secret santa

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" 😀

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.

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 ?

Great example !

Yes, I'm not yet convinced.

Anyone else got a wavy 2 ? I'd like to see more examples.

Great info, Ian - thanks.

Could you post a photo of the wavy one please.

I think I can remember that............................................................................................................maybe not

The subliminal reason I picked "Secret Santa" as my Forum name !

Any idea of the ratio of 1856 PT small and large dates, Ian ?

Michael Gouby put me in touch with a chap called Frank Hulett who's just had published a new A5-sized booklet devoted to the decimal penny 1971-2020. It's an excellent piece of work with superb illustrations and descriptions of the different varieties that he's come across. He's also discovered that the Brilliant Uncirculated specimens issued by the Royal Mint sometimes have characteristics different from the specimens issued for circulation. Frank is happy to supply interested collectors with a copy of his splendid book for the cost of postage. His email address (which he's happy for me to quote) is: frankhulett@hotmail.com I recommend it for collectors of decimal coins.

"No sweat" said a spokesman for Prince Andrew.