jelida

Perhaps she’s just concerned about her health. ‘Bit like me every morning, “not dead yet”! Unlikely to be contradicted, until I won’t really care. Apparently the term “so well” has already entered into common parlance across the pond, as in “swell” meaning fantastic! If only Trump was a bit more hip, we’d be hearing that all the time....... Jerry

Probably, then point out that all legal tender 50p’s are BU at the moment they leave the die, and still valued at 50p, so the added value is in the handling and presentation, not the coin, and certainly not free! Jerry

You could try arguing that you want re-imbursement of the ‘presentation pack’ , of which the coin was just a part. The value would then be what you paid, less 50p which by their argument is the value of the legal tender coin. But you would still probably get nowhere. At least you would feel you had logic on your side. Jerry

It looks OK to me, probably a detector find judging by the marks. To elicit the 'ring' of silver you need to drop it - not too far- on a glass surface for consistency. But beware that if it is a 'dug' coin it may be brittle. What is its actual weight? Jerry

Don’t forget casual losses, judging by detecting finds, could easily amount to a few per cent, and unofficial melt post decimalisation could also account for many. As you say, the actual numbers available to collectors will be a fraction of many of those estimates. Jerry

For this date, simple identifiers I use; toothed border, no lcw and a straight exergue line above the date ( D and F slope up on the left) Reverse E only occurs in 1860, and has lcw below the foot. From 1874 a couple more identifiers would be needed. We are talking Freeman here, not Gouby. Jerry

The first one is in appalling condition, worn, battered and disfigured around the date. I would not want it in my collection. The second DNW one is at least showing more normal wear, and would be tolerable. Given they are not really ‘that’ rare, I think they are overpriced if in the thousands (plural). But I hope to get a decent one one day. Jerry PS and despite what I said a couple of days ago re the rugby, I do wish some success to England. I would at least like to see them prevent France getting the bonus point.😱

It’s Freeman 33, obv 6 rev G. Jerry

I’m not sure this is a great advertisement for Renaissance Wax, I can imagine a lot of crumbling patina with the metal expansion/contraction as it is heated/cooled. I agree regarding the lacquer , inappropriate varnishes, lacquers and oils are very difficult or impossible to remove. Jerry

Just celebrated Brexit over a couple of pints in my local. Hoping Wales stuff Italy later today. But just to show my unity with Europe....as a proud Welshman... I hope France stuff England on Sunday...🤪 Jerry

Certainly shellac, which despite being soluble in meths etc eventually forms an irreversible bond and reacts with copper corrosion products and is not a good idea, nor I suspect polyurethane varnishes which require specialist solvents and can be a bu**er to remove. Really the difference between lacquer and varnish is one of terminology, the key thing is that it must be removable , thinly applied and not attract dust etc or it should not be used, and even then I feel for patinated copper alloy only. I do admit to using Incralac on my better ‘dug’ Roman Bronze coins, an archival lacquer soluble in acetone but which contains Toluene, and Benzotriazole to inhibit bronze disease, so itself carries a potential carcinogen label and must be treated with respect. Jerry

Varnishing was thought to be protective of a coin by excluding moisture, air and reducing the impact of handling, I can remember in the ‘70’s Lindner sold kits of three wide neck jars of , I think, cleaner, varnish and varnish remover; it was meant to be a reversible process, if you used the right materials. Personally I don’t too much mind it on ancient, patinated bronze, but it seems pretty pointless on unpatinated copper alloy and silver or gold. Jerry

No. 😆

That is pretty much what he had been hoping, and what his solicitor expected; Wells had a much more minor role than the others, didn’t pass on any coins and apparently there was email evidence that he told the finders to take the coins in his possession back, and declare them. So he says........240 hours unpaid work is not a bad deterrent though. Takes me back to my early days spent on call for the NHS...... Jerry

Ooh, I do like the R over A overstrike! Another one to look for! Won’t be many out there, as it should be quite an easy spot. Is it on an F10? Looks most likely to me. Jerry

Close-up of overstrike.

I was pleased to spot this penny in a dealers £8 each 'rummage tray' at the Midland Coin Fair today. One for Richards site; perhaps the second best known ? Jerry

I’ve got the NHS to thank for all my pennies...........🤩 Jerry

Acetone wouldn't alter the surface, other than to remove oils and grease. Maybe a harsh lighting effect, or a slight rub in the past. Jerry

‘Fraid so, looks like an ordinary F6. But still a nice example. I think you were misunderstood, you were thought to be asking if it was an 1860 BB ie beaded border, rather than the Gouby reference. Jerry

LCA have plenty of images https://www.londoncoins.co.uk/?page=Pastresults&searchterm=Halfpenny+1861+F+Over+P&searchtype=1 It is a strange one to me, some look very much like a die flaw, but a few of them look very passable for an overstrike. I really would like to see high magnification images of a good condition specimen, if any member has one. Jerry

Looks like someone has been ‘improving’ it by re-engraving the hair with a sharp tool. Lukas also has 1863/1 and 1863 open 3 pennies in his latest batch, both ordinary coins mid-described. Jerry

It is interesting, a clogged die as Terry says, not of great extra value but I would keep one in my collection if I found one. Jerry

This forum reflects society, and has become politically polarised by the events of the last three years just as society in general. The degree of offence taken regarding a particular statement reflects the readers views and sensitivities, which may not be the same as those who give the opinion. We have to be tolerant of opposing views; we/I find it easy to be riled by what others post, but that is our/my problem not theirs, we are free to think what we want, and should stop using our own views as an excuse to be nasty to each other. We will never all agree. I have friends who want to ‘save the planet’ , and feel the only way to do so is by green technology and stopping war and famine. I also want to ‘save the planet’ but suspect that a 95% reduction in the human population is the only realistic way to achieve this. Clearly I would prefer nature in some way to arrange this, and the elimination of Donald Trump would be a good start. Eventually I reckon the planet will be just fine, but not the human race and many other species, yet another great extinction to be followed by further evolution , whatever direction that takes. I think it is ridiculous to think that the human race somehow deserves perpetuity, yet of course I love my kids and grandkids. My late father was pretty pragmatic regarding the pointless, unpleasant, self-cantered creatures humans are. But he loved nature and devoted his life to its conservation. You can read his obituary here https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/04/peter-davis-obituary and he will shortly feature in radio 4’s ‘Last words’ obit programme and in British Birds. Forgive me for being a bit maudlin , I had a couple of pints tonight. Jerry

Well done, Blake, and I agree from the EBay photos that it still has the top leaf, but let’s see what it’s like in the hand. Certainly a bargain price , if you compare with LCA sales. Jerry