Colin G.

Merry Xmas to all!!!

Caveat - Sixpences are not my thing so I may not know the best areas to look for wear Having said that, the Reverse looks pretty goo and well struck, but the Obverse hair detail looks a bit flat but judging from the reverse I would expect that this is just strike weakness. So I would not expect it get a high MS grade. I reckon about 61-62

I agree and would also ask where did he get the coin from in the first instance, in essence it is an expensive grading lesson for the person who submitted the coin. It would be interesting to know what grade he was expecting it to come back at? I would also guess that Joe public will also now and then unwittingly find a coin in a draw, loft or somewhere else, and via the words google coin and authentication will end up at CGS. I have multiple queries most days from people who find a farthing of some sort and often expect that due to its age it must be worth a few bob!! I could see a few ropey coins making their way into the system that way

Many happy returns Bob

You may be surprised to know that a vast majority of the coins found in Thames are not found with metal detectors, they are eyes only finds. Amazing but true. I have tried detecting down there and it is a nightmare due to all the metal that is present. Some do detect but even these little toddlers are commonly found via just looking/scraping the foreshore

The 12 days of Christmas it is then! Since Tim's publication, the hammered coppers seem to be a market that is gathering momentum if you consider the number of collectors, but the prices don't seem to have been affected yet. It is quite bizarre because you will struggle to locate pieces at coin fairs (unless you go to Rob's table ). But the steady supply from the Thames seems to be satisfying demand at the moment.

Tim mentioned his addenda to me previously and as a result I tried to obtain a copy from Galata but alas got no response...would you willing to do me a copy and I will cover your postage costs and a pint?

What's going on, Paulus, no competition please! Lion RAMPANT Lennox type 4 S2680 [c] I had this one in my watch list as I thought it might be counterfeit...I never had time to sort it out, so it went by! Tim Everson in his latest adenda to his 2007 book has a newly discovered example listed of a Lennox 4 'lion rampant' counterfeit [EXR] Will get the PC out later and have a look! Brilliant, thanks Stuart! I see it in my Spink copy now ... be nice to know if it is counterfeit, half hope that it is! It just caught my eye, glad you weren't bidding too! I like to have a smattering of other examples to go with my milled silver! Alas, it's certainly not a 'known' counterfeit! The counterfeit had missing colon stop after HIB (no space for it apparently)! So, Lennox Type 4 (1622/3-1625) obverse 2, reverse 2 - Everson 48b, BMC (Peck) 103. Importantly, it should have a die axis of 180 degrees. Welcome to the world of hammered copper! A very common type by the looks of it, I'll confirm the die axis when it arrives ... thanks again! My thoughts based on the pics would be a genuine example, it certainly looks good enough, with the correct number of jewels and the scroll appearance all look correct, and the identification previously given is spot on as well!!

I'm no hammered expert, but it doesn't look cleaned. Hot water is essential for dirty silver, though I'm not sure where the tin foil comes into it? Another possible "crap remover" is surgical spirit, available from all good chemists, but you would have to apply it gently with a microfibre cloth (you know, the kind of thing opticians give you with every new pair of specs.) But certainly, wash it first. I think the tinfoil approach is misunderstood, it is not rubbing the coin with tinfoil, it is purely spit and holding the tinfoil against the coin/spit which starts some form of chemical reaction. After a few seconds the coin is rinsed and the appearance is generally improved. I have to be honest and say I do not fully understand the reaction process taking place and therefore the resultant microscopic effect on the surface of the coin. But when I have seen it carried out, there is no rubbing involved, so scratching should not occur.

I never see any hammered copper at the big houses? That's all I can afford to dig at at the moment, I'm stretched as thin as...well, a thin thing, really! They do tend to only come up when a collection is sold, it is not very often you will see one or two at auction...I don't know why

Derek it looks like you should be buying your coins from me, but you would be a bit limited on your denomination choice, that is exactly the method I use

Many happy returns John

But she wants a good boy...won't find any on here!!

Mine clears as soon as I return to the website

I just click view new content top right, it puts me exactly where I left off

It looks more like a trefoil to me....

It is purely a time issue, coins are a hobby I pursue outside of my "full time life". Work has been hectic the last 18 months and I really am struggling to find spare time. There are mounds of updates to be added to the site, and this has been delayed by the publication I am writing. This is because both the publication and website need to align, I am having to work on both projects simultaneously, and preparing a catalogue is much more time consuming than doing website updates. Additions could be made to the website and then clarified/altered at a later date if there were discrepancies, with a publication you get one chance...so the research has to be thorough otherwise I may as well not bother. This project has been on the horizon for some time, and I am making good progress but I could do with a month in isolation

I agree that top grade that is underpriced, if we are classing UNC as Spink define. One went for £200 earlier in the year and I did regret not buying it afterwards. Two distinct large 6 varieties (high and low) out of interest which do you have? http://www.aboutfarthings.co.uk/Farthing%20-%201876H.html

I agree 5 over 5 there if you offset the top bar by the same distance as the bottom loop they will match. I tried the same thing and I agree with Colin that they match. The question I have, why is the lower 5 not as thick as the complete higher 5? When the digit is recut it causes metal displacement which narrows the gaps that would have previously existed... well that is my logical explanation

I agree 5 over 5 there if you offset the top bar by the same distance as the bottom loop they will match.

I might be cheeky and ask about his set up because I have been in correspondence with their photographer, but I suppose he is not going to just let others know his trade secrets

Very nice, great introduction and great looking coins

nah wasnt even close, 2k plus vat? and my dealer reconned it wasnt worth the estimate Hammer price was £1700, so with commission and VAT would be £2.1k - out of my league. It's ok to splash out way above normal levels once in a while for a particularly difficult coin as long as you don't make a habit of it when you know you can get that piece quite easily. If you really want something, you usually have to pursue it - hard, and stick with your decision. I didn't bother in the end, have my eye on a few other bits, and might need to snap some more of Rob's farthing tokens up now I have competition!!

A nice new adventure for me, I can't believe I stumbled across it so late! Prepare yourself for a lot of squinting at the punctuation and Privy marks, the counterfeits in this series are also fascinating, some of them are shockingly poor

thanks for the info. Peter And this is precisely what appeals to me! For such a pretty little coin it really surprises me that they are not greater prized. It's a pretty big series, that I think will keep my copper lusts satisfied AND within budget! Winner all round for me, especially if I can get a nice bit of provenance top-up along the way! Exactly how I see them, Peck was the first attempt and Colin Cooke also did a lot of work in the series, but Tim has taken it to another level and the detail in the catalogue is much more robust and consistent. Another series where additions keep coming to light.