jelida

Most of us, and certainly the major texts, would consider a valid variety to be a reflection of the design (including possible errors) punched/engraved on the die, rather than subsequent die wear or impairment due to accumulated crud. However there are a few notable exceptions such as the ONF penny which seem to have developed a following. Otherwise striking errors are considered more of an interesting curiosity than true variety, though they do have specialist collectors. Clearly, but rarely, things can change. In the case of your penny, if it could be positively demonstrated that the Royal Mint (or Heaton) did produce a small run of intentionally 'no H' pennies, then an altogether different view might be taken. It certainly is unusual for the H to be totally absent, so enjoy the coin for itself and the debate it can generate. Jerry

What you did was perfectly fair, Matt, let the bidder decide for himself based on the photo. I was watching this, being unsure, but after comparing it with better examples decided not to bid. Others felt it a risk worth taking, and there is clearly an element of uncertainty even with it in the hand. Jerry

I'm not sure I'd attempt a positive id on either of the last two objects from the pics, really not enough evidence as to function; in fact I don't think either would have got beyond my scrap metal bucket (surprising how much I get from the scrappie every few years). Here are a couple of my Roman Fibulae over the last couple of years.

I think in a ridiculously overembellished way they are trying to sell the coin shown in the body of the ad, which looks OK, rather than the ghastly replica illustrated. Why all the c**p about the secure storage? And every genuine coin is apparently 'microscopically laser marked' for heavens sake, anybody ever hear of that? Jerry

You wont have any dosh left for the LCA then, Pete............. Lovely coin, just as good in the hand, or at least slab. I was very tempted by the 1919kn at the Midland, had it out of the case three times, but eventually felt the spot on the reverse was just too offputting, and in a way it was 'too' clean and shiny compared to the other lustrous coins around it; not entirely logical I accept , but I decided to keep my powder dry; a phrase the meaning of which has rather migrated for the younger generation. Sniff. Sniff. Jerry

The coins you're buying, it'll be me stalking you! That coin is a stunner, if you paid less than Ian was asking, I dont think you overpaid. Jerry

Is that the 1913 you were looking at from Ian? Lovely coin, I'm not surprised you went back for it. Jerry

I had a good pore over these at the Midland on Sunday, but couldn't quite persuade myself to take the plunge. The 1919 apparently was sourced from France, the 1926 was from the last LCA of course. Jerry

Brings back so many memories. So sad, the premature loss of a creative genius. I'll be dusting off the vinyl today as well. Jerry

Hi Prax, great to hear from you, and that is a lovely penny, I'm still after a decent one of those. I don't know if you come to any of the South Wales and Mon Numismatic Soc meetings, but I an giving a short presentation on the Victorian bronze pennies at the Feb meeting, might be quite local to you, nothing new or earth shattering, they are just desperate for speakers and I got volunteered. Will try to bore them with micro varieties. Jerry

Looks likely, George. Like the crotal bell. They are very scarce on our side of the Severn. I have I think two from my 30 years hunting. Jerry

The second coin is a 1580 sixpence of Eliz I, mm long cross. Jerry

Very nice, I've only ever found one of those.

Nice thimbles, I would place them both late C18 to early C19. The left hand one is quite unusual. Jerry

I vaguely remember something like this as a kid, a big loop of string was passed through the two holes, held by a finger at each end. It was spun, and by alternately stretching and slackening the cord, it could be made to spin first one way, then the other, emitting a whistling noise when rotating. I cant remember if mine was lead, but it did need to be fairly heavy material to provide momentum. Had my first hammies of the year today, a very worn Lizzie halfgroat and an early C17 copper farthing. Jerry

Another offering from Shelly; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1874H-QUEEN-VICTORIA-PENNY-FREENAN-69-OBV-6-REV-I-R16-RARER-THEN-GOLD-EF-/301840907471?hash=item46471ebccf:g:RWoAAOSwa-dWi-3V not F69 sadly; in fact if you look at the other listings, many are self-slabbed with gross over-grading , several mis-identified and all over-priced. Not a good advertisment. Jerry

Good id George, probably quite a rare button ; there will be local collectors out there. Jerry

Totally disagree. If you disc out lead, not only will you miss seal matrices, lead tokens, Roman votives, cloth seals, pilgrim badges and ampullae and many other historic items, you will also lose depth on tiny hammered and celtic with most machines. And I always keep scrap lead, more than pays for the batteries. On ancient sites, dig everything but iron! Even scrap lead and shot are a good indicator of land usage. Jerry

Secondly, an Early Bronze Age miniature flat axe head , approx 2000 BC. These were previously described as 'votive' but now thought simply to be small axes for finer work. It is currently in the National Museum of Wales for recording and metal analysis (the earliest of these were pure copper). Jerry

I have no idea on that one, never seen anything comparable, though it is unlike the Bronze age anvils on the BM site. It's certainly taken a battering. Here are a couple of my finds in the last few weeks, hardly been out in this awful weather. Firstly a C14-15 harness pendant, much red enamel remaining. The Lion rampant was a fairly common motif used by several prominent families, I haven't yet pinned it down, but likely to have had SE Wales connections. Jerry

Sorry George, as I said above to make anything out of the photo is wishful thinking, it is probably clearer in the hand. But the coin you have identified it as is an incredibly rare coin of Roman Judea, not a coin likely to have made its way to Britain. You need to show it to an expert for an accurate opinion, and even then it may be too far gone.

Happy 2016 to all, may those wants be met and dreams be fulfilled, except of course for the penny boys, they're mine, all mine? (fiendish cackling)! Best wishes to everyone, Jerry

Those are of fine, delicate construction, with tiny loops/flanges to tie on a fine line, and are unarguably suitable for fishing, and also from the Eastern Mediterranean, quite unlike any Roman fish-hooks found in the UK. Despite the similar terminal wings, they rather emphasize the differences from yours, which looks more suited to a coarse string or chain. While not impossible, there are many more likely uses for this hook. Without an archaeological context for this find, sadly it cannot be securely identified or dated. However you seem to have started a thread with legs. Maybe I'll post a few of my finds too.....in the New Year. Have a good one! Jerry

Another interesting find, I wonder what it was used for. You quite commonly find similar hooks, without the terminal flanges or barb, used with chain on harness or farm implements, on any farm land. Roman fish hooks generally seem to be much smaller, more akin to our size 4, 6 or 8. The thing about smith made tools is that they are often non-standard, for a specific purpose; perhaps this was used for meat in a trap, or to hook a bale or net, or something similar. Coming back to the dentures, I think the id may be right, though they would have been so impractical that they could only have been worn briefly, presumably, at meal-time. But don't be afraid to question even Finds Liaison Officer id's, none of the lead 'denture' objects seem to reference a contextually indisputable archaeological find . Over time I have seen many supposed id's change in the light of further evidence. And FLO's themselves vary in experience. In the late '90's, when the scheme first started, I was asked to be on the interview panel for the Wales FLO at the NMW, along with Roger Bland from the BM and local museum staff. We interviewed six shortlisted candidates, all good on paper. I had prepared a tray of typical identifiable finds from Roman to Modern, some of which were distorted, rare or 'partefacts'. Only two of the candidates demonstrated any real practical ability in identifying, or even describing what they saw, and yet most were prepared to hazard a guess. That is often what you get with more obscure objects and less experienced FLO's. Not ours, of course. Usually. Jerry