One penny 1985 with a '4' stamped on!

[Russ777 0]

Hi thought I would share this one found in my change today.

Looks like the '4' stamped on the Queens Head has been there sometime as not shiny.

Surely not a meant error? Just thinking why someone would bother to do this on a low value coin? Maybe testing their machine???

Thought it would be a laugh to post anyway!!!

Russ777

[Peckris 579]

Hi thought I would share this one found in my change today.

Looks like the '4' stamped on the Queens Head has been there sometime as not shiny.

Surely not a meant error? Just thinking why someone would bother to do this on a low value coin? Maybe testing their machine???

Thought it would be a laugh to post anyway!!!

Russ777

You'd be amazed how many similar stampings turned up on bronze coins, when I was looking through bank bags way back when ...

[Russ777 0]

Do you know what these stampings were for??? When you found them were the coins mint??/

Any value at all??

Interesting none the less...

Accidentally posted twice please remove other one moderator!

Russ777

[Peckris 579]

Do you know what these stampings were for??? When you found them were the coins mint??/

Any value at all??

Interesting none the less...

Accidentally posted twice please remove other one moderator!

Russ777

No idea at all. They were just curios to me. And only occurred on base metal coins, never mint ones. I used to think they were just machine tooled by people testing their machines. But I've no real idea.

[Red Riley 2]

It's amazing the potty things people do with coins. I seem to remember when I was about 16 rubbing down a newly minted 2p with sandpaper to see how close I could come to simulating wear. The answer; not very. Why did I bother? God knows.

All I know is that I spent the ruddy thing and you never know, it might come up as a curio at some time.

[Peckris 579]

It's amazing the potty things people do with coins. I seem to remember when I was about 16 rubbing down a newly minted 2p with sandpaper to see how close I could come to simulating wear. The answer; not very. Why did I bother? God knows.

All I know is that I spent the ruddy thing and you never know, it might come up as a curio at some time.

And on that topic, does anyone know a good way to eliminate the effects of polishing on a coin? Not the ones that come with tiny hairline scratches (there aren't any on the coins I'm asking about), but the "bright" appearance? I only ask because I have two early Victorian silver coins in my own collection that are near enough uncirculated with bags of mirroring lustre, but where the busts look too shiny as if polished.

[Flash 25]

It's amazing the potty things people do with coins. I seem to remember when I was about 16 rubbing down a newly minted 2p with sandpaper to see how close I could come to simulating wear. The answer; not very. Why did I bother? God knows.

All I know is that I spent the ruddy thing and you never know, it might come up as a curio at some time.

And on that topic, does anyone know a good way to eliminate the effects of polishing on a coin? Not the ones that come with tiny hairline scratches (there aren't any on the coins I'm asking about), but the "bright" appearance? I only ask because I have two early Victorian silver coins in my own collection that are near enough uncirculated with bags of mirroring lustre, but where the busts look too shiny as if polished.

An old trick and not undetectable and also a hasten to add not something I would try as a dealer but.....

Leave the coin in a gutter for around a month. Note it won't work during a drought!

[Red Riley 2]

And on that topic, does anyone know a good way to eliminate the effects of polishing on a coin? Not the ones that come with tiny hairline scratches (there aren't any on the coins I'm asking about), but the "bright" appearance? I only ask because I have two early Victorian silver coins in my own collection that are near enough uncirculated with bags of mirroring lustre, but where the busts look too shiny as if polished.

You could bury it in the garden for a year or so (tip: remember where you buried it). Another idea I have heard is to bake it in a potato. You could also try the toning fluid Tourmaline, but I'm not sure how well it works on silver.