Colin G.

Does nobody listen £65 at Galata, they have a couple on for less than £100.

Nice and local for me, so i shall probably be going

You are not being stupid, but it is definitely a case of the cross bar on the die being filled rather than an inverted V. Still a fascinating coin in my opinion, but I am one a select group of geeks that enjoy this kind of thing

Looks like a Lion passant underneath to me, but it would be facing the wrong way

Definitely a new one for me, I have checked through my stock images, and no 1857's with the same feature. Just got to find a higher grade one now to try and prove it's existence Certainly one to keep an eye out for, my first thought was that the curve looks a bit too shallow on the image to be a 6...but.....

As stated broken or damaged lettering is very common, especially in the the first years of the bronze series on farthings, but that being said, it still can help to identify repetitive flaws, and die combinations, so I would definitely be interested in seeing some images. The Obverse E that you make refernce to is a good example, there are no dies showing progressive stages of wear that got to that point, but I have seen about 5 examples that all have the same serifs missing, and the top bar of the E broken, it's as if the die faults appeared over a very short period, or a very poor quality die was utilised. Similar examples occur for 1862 & 1865 whereby the legend reads RFG due to the flaws. If nothing else, I can keep record of it so that if any others show up the picture becomes clearer

Jay, Welcome aboard, another penny collector, you will be right at home here, we have plenty already you lot will all be fighting over a few coins...mind you it leaves the field open for me and Peter on the farthings

I can help you...if you want to send half to me

Beth, You have the makings of a coin collector, thats how most of us start Predicting what will be collectable in the future is very difficult, but many modern coins are produced in such massive quantities, this makes their potential to increase in value limited. Take for example the good old churchill crowns they are worth a pittance. That being said there are still some coins that will inevitably increase with value over time and some modern coins have already started (early commemorative £2 coins for example). There is no harm in putting collections together and whilst if they don't increase more than inflation rates you theoretically aren't making any money, there is always the chance that they should generally hold their own, and you never know you may happen to hold on to the right coin. More importantly, I remember circulation coins left to me by my grandfather (churchill crown being one of them, and in my eyes it will always be priceless now he is gone) but it also help get me collecting. So in summary go for it

This was the one thing I really checked for on the 1825 farthings, if I would have had a bulk lot with identical flaws etc, I would have been worried, but they are very individual. That is not to say that the coins might not be genuine. like others have said get some higher resolution pics uploaded.

Now I don't mind crabo spots, or the odd small green spot as long as it does not detract from overall appearance, but i think that is the variety collector in me, you just can't be too choosy sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I would choose a perfect coin every time, but it certainly does not stop me filling a gap. It is easier to study a good grade coin with imperfections than a perfect lower grade....does that even make sense I think some toned coins can look stunning, but I am all for lustrous, that's just the collector in me striving for "the best"

Oh yes I have had similar experiences, coin sent to Italy was located at JFK airport!!

A great example of how missing out one all important word can change the story quite dramatically

36 but wish I was 18 again!!!

It will always have a value, do you have any pics?

I do agree with Rob, I don't think that is an R/B, I think that is a die break across the bottom of the R

I agree on the teenage daughter scenario...darlings aren't they

I get that same offer but there is usually a strict cost limit involved......around £5

Very true, some of the South African farthings are really poor in relation to depth of field As promised here are links to King norton's Half Crown Image 1 Image 2

If you want to send images to me via my website, I can host them, but even at that size, some people may struggle to open them on line. I can always resize them as well. A proof is not all about the mirrored field, because in many circumstances early strikes can also give a very similar appearance and could be described as proof like. I know this may not be much help, but after handling a proof you will be able to tell the difference instantly in nearly every case. Another forum member Rob Pearce gave me the best description, which is that the edges feel sharp to the touch, the teeth and lettering are also always super sharp, much sharper than is present on a circulation coin, but again some early strikes can also have a sharp appearance.

Thats the thing, I genuinely don't know!!

Hmmm interesting......now I wonder whether I have been re-sold these coins, or whether these are an additional lot to the ones I purchased. Either way I am happy but it puts a few more in the market place Did you attend that auction then Dave, how did you become aware of these farthings.....or was it you that sold them to me

My family have the same opinion of me as well....quite funny really I got contacted by someone regarding the 1825's which were a cache that was part of a coin collection, the remainder of the collection went to auction, but for some reason the farthings did not. Very little history is known about how the cache were amassed, and it is such a varied bunch. There are 80+ farthings, all lustrous, but 18 different dies within. It is almost like someone was taking a sample from production. It has been a once in a lifetime chance to study a group of coins such as this, and has certainly boosted the 1825 section of my collection It would have been the icing on the cake to know a bit more about how or why they were put together

I am very discreet managed to sell a few, but still got plenty more if anyone is interested..special forum rates But seriously if anyone is interested, I can send a few photos through. They are all lustrous to some degree, with some almost full lustre. But a majority do have the odd spot or small stain. If anyone is interested I will start a different thread and stick some images on it

All good advice above, I would echo that the coin fairs are a good starting point, and really do show you that its important to take your time and shop around. Peter, I never knew you went to the Midland coin fair, I was there today, I was selling some 1825 farthings. Did you go? We will ahev to meet up!! Rob, Sorry for hijacking your post