secret santa

Regarding the 1926 with "pattern" reverse. It seems to be a hybrid of Freeman reverses B and C. It has the slightly larger figure of Britannia as on reverse B but has the border teeth of reverse C which are slightly longer and fewer in number (184 as opposed to 187 on reverse C. I assume that it's an interim stage of development of reverse C. It was sold at London Coin Auction in March 2009 as part of the Roland Harris collection (as a 1926 M.E.) and was previously part of the Andrew Wayne collection sold at LCA in June 2006 (as a 1926 M.E.). Neither collector seems to have recognised the non-standard reverse but it was later brought to my attention by another collector who had spotted the difference from the catalogue. I bought it shortly afterwards at Croydon Coin Auction in May 2010, again as a normal 1926 M.E. penny having recognised it as the Roland Harris coin from the CCA website.

May I echo previous best wishes to Michael for his forthcoming move and sincere thanks for his landmark work on the coinage that fascinates so many of us. Regards Richard S

The 1922 with genuine 1927 reverse does exist and with Modified Effigy obverse !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The 1927 reverse differs from the hybrid reverse on the Freeman 192A variety principally in that the latter has 181 border teeth whereas the 1927 reverse has 184 teeth (the standard 1922 reverse has 180 teeth). There are other minor differences. See pictures.

I am the guilty party - the picture was concocted on Powerpoint by copying and pasting the first 7 over the 5 of a F80 1875 penny. If you look carefully you can see the join. Because it was late at night and nearly the end of April Fool's Day, I didn't have much time to put together a clever description which would give the game away.