secret santa

Michael has now finished his updates to his book on the Victoria Bronze Penny 1860 to 1901 and is ready to send it off to the printer. He would like to have a feel for the number of likely customers for the update and therefore has requested that collectors should contact him on: michael@michael-coins.co.uk to register their interest. The updates consists of a new addition to the obverse and reverse Section and a complete rewrite of the current Section 3, pages 33-94 inclusive. For owners of the current book, the updated pages will be available as a 47 double-sided pages pack, pre-drilled to fit in the existing folder and would be available for purchase at £10.00, plus "signed-for" postage for £3.50, or £2.50 for standard postage in the UK (obviously a little more for overseas customers). For anyone who does not already have his book but wishes to buy the complete book when ready, the total cost would be £60.00 (for the 1st edition at £50.00 plus the new updates at £10.00) with "signed-for" postage at £6.50. That book price is expected to increase in the near future to £65.00 plus £6.50 for signed for postage in the UK. As I said above, collectors should contact Michael to express their interest in purchasing the updates. Regards Richard

Oh yes.

While I was proof reading Michael's new update, the section on these 1898 pennies got me a little confused. To me, Terry's top example and Jerry's example seem to have a slightly different font (with a larger upper loop and possibly lower loop) for the final 8 from Terry's lower example (the "normal" 1898B) so the question is whether they are different date widths of 1898B or whether they are different types altogether, i.e. 1898B and 1898C. I am currently having this discussion with Michael.

Last Monday I posted a rare 1862 over 1 penny (Example 2 on my rare penny site) to Scotland by Special Delivery. It never arrived and has been lost in the Royal Mail's process (noted as received at the Post Office with no further notifications). They have advised me to make a formal claim. Can I ask anyone who spots it being advertised for sale to contact me via this site.

Back to 1858 Large Rose pennies. I have added this variety to my rare penny site, choosing only to picture the small date type as they seem genuinely rare. I'd be grateful for any further pictures from members.

Absolutely - it's the love of collecting that we have in common, not necessarily the items we collect.

Not sure of the Medusa resemblance now....more like me after 3 months of lockdown.

They're all up on the website now tho' I'm missing some obverse pics. Maybe some members can help me out ?

Interesting that Jack Cooper's coin hasn't sold despite being advertised on Ebay and in other auctions - can't be that many serious copper penny collectors around.

Sounds like Hiram.

Do you have a photo of the Ebay specimen, Pete ? (or does Michael G have a photo ?)

At the moment my site only has bronze pennies - I'll have a think about including copper. Medusa's an obvious candidate.

I added the info on small/large date to the varieties website but wasn't planning to add the large rose to my rare penny site as I thought that there were way more than 13 examples. Maybe I should ?

I'll pass your comments on to FRANK (!)😡

Great information, Ian, I'll add this to my varieties site in the next few days.

Maybe not a coincidence - if the right breast is the first to show wear it is because it is the highest point of the coin. If it is the highest point of the coin, then it will be the lowest (deepest) point of the die, and therefore probably the first point that any die fill will occur, resulting in a weakly struck breast. Just a thought.

I asked my friend to buy me a French phrase book. He bought me a book about growing strawberries. (heard on Ken Bruce this morning).

Yes, I don't know whether he's invented these "new" Freeman varieties or they were described as such when he bought them. He described his website as being designed more for "beginners" as opposed to mine which he describes as more for "experts". I'd probably use the term "pedants" 😀

Be patient - I only sent Michael 6 pages of comments from proof reading last Thursday so it will be a while before official updates are available.

Obverse M has 22 fewer teeth than obverse P such that there are only 5 border teeth from the upright of the R to the top of the I in VICTORIA (6 on Obverse P) and the tip of the outer tie ribbon points out rather than down. Of course, the teeth have to be still visible for this distinction but it is a striking difference.

No Mike, it's an update of the 1860-1901 Victoria book. There a couple of 1 page additions/replacements for new obverses/reverses such as the new Obverse with 145 teeth, and section 3 (pages 33 to 94) has been effectively re-written to include new varieties, mostly different date widths and/or overdates. New pages have been added with a suffix. e.g Page 34A so that the total of pages will have increased by a dozen or so, but that entire section will need to replaced in the binder with the new pages.

Added - thanks for the heads up. Price seems spot on to me.

Thanks Mike and thanks also to Cliff Davies who mailed me scans of the 3 pages.

Changing the subject, I "swapped" collection websites today with Kevin Booth who has now put his impressive penny collection up onto a website and is happy that I share its URL with Forum members. it's Kevin's penny collection

Anyone got a copy ?