jelida

We were talking rarity values here, rather than published mintage numbers. Freeman was undoubtedly the better reflection of rarity in circulation, by date, and I agree there was some date overlap in the published annual mintage figures, particularly in the early years and so the two need not entirely coincide. I must admit that I have never looked at the mintage figures for this very reason. Freemans rarities did not equate to published mintage, neither do Gouby’s. The 1875H of course is well known and easily recognisable, and low grade examples have been kept in their thousands while low grade examples of F79 have not. Some coins are excessively difficult in high grades but common at low grades for no obvious reason, such as 1864, while others are disproportionately common at high grades, such as 1860 or 1902 because the public kept them safe at the time as keepsakes. The same will apply to easily recognisable decimal issues which are made to appeal to collectors due to frequent design changes. I wouldn’t get too hung up about either published rarity or mintage figures. The key issue for a collector is availability, ie the difficulty encountered when trying to acquire a particular coin. An accurate assessment of grade specific availability might well throw up a few surprises! Jerry

The most accurate relative rarity estimates remain Freeman’s, the sheer numbers of unsorted coins from circulation can never be replicated, and will be an accurate reflection of respective rarity of all but the rarest of pennies. But in terms of the coins you list the problem is selective hoarding of coins considered rare, while the rest went to melt. Thus the pool of coins now available to collectors does not reflect original mintage figures. To achieve equivalence you might for example have to look only at coins in the top grades, where survival is unlikely to have been affected much by modern collecting trends. Thus, my own experience is; I agree that F17 seems scarce rather than rare, perhaps overrated. 1867 is more difficult than the preceding 2 years, perhaps underrated. F76 is excessively rare by comparison in any condition, I have no problem with R8. Much rarer than F69. F79 is perhaps on a par with F17, scarce but can be found. 1875H remains difficult, on the same sort of level as F17 and F79 in the top grades, though vastly commoner at low grade for the reason given above. Stick with Freeman estimates. Jerry

I think what Pete is seeing, and I can too, is the mass of fine parallel hairlines in the fields, indicating that the coin has at the least been ‘buffed’ with a cloth at some time in its life. The flash does accentuate these. Jerry

I don’t normally look at the ‘Non British’ section, but in view of recent trends I am going to have to change that policy. Nice coin. Jerry

I would like to see the op’s ‘dots’ under a high resolution microscope before coming to a conclusion. While individual dots are fairly common on various dates, a multiple example like this would have to be due to an exceptionally ‘gritty’ die, and there are other causes of apparent raised marks ; these photos are just not clear enough. These dots appear quite minuscule and I would want more evidence that were created in the strike. To my mind , these multiple raised dots even if genuine would confer no real collector value as they would clearly not be an intended design element. The only reason that the ‘dot’ coins became collectable in the first place was that they were thought to be deliberate die identification marks, a theory now reliably disproved. Jerry

Another WRL repro for your delectation. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-Henry-VIII-Hammered-Groat-silver-coin-1547/162863336027?hash=item25eb694a5b:g:l84AAOSwy1NaZMD2 Jerry

Yes, except that yours is of the mint of Louvain, not Montmédy, see the Low Countries, mediaeval list below. His is for sale at 95 Euros. https://www.numisantica.com/index.php?action=article&aid=9716&lang=en#.WmJzMCSnyhA Jerry

Hi Coys55, this item has been discussed elsewhere on this forum. It seems almost certain that it is not a genuine siege piece. If you look at Rob or Kal’s recent posts on the subject, you will find more info. I would be highly suspicious of any siege piece on EBay that does not come from a professional dealer (and, I’m afraid, most that do unless with provenance). Jerry

Can you post a close-up pic of the date?

I think Coinbuyer555 (previously trading as Mike Dennington) may have left the room. But I would agree with you Neil, and comment that we have of course only had one side of the story. I would certainly not be rushing to any judgement here. Jerry

Not sure that it is an electrotype, Kal suggests that it is a replica from dies by a known modern replica workshop, certainly the work is stylistically very poor and the silver (?) surface looks suspicious to me. Not the genuine article anyway, if they were ever produced during the civil war, though it might be a genuine ‘Scarborough Siege Piece’ if they are all more recent fantasy pieces ?. Jerry

The whole perspective of the coin on the left is distorted by the lens and equipment used compared to the right, we are not comparing like for like and I personally would not draw any conclusions . Jerry

Rob and Kal have discussed this within the last couple of days ; another fake. Jerry

What do you think of these?? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cnut-Short-Cross-Silver-Penny-Waldlos-Of-Lincoln-1029-35/222779920673?hash=item33deb7d121:g:i-EAAOSwzXxaS~OX https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KING-CNUT-SHORT-CROSS-SILVER-PENNY-1029-1035-AD/332506461339?hash=item4d6aedf49b:g:454AAOSwyYFaS7ly Ignore the mis-identification of the first, which we have discussed before, the pics to me appear to show reverse matches, even to the peck marks! I.e. more cast fakes. And the rest of their stock. Get reporting, guys! Jerry

Why on earth do you ask that? You have had an unpleasant experience with one dealer, and have described your side of the story on this forum. You now seem to be insinuating that bad practice is endemic in the profession. This is totally unfair of you, and I have personally never found a dealer other than fair and courteous, and I attend coin fairs and buy on line regularly. There are a number of dealers on this forum who provide freely of their time and expertise for the benefit of all whom I am sure would not take kindly to the implication in the question. You complain on another thread of the activity of “trolls” on the forum, in fact one individual who made unwise alcohol fuelled comments for which he later apologised , then you follow up with this sort of statement. I see little difference. Jerry

How do members rate the various brands of coin capsule available? I have decided to store my better pennies in capsules in the trays of my coin cabinets. I have a couple of capsules that conform to the general Lighthouse brand formula, but they feel rather cheap and a couple have slight crazing of the edges. I have one that came with a penny from Rob that is much nicer, and fits a penny perfectly (no rattling) , rounded edges, flat sides, internal dia 31mm appx, external 36mm appx. Does any-one know what make that would be? I would need up to a couple of hundred, but would be happy to order from overseas if necessary. Do members have any issues with coin capsules? Jerry

HAPPY NEW YEAR, guys an’ gals, from the Bridge Inn, deepest Herefordshire, to all for whom the forum is important, Happy Hunting for the year ahead. Jerry and Libby

I’m with you, Rob, on this one, which is why I don’t have one in my collection, and I wouldn’t pay a significant premium for one, though if one did come my way I would probably hold on to it, because of the perceived interest of others. True varieties should be the result of an act of man on the die. The same applies to the ONF penny, and a number of others, which shouldn’t really be in the books as a variety, though they may merit a footnote. Jerry

Here is the link to the EBay coin. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1897-PENNY-WITH-DOT-IN-O-NE-Gouby-BP1897B-Freeman-F147/263400680794?hash=item3d53e76d5a:g:wYMAAOSwnTdaPWNF Jerry

Hi Zo Arms, I suspect part of the problem is that it doesn’t look like a ‘normal’ O’NE penny, which will put people off, the dot seems too low. Here is a link to the LCA site. http://www.londoncoins.co.uk/?page=Pastresults&searchterm=Penny+1897+O’ne&searchtype=1 Otherwise the price would be about right, they are not all that scarce. Jerry

I don’t have the definitive answer re the Briot coinage, not my field, but they look like file marks and how adjustment marks usually look. Perhaps Rob’s expertise is called for again here? Jerry

Beautiful ! The scratches I presume are adjustment marks, contemporary with manufacture and therefore perfectly acceptable. Well done! Jerry

We really need pictures to give a practical comment.

Not sure it’s the worst offering, but I certainly don’t want to try it! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Victoria-Bum-Head-One-Penny/182981956692?hash=item2a9a931454:g:NGkAAOSwrxdaQW0c Jerry

My pennies from Richard have arrived safely, I am very pleased to have filled a couple of gaps that I thought un-fillable, and lovely coins to boot. Many thanks. Jerry