Red Riley

Yes why not, looks interesting Huss.

I haven't got one, but could do the photography if someone would post it to me.

We're not mental, in a mad world we're the only sane ones - or most of us are, we have had one or two fruit cakes posting on here from time to time! I have two collections amassed in fits and starts over the last 40 years; 1) Date/major variety collection of pennies, initially bronze only but now extending back to 1797 with every available date covered (bar the 1933 syndrome pieces) - 120 bronze, 27 copper - average grade of bronze coins c. EF+. It's actually a nice collection but took ages and a lot of wonga to put together; 2) Everything else. I started out trying to collect one example of every English/British 'type' since 1658. Well I never completed it, and probably never will now. Aside of this I have examples of Roman, Greek, Celtic, mediaeval, tokens, coins from the major European nations and the U.S.A. I am now reconsidering not only my collection but my position within the hobby, nothing decided yet but may post in greater detail when I've had a good think...

Certainly doesn't need cleaning. Leave it as it is.

Hi, I will never sold the half penny because it is best George II halfpenny in my collection; About 1849 penny - I can not send coins to most of the world because rules of Bulgarian mail (I can receive but can not to ship), UK and Germany are also forbidden countries this year for coins and other valuable items. So I will open maybe BiN with offer option on US-ebay . Thanks... Not certain I agree re the Brasso - doesn't look like it to me; of course, having the coin in the hand would confirm it but Bulgaria's a long way away... The 1849 penny really isn't much more than Fair but they are saleable in any condition. A couple of years back I bought one in similar condition (but without the bend) for £220 just as a filler. On that basis, would recommend a 'Buy it Now' of maybe £180-200.

Hi Billie, I think you might have mis-read 'r's for 'x's which makes this an 1872 florin - actually the commonest of the bunch, but having said that, in decent condition they all have a reasonable value. Obviously would need to see the coin to give an opinion. There are various wheezes to restore that lost patina - if you have all the time in the world, leave it on the window sill for a year or two to catch the full sunlight with perhaps a gentle rub with a licked finger on the affected parts. Across the Atlantic, collectors often bake them in potatoes - I just say that for what it's worth, I've never tried it! An interesting (well to me anyway) point about these coins is that they have a tiny die number just below the bust - some are said to be worth more than others.

So you must have a rear wheel drive BMW or Merc. All that weight in the boot improves grip no end, especially in the snow.

There is much more detail in the crown though, to the extent that they are almost two different designs. In my view the gothic crown is an all-time great and a 'must have' for collectors of great coin designs worldwide. Whereas the bulk of wreath crowns are likely to still be in the UK, I have a feeling that gothics will be widely scattered, and this in itself may have an affect on the price.

My gothic in GEF+ cost £575, a few years ago mind. I'm not complaining, I think it's probably beaten the stock market. Personally, I think Gothics are dear not because of the mintage, but because they are that good - nothing else comes close.

I'd give it GF/F.

Its a polished GF To my mind it's one hell of a bi-grade. The obverse seems to be seems to be weakly struck and GF, whilst the reverse is nearer GVF. UNC it ain't.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but unless they are in stunning condition then apart from the 1919 3d (which is 92.5% silver and has a scrap value), everything else is to all intents and purposes worthless - there are literally millions of this sort of old coin kicking about and demand is zero. Can't unfortunately comment on the Spanish coins but suspect the same applies there too.

Look, I don't think posting such things is a good idea. There are plenty of American members of this forum and many of them are extremely knowledgeable. I know it may have been thoughtless rather than malicious on your part, but perhaps you ought to think a little before making such comments. Some people may well take offence.

Right, let's see what we can pick out of that: Coin A is a 'Bull Head' halfcrown. Condition? Phew... erm... probably around VF but the quality of photos is such that this really is a stab in the dark. Cash-in value, maybe £20-£30. Coin B is a 'Small Head' halfcrown, produced later in the year, not in such good condition as A, say £12. Coins I & J are respectively a shilling (larger one) and a sixpence from Queen Victoria's Jubilee Year. This is a very common year and a lot have survived. I am really struggling to grade them on what I can see, but probably not much more than £5 for the two. The other sixpences, value almost zip although the George V one has a silver content and therefore a small scrap value. Coin K could be a 1/4d, 1/2d or 1d from 1806-7. No idea of condition based on the photo, but I think probably a 1/4d on what I can see. Value probably negligible especially since you struggled to read the date! I know nothing of medals unfortunately. Hope this helps a bit.

I am going to ignore that.

The weight is usually the giveaway - the genuine article should be approx. 28.35g but if you inherited it or got it from an unimpeachable source then the chances of it being a duffer are slim. The photo shows the type of toning I would have expected from the genuine article but you can never be absolutely certain based on a photograph. I don't know whether any 'genuine' marked reproductions have been made but most are 'genuine forgeries' and emenate from the Far East, made with the sole intention of defrauding collectors.

Nope, it's a Gothic crown as Rory surmised in what looks like at least EF condition. Value some way north of £1k as long as it isn't a forgery which is quite possible.

You will really need to post photographs and for the first two (and K) a diameter as two types of coin were made to the same design. Not only that, but condition is everything, plus there are 3 types of 1919 penny. C, D & E are commenorative medals and coin K doesn't fit anything I know - could it be 1806?

She did however have 13 children, so somebody must have liked her (can think of many ribald comments on this particular subject which I'm far too polite to mention). I think if it could somehow be proven that William was indeed gay, it would destroy the Orange movement in Northern Ireland and go a long way to solving Ulster's problems. Those guys are to the right of Atillah the Hun and to see the Rev. Ian Paisley actively marching for a known gay monarch makes me drool in anticipation. Did you read the disgraced Mrs Robinson's views on homosexuality? I don't like to stand in judgement, but if gayness is a sin, what is adultery? Still doesn't explain why the coinage portraits of the luscious Mary II were so unflattering.

Unfortunately mary's husband William batted for the other side...

I don't know about Germany, but you can actually get reasonable money hiring out cars. Years ago I used to charge £175 per day for a wedding which has now got to be a lot more than that and I hear the Rolls Royce boys are now charging nearer £1000. The acme for stretch limos has got to be Ladies' Day at Ascot. Good for the driver too carrying around a lot of over/under dressed lovelies in varying stages of inebriation...

Don't think she was ever a beauty. Some sources say that her elder sister Mary was a real stunner, an opinion which I find hard to square with the frumpy double-chinned battleaxe on her joint coinage with William of Orange. And, she was only 30 when she died - do you think they used the right model? Sorry, that probably qualifies for un-PC comment of the week.

I was just about to reply when Peter jumped in! Confirm it's a penny. All the coins have been cleaned which is unfortunate, so in that condition I would say, maybe £2-£3; probably worth £8-£9 uncleaned.

You're probably right. Grade though is generally 'Poor' (reverse legend obliterated). One on left might just creep up to 'Fair'.

Hi wizkid - sounds like a very worn out Victorian 3d piece minted from 1838 to 1887. They were often attached to bracelets etc, hence the hole which apart from the large amount of wear unfortunately means that it is worth no more than scrap value. If you want a more authoratative answer, try posting a picture.