jelida

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

Except that Labour couldn’t gain seats in the leave voting south, apart from a ‘two for one’ swap in London. So there was clearly much more at play. But don’t get me wrong, I am very happy for this result to be seen in Labour circles as a Brexit election. And I wouldn’t disagree with an interpretation that it was a re-run of the Brexit referendum , which is what you seem to be saying. 🤭 Jerry

£495 I think. Jerry

Many of the Labour hierarchy seem to be pushing the idea that this was solely a ‘Brexit’ election despite being of course multifactorial with personal dislike of Corbyn among Labours own voters being a massive issue, and distrust and certainly disregard for their ‘promise everything’ manifesto. I would of course not want to disillusion them, as continuation of left wing leadership in the same vein would suit the Tories very well, especially as none of the current postulated leadership candidates appear to be inspirational, though a couple are quite good in a shouting match. I am a bit sad that I will not be able to pay my £3 and show my massive support for the least able leadership candidate like hundreds of thousands did last time. That was a wonderful exercise in democracy, being able to choose in advance who your opposition will be prior to an actual election. I’m hoping the SNP will do the same and we can get Alex Salmond back, I’ve got my Scottish birth certificate ready! Jerry

Yes, the Anne sixpence is a well known replica. I think the rest are OK. Jerry

I think that a genuine new variety, a new die, or number or letter overstrike would have no difficulty attracting a massive premium. But I am inclined to agree regarding the dots and die flaws, at least until published. Jerry

You know those pennies we find occasionally with missing colon dots? Perhaps they fell off and got stuck somewhere else! 🤪 Jerry

Fantastic choices above! I have thousands of lp’s, but then I started in the ‘70’s, and am still buying. My preferred listening includes much of the above, but add Genesis King Crimson (especially Court of the Crimson King) Bowie Dire Straits but I also have folk , pop, jazz etc- quite a cross spectrum of the second half of the 20th century. One of my current favourite bands is ‘Big Big Train’ , great prog rock, saw them in concert last month. Have a listen on YouTube. Jerry

Well, tomorrow night our FLO who was closely involved in the case is giving a presentation about it to Hereford Detecting Club and I hope to be there . To be fair, the FLO has kept the club well informed. We are cremating my Dad tomorrow at two, (don’t worry, his death was a blessed release), and barring the unexpected should be free by six pm. Went to a club rally near Hereford this morning, everybody I spoke to was pleased with the verdicts and sentences. Jerry

I have known about this find since the police first took an interest several years ago, the finders were members of several South Wales detecting clubs including mine, and though I do not know them personally I know a lot about them through friends. Powell is said to be a nasty piece of work, he has been to prison before and has a bad reputation regarding drugs etc. Layton is easily led, but has previously worked well with the FLO in Cardiff and posted a number of coins from the hoard on various forums before suddenly claiming he had found they were all fakes, and ending the conversation. I suspect Powell got at him. I think left to his own devices, Layton would have seen sense. Wicks, the dealer from Sussex, is a long term dealer in fake coins and artefacts on EBay under various guises. Paul Wells I know well, a likeable man who was very stupid. I have heard his side of the story several times at Numismatic Society. I think the judge got it right with Powell and Wicks, and Layton and Paul Wells were foolish be led. The finders would probably have done very well had they abided by the law, they had the tenant farmers permission though not the landowners; that occasionally happens, and does not usually affect the Treasure Act payment to the finders if they were acting in good faith, though it might have left them open to private prosecution. Either way they all deserve their significant sentences for the damage they have done to the hobby of metal detecting and the reputation of coin dealers and purchasers. Jerry

It is the state that will finally determine whether we do become “cashless”, as the state is responsible via the RM and BOE for producing the actual cash that we use. There is undoubtedly a drive by the banks towards cashless, driven by improved technology, rapid processing ability and potential efficiency savings, ie greater profitability, and probably a certain perceived benefit to government by reduction in tax evasion potential from cashless. But while the government do continue to produce ‘legal tender’ currency and facilitate its distribution and usage, there will always be a significant proportion of the population that find it useful in many situations. A country could unilaterally become cashless, but this would have to be with government supervision and support, and with a great deal of national preparation to protect particularly the vulnerable in society. Jerry