny token by Matthew Young. The re-striking of Soto material is mentioned but of course Peck's book deals with this is great detail. Also mentioned is re-striking of Fullerton's patterns in gold, silver and copper and white metal for 2/6, 1/6,1/- and 6d, subsequent to the earlier re strikes by Matthew Young. Finally re-striking of 1801 Devonshire County Twopenny token and various Napoleonic and Seringapatam medals The medal list quoted is quite extensive and deserves some more time to understand the quality of work but a few just to demonstrate are: Shakespeare medal 1842, Brazil coronation medal 1841, free trade medal by Taylor and Allan,

Hi I am still researching Soho and Taylor and have found references to a couple of articles I would like to read and wondered does anyone have copies of the following they could pdf to me: 1. Vice D : A Fresh insight into Soho Mint re-strikes & those responsible for their manufacture (Format Coins 1995) 2. Pollard JG:Matthew Boulton and JP Droz Numismatic Chronicle 1968 3 Pollard JG: Matthew Boulton and CH Kuchler Numismatic Chronicle 1968 Also interested in any old Format coins lists with information on coins, tokens and medals from Soho and/or Taylor Thanks in anticipation of any help available.

Thanks everyone, I now realise I had seen the these Liberian coins before but never paid much attention to them and therefore did not spot the link to Taylor. I will definitely add one or two to my collection. It looks like 1847 and 1862 are the only dates available. I am trying to pull together a full collection of coins (and potentially medals) to match the sets from the Soho auction catalogue has anyone else done this or is anyone aware if a complete set remains anywhere in a single collection as several complete sets were amongst the items auctioned? Merry Xmas

Still interested in what coin is pictured in the answer given by TomGoodheart, azda has referred to the avatar not the copper coin shown in the thread.

Many thanks for the replies. What is the coin pictured by TomGoodheart? I cannot see the inscription to identify the coin?

Can someone help me identify a copper coin, farthing size. I have referred to Peck and Freeman and cannot identify it, it is not one of the decimal pattern series. The portrait is very similar to both the current coins and the smith on Decimal series but not the same, on the truncation there is an incuse A&M. The obverse has 1846 below the bust and Victoria to the left of the bust and Regina to the right. The edge is plain. The reverse has a crown over a crossed pair of sceptors and thistle and leaves below, in the field are lines radiating out to the edge of the coin from the crown and I assume are trying to indicate light. Thee is no lettering on the reverse at all. The coin is reasonably well struck, I will try and load a photo later today or tomorrow. Any suggestions welcome.

Thank you for the suggestions I would like to follow up the Bryce Nielson Hanover token work, is the publication available?

I have used Exact Change and have just bought CoinManageUK2013. Both have standard images and you can load you own, and both have report tools. I would rate Exact Change 8/10 but have not used CoinManageUK enough yet to reach a conclusion but I bought it as I thought it looked better.

photos added

I have just bought a set of 3*1797 pattern pennies in an old box. I would like to try and date the box. If anyone thinks they can help I can send photos. The box is covered in snake/reptil skin - very small scales. It seems to be wood and very light. The box is lined with what I think is silk. The coins sit snuggly in what seem to be purpose made holes. The box is lozenge shape and has a long mostly concealed hinge and two hook and eye clasps. The best clue I have is that the clasps are almost identicle to those on a contempoarary box I have with the Victoria coronation medal in - although this box is leather covered. The coins themselves are not restrikes, one is an early soho and the other two are late soho. Is there anyone who thinks they can help? My only conclusion so far is the box could be at least as old as 1838 due to the similarity with the coronation box but I would like to understand if it could be earlier. As the exact dates of the late soho period seem to be uncertain I am guessing the box would not be earlier than 1805 but I guess it could be much later than 1838 in the Victorian period also.

Hello everyone I have just registered having stumbled across the forum when doing a search for coin software, which having spent a few hours researching I am planning on buying the Exact Change software - see this comparison - they seem to think their own software is the best! http://www.exactchan...nfo/compare.htm Any views on this or other software - most of which seem to be US only? I want ot be able index using Peck and Michael Gouby's system.

That's true. However, the advantage of a made-to-measure solution is that you start with all the fields you identify as what you need, and can add to it as you go along without difficulty. The initial effort will repay dividends in the long run. I have now taken the plunge and bought the Exact Change Software, via download. It will obviously take a little practice but my first impressions are positive, it is easy to customise which is very important, so I could add a value item in £s (has standard $ values of course) and a field for Peck numbers very easily. The UK coverage looks pretty good and where there are important series missing such as patterns these seem to be easy to add as well. I have not tried adding my photos in yet but will do in the coming months. Setting up is very easy so for example if you want to record all the Edward Viii farthings you can do this in one operation and then simply go back and add specific details such as grade for each coin. I have ordered some ebooks which cross reference to the coins and am looking forward to seeing how this works when they arive on CD. One important thing is I could delete all the US standard series that you start with a setup and then just add the GB series I wanted. It would be possible to just have one series such as Farthings and not clutter yourself with all the other denominations in the files. So so far so good.

Hello everyone I have just registered having stumbled across the forum when doing a search for coin software, which having spent a few hours researching I am planning on buying coin the Exact Change software see this comparison - they seem to think there own software is the best! http://www.exactchange.info/compare.htm Any views on this or other sofware most of which seem to be US only? I want ot be able index using Peck and Michael Gouby's system. Anyway a bit about me. I got interested in coins when my father took me around markets and the rare coin shop in London when I was a child during the late 60s and early 70s. He had started by collecting from his change when he was a child in 40s and is still collecting in his mid 70s. He now has a pretty impressive and complete coin type/reign collection going back to about 1600. I started with farthings as the cheapest coins to collect, of course this does not last long even with farthings. I have had spells when I did not collect for a few years when the children were young for example. Having started with mainly coin stalls on markets I moved on to mail order mainly with the Farthing Specialist in the 80s and 90s, anyone else remember him, I never met him but bought some really good quality coins from him. Then found ebay and early on this was a good source and I bought quite a lot of good quality coins at sensible prices but have found in the last 2 or 3 years the material is mostly either over priced or too poor to bother with. I have also bought from Colin Cooke for a number of years including a couple of excellent coins when his own collection was sold in 2006. So now I have a good farthing collection that is pretty complete in UNC or EF at worst from 1790 to 1956 with just a few of the very scarce varieties missing such as 1843 I for 1 in date. I also have a reasonably complete collection back to 1665 in various grades f to EF including an 1714 Anne farthing. I have a few proofs amongst all this but have a few missing such as 1853 and 1868. So having had spells when I could not find farthings to fill my gaps I started a collection the farthing fractions and have a full set but no proofs yet. Then I saw some nice coronation medals a complete change but have a set back to William IV, many boxed. Having really liked the farthing proofs I have now bought some pennies and half-pennies from 1826 to 1841 (one of my most prized possesions is an 1841 proof penny, and I have 1902 short proof set, 1937, 1950, 1951 and 1953 proof sets, would like some of the earlier sets especially the 1839 and 1853 sets just need a lottery win! I am also very interested in the Soho series and the Taylor restrikes and have a few Droz examples 1788 to 1790 both half pennies and farthings, it was a shame he and Boulton could not work together - Droz's behaviour rather than Boulton it seems - Droz's coins are some of my favourites. I have also bought some patterns from the Soho series recently these are special. My biggest regret is missing an auction in the US early this year when a number of Soho series from the Boulton family collection were sold, they came with handwritten notes and silver lined cases. Based on my Soho interest I have also collected some Isle of Man and Jersey coins from this period, I think I have a 1839 Isle of Man proof farthing for example. Also have a nice 1822 Irish penny to fill the gap in GB copper. Have been looking for a 1793 Bermuda penny for a while as this is an another nice Soho coin with the Droz version of George III portrait. I also have a few patterns, a 1859 10 Cent, 1844 copper/brass. Would like some more of these rare trials particularly those of decimal coins in the victorian period. My favourites are firmly in the 1788 to 1860 period of copper including patterns and proofs. So any one else out there with the copper/bronze coins of GB variety of OCD?

Thank you to for the prompt replies and welcome messages. To reply to Peckris, I do have a lot of what I think of as minor varieties but have focussed on the what I consider the main variations - no precision or even much logic here of course. The patterns and proofs are now my real passion and I will concentrate on these going forward. I have recently bought an 1805 Brittanarium Taylor restrike pattern farthing for example, plus a crowned 1799 George III halfpenny pattern Taylor restrike. I am on holiday at present but will post some peck number of the more interesting varieties and some photos. I have also been reading the history of the Soho mint and this is facinating, it is a shame non of the site remains but it is clear Boulton influenced coinage the world over. The Peck book contains some excellent material on the Soho and Taylor story but the book I have has much more.

Thanks for the advice, I use excel a lot at work and know how much work there would be in setting up. Will have a go at using the software and post details of how I get on.