How did you start collecting and what is the "star" coin of yo

[Rob 3,152]

I'm still excited about the day that I can begin to actively seek out those magical and 'perfect' pieces, and start work on a collection.

Finances have never, and still don't, permit me to tie-up thousands in a collection (not yet, at least, though I am beginning to see daylight).

I am never sure where my loyalties lie in coins, but I do have a weakness for Elizabeth I (all metals), copper [any], and William III. Also, more recently I've taken an interest in Edward VII, Edward I and, shockingly for me, George V. So I guess I will evntually (when our narrowboat is finally organised) be flitting back and forth between the early hammered of Edward (the sheer variety intrigues me), the early-milled copper of Charles II, Elizabeth anything (gold, once I've satisfied myself I know enough about it), silver and copper of William III, some Edward VII and, when I'm skint [considering the above list, this will be always] but feeling itchy, there'll always be dear old G5!

THAT'S THE PLAN! Though I will likely (very likely) drop off one or two areas that I'm struggling in (probably William would be the first to go) and focus on the others! My speculated collection will have my fingers stretched across a lot of numismatic pies, so I'll probably knacker myself up and get nowhere!

Oh, and for some reason, I have a couple of one-off desires in EF...a Mary Groat (just bought the cracked one from Castlecoins [rockinghorsepoo], purely for the bust), and a Charles I siege piece please!

THAT'S ALL!

William III is a full time job with the recoinage. With 5 or 6 coinages in as many years, the period was clearly a transitional one as redesigns don't happen for no reason when the cost of tooling is so high. Although the punches must have taken a hammering (excuse the pun), the variations in bust types across the series are clearly a sign of experimentation to some degree. The dismissal of the Roettiers in favour of Croker also had a large part to play in the designs as I suspect the former may have removed some punches when leaving the Mint.

[Accumulator 52]

I'm another one who started collecting from pocket money change in the late 60s. If only I'd know then that grade is everything, rather than just focussing on getting one of each date! Occasionally, when money was tight as a lad, I sold a few of the higher value coins to buy trains or whatever but decimalisation stopped that from the 70s. I still have most of the coins, though as it was much cheaper to collect bronze I have far more of these. I never bothered with the decimal coins, apart from the obligatory year sets which I still have.

As for a favourite, it has to be the 1922 penny with a reverse of 1927. I found it after searching thousands of pennies and it cost me just a penny!

Really? I'd not realised that was even known about pre-1971. Put it this way, I never saw it listed in a price guide until either the 80s or 90s. It wasn't in Seaby, or the "blue pages", or Coins & Market Values.

I wish I'd not had a clear out of old books a few years back! While I'm not sure that 'Check your Change' (when it was 4" x 3" approx. in size and had a chessboard pattern on the front) listed it in the late 60's - early 70s, I do know that it was included in the competing pocket guide, whose name I have completely forgotten! Someone must have an old copy of this? Interestingly, from memory, it was the only variety of penny listed for the 20th century other than the H's and KN's. Strange I know. The guide was issued annually as a single volume, had a colour cover and was slightly smaller in size.

It definitely wasn't in C.Y.C. - that listed almost no varieties at all, except the H KN and ME (from memory). I'm not sure what the other guide is you refer to; I do have a 1968 colour booklet with prices, but it contains some terrible inaccuracies, the most notable of which is a failure to differentiate the copper and bronze issues of 1860!!! and it doesn't include the 1922. But I'm not sure the 1922 variety was widely known in the late 60s? As I say, it didn't feature in the main guides and catalogues of the time and wasn't mentioned in adverts, nor in Coin Monthly articles.

I'm absolutely certain it was listed in the other small pocket-sized price guide from the late 60s-early70s. Someone must remember it? The colour of the cover changed each year. I had an old copy until a few years ago but unfortunately had a clear out and it went

I'm a bit of a student of coin prices and price guides from the 60s onwards. If you should find out what this other guide was, I'd love to know. (You're not thinking of COINS & MARKET VALUES, are you? That was an A5 size booklet with a glossy cover, published by Link House - it was once the COINS & MEDALS annual, but became an independent guide possibly in the early 70s. That came out each year, and its prices were always quite modest compared to Seaby/Spink.)

If only I'd not thrown them away! This guide was slightly smaller than Check Your Change and about the same thickness. It was cheaper as only a single volume was needed, unlike CYC. I'm sure it was available in WH Smith. The two I owned had yellow and aquamarine covers with full colour coin photos on the front, but were monochrome inside. I had a feeling the name started with 'Know', as in Know your... money, change, coins, or whatever, though I may be wrong.

Curioser and curioser. You could barely get smaller than CYC which was tiny! It must have been small indeed. But I'm intrigued to know it included the 1922 rarity - I'm almost tempted to wonder if the guide was put together by someone who actually had one and wanted to give it more publicity? As I say, I don't recall ANY of the late 60s guides featuring it. The 1970 Coins & Medals Annual had a "Varieties since 1816" survey - pretty comprehensive on the basis of what was known at that time (i.e., the 1915 "close TT" farthing isn't there, nor the 1923 florin, nor - in spite of 4 varieties that are included - is the 1921 shilling with the pre-1920 obverse; on the other hand there are FOUR varieties of 1957 calm sea halfpenny). The 1922 penny is not in that survey; if it had been known in 1970 it most certainly would have been.

You are very likely correct about the inclusion of the 1922, due to the writer having found one! It appeared in VR Court's survey of 1972 (though he didn't find one) so was certainly known about then. I can actually picture the guide, which was genuinely pocket sized, a little taller, but narrower than a beermat. I've googled, but to no avail. Someone must remember?

[HistoricCoinage 146]

As a young child I remember my father returning home from a long day at work and letting me sort through his wallet and exchange a few coins or, if he was in a good mood, let me take a few and store away in my little box of coins. Ever since then I've never lost the bug, it's just been eating away at me and my finances!

As for the star coin of my collections, I really cannot choose. When you've got a unique coin or a coin that is the only example in private hands it's a wonderful feeling. The joys of hammered, I suppose. That and the joys of spending endless hours researching.

[Peter 615]

As a young child I remember my father returning home from a long day at work and letting me sort through his wallet and exchange a few coins or, if he was in a good mood, let me take a few and store away in my little box of coins. Ever since then I've never lost the bug, it's just been eating away at me and my finances!

As for the star coin of my collections, I really cannot choose. When you've got a unique coin or a coin that is the only example in private hands it's a wonderful feeling. The joys of hammered, I suppose. That and the joys of spending endless hours researching.

I enjoy the chase and research (maybe not to Robs levels)but I have a few lists (hand written) and when I can tick another off I'm happy.

This is on Copper (not the bronze issues).

I also like to pick up a few out of my comfort zone.If it appeals I buy.

[Peckris 579]

I wish I'd not had a clear out of old books a few years back! While I'm not sure that 'Check your Change' (when it was 4" x 3" approx. in size and had a chessboard pattern on the front) listed it in the late 60's - early 70s, I do know that it was included in the competing pocket guide, whose name I have completely forgotten! Someone must have an old copy of this? Interestingly, from memory, it was the only variety of penny listed for the 20th century other than the H's and KN's. Strange I know. The guide was issued annually as a single volume, had a colour cover and was slightly smaller in size.

It definitely wasn't in C.Y.C. - that listed almost no varieties at all, except the H KN and ME (from memory). I'm not sure what the other guide is you refer to; I do have a 1968 colour booklet with prices, but it contains some terrible inaccuracies, the most notable of which is a failure to differentiate the copper and bronze issues of 1860!!! and it doesn't include the 1922. But I'm not sure the 1922 variety was widely known in the late 60s? As I say, it didn't feature in the main guides and catalogues of the time and wasn't mentioned in adverts, nor in Coin Monthly articles.

I'm absolutely certain it was listed in the other small pocket-sized price guide from the late 60s-early70s. Someone must remember it? The colour of the cover changed each year. I had an old copy until a few years ago but unfortunately had a clear out and it went

I'm a bit of a student of coin prices and price guides from the 60s onwards. If you should find out what this other guide was, I'd love to know. (You're not thinking of COINS & MARKET VALUES, are you? That was an A5 size booklet with a glossy cover, published by Link House - it was once the COINS & MEDALS annual, but became an independent guide possibly in the early 70s. That came out each year, and its prices were always quite modest compared to Seaby/Spink.)

If only I'd not thrown them away! This guide was slightly smaller than Check Your Change and about the same thickness. It was cheaper as only a single volume was needed, unlike CYC. I'm sure it was available in WH Smith. The two I owned had yellow and aquamarine covers with full colour coin photos on the front, but were monochrome inside. I had a feeling the name started with 'Know', as in Know your... money, change, coins, or whatever, though I may be wrong.

Curioser and curioser. You could barely get smaller than CYC which was tiny! It must have been small indeed. But I'm intrigued to know it included the 1922 rarity - I'm almost tempted to wonder if the guide was put together by someone who actually had one and wanted to give it more publicity? As I say, I don't recall ANY of the late 60s guides featuring it. The 1970 Coins & Medals Annual had a "Varieties since 1816" survey - pretty comprehensive on the basis of what was known at that time (i.e., the 1915 "close TT" farthing isn't there, nor the 1923 florin, nor - in spite of 4 varieties that are included - is the 1921 shilling with the pre-1920 obverse; on the other hand there are FOUR varieties of 1957 calm sea halfpenny). The 1922 penny is not in that survey; if it had been known in 1970 it most certainly would have been.

You are very likely correct about the inclusion of the 1922, due to the writer having found one! It appeared in VR Court's survey of 1972 (though he didn't find one) so was certainly known about then. I can actually picture the guide, which was genuinely pocket sized, a little taller, but narrower than a beermat. I've googled, but to no avail. Someone must remember?

That's great! It ties its discovery down to between 1970 and 1972. That's progress.

[InforaPenny 21]

I wish I'd not had a clear out of old books a few years back! While I'm not sure that 'Check your Change' (when it was 4" x 3" approx. in size and had a chessboard pattern on the front) listed it in the late 60's - early 70s, I do know that it was included in the competing pocket guide, whose name I have completely forgotten! Someone must have an old copy of this? Interestingly, from memory, it was the only variety of penny listed for the 20th century other than the H's and KN's. Strange I know. The guide was issued annually as a single volume, had a colour cover and was slightly smaller in size.

It definitely wasn't in C.Y.C. - that listed almost no varieties at all, except the H KN and ME (from memory). I'm not sure what the other guide is you refer to; I do have a 1968 colour booklet with prices, but it contains some terrible inaccuracies, the most notable of which is a failure to differentiate the copper and bronze issues of 1860!!! and it doesn't include the 1922. But I'm not sure the 1922 variety was widely known in the late 60s? As I say, it didn't feature in the main guides and catalogues of the time and wasn't mentioned in adverts, nor in Coin Monthly articles.

I'm absolutely certain it was listed in the other small pocket-sized price guide from the late 60s-early70s. Someone must remember it? The colour of the cover changed each year. I had an old copy until a few years ago but unfortunately had a clear out and it went

I'm a bit of a student of coin prices and price guides from the 60s onwards. If you should find out what this other guide was, I'd love to know. (You're not thinking of COINS & MARKET VALUES, are you? That was an A5 size booklet with a glossy cover, published by Link House - it was once the COINS & MEDALS annual, but became an independent guide possibly in the early 70s. That came out each year, and its prices were always quite modest compared to Seaby/Spink.)

If only I'd not thrown them away! This guide was slightly smaller than Check Your Change and about the same thickness. It was cheaper as only a single volume was needed, unlike CYC. I'm sure it was available in WH Smith. The two I owned had yellow and aquamarine covers with full colour coin photos on the front, but were monochrome inside. I had a feeling the name started with 'Know', as in Know your... money, change, coins, or whatever, though I may be wrong.

Curioser and curioser. You could barely get smaller than CYC which was tiny! It must have been small indeed. But I'm intrigued to know it included the 1922 rarity - I'm almost tempted to wonder if the guide was put together by someone who actually had one and wanted to give it more publicity? As I say, I don't recall ANY of the late 60s guides featuring it. The 1970 Coins & Medals Annual had a "Varieties since 1816" survey - pretty comprehensive on the basis of what was known at that time (i.e., the 1915 "close TT" farthing isn't there, nor the 1923 florin, nor - in spite of 4 varieties that are included - is the 1921 shilling with the pre-1920 obverse; on the other hand there are FOUR varieties of 1957 calm sea halfpenny). The 1922 penny is not in that survey; if it had been known in 1970 it most certainly would have been.

You are very likely correct about the inclusion of the 1922, due to the writer having found one! It appeared in VR Court's survey of 1972 (though he didn't find one) so was certainly known about then. I can actually picture the guide, which was genuinely pocket sized, a little taller, but narrower than a beermat. I've googled, but to no avail. Someone must remember?

That's great! It ties its discovery down to between 1970 and 1972. That's progress.

The first published reference I’m aware of for the 1922 rev of 1927 type penny is in David Sealy’s “Coin Varieties†column in the January 1970 issue of Coins, pages 32-33.

Hope this helps!

Best Regards,

InforaPenny

[declanwmagee 122]

Found an 1873 halfpenny in a stream I was playing in when I was about nine - sometime around 1977 I think...still got it, and only upgraded it the other month. Not for sale, and never will be, unlike every other coin I've upgraded since!

[Peckris 579]

I wish I'd not had a clear out of old books a few years back! While I'm not sure that 'Check your Change' (when it was 4" x 3" approx. in size and had a chessboard pattern on the front) listed it in the late 60's - early 70s, I do know that it was included in the competing pocket guide, whose name I have completely forgotten! Someone must have an old copy of this? Interestingly, from memory, it was the only variety of penny listed for the 20th century other than the H's and KN's. Strange I know. The guide was issued annually as a single volume, had a colour cover and was slightly smaller in size.

It definitely wasn't in C.Y.C. - that listed almost no varieties at all, except the H KN and ME (from memory). I'm not sure what the other guide is you refer to; I do have a 1968 colour booklet with prices, but it contains some terrible inaccuracies, the most notable of which is a failure to differentiate the copper and bronze issues of 1860!!! and it doesn't include the 1922. But I'm not sure the 1922 variety was widely known in the late 60s? As I say, it didn't feature in the main guides and catalogues of the time and wasn't mentioned in adverts, nor in Coin Monthly articles.

I'm absolutely certain it was listed in the other small pocket-sized price guide from the late 60s-early70s. Someone must remember it? The colour of the cover changed each year. I had an old copy until a few years ago but unfortunately had a clear out and it went

I'm a bit of a student of coin prices and price guides from the 60s onwards. If you should find out what this other guide was, I'd love to know. (You're not thinking of COINS & MARKET VALUES, are you? That was an A5 size booklet with a glossy cover, published by Link House - it was once the COINS & MEDALS annual, but became an independent guide possibly in the early 70s. That came out each year, and its prices were always quite modest compared to Seaby/Spink.)

If only I'd not thrown them away! This guide was slightly smaller than Check Your Change and about the same thickness. It was cheaper as only a single volume was needed, unlike CYC. I'm sure it was available in WH Smith. The two I owned had yellow and aquamarine covers with full colour coin photos on the front, but were monochrome inside. I had a feeling the name started with 'Know', as in Know your... money, change, coins, or whatever, though I may be wrong.

Curioser and curioser. You could barely get smaller than CYC which was tiny! It must have been small indeed. But I'm intrigued to know it included the 1922 rarity - I'm almost tempted to wonder if the guide was put together by someone who actually had one and wanted to give it more publicity? As I say, I don't recall ANY of the late 60s guides featuring it. The 1970 Coins & Medals Annual had a "Varieties since 1816" survey - pretty comprehensive on the basis of what was known at that time (i.e., the 1915 "close TT" farthing isn't there, nor the 1923 florin, nor - in spite of 4 varieties that are included - is the 1921 shilling with the pre-1920 obverse; on the other hand there are FOUR varieties of 1957 calm sea halfpenny). The 1922 penny is not in that survey; if it had been known in 1970 it most certainly would have been.

You are very likely correct about the inclusion of the 1922, due to the writer having found one! It appeared in VR Court's survey of 1972 (though he didn't find one) so was certainly known about then. I can actually picture the guide, which was genuinely pocket sized, a little taller, but narrower than a beermat. I've googled, but to no avail. Someone must remember?

That's great! It ties its discovery down to between 1970 and 1972. That's progress.

The first published reference I’m aware of for the 1922 rev of 1927 type penny is in David Sealy’s “Coin Varieties†column in the January 1970 issue of Coins, pages 32-33.

It was David Sealy who wrote the varieties article in the 1970 Coins & Medals Annual (full title "BRITISH COIN VARIETIES 1816-1968 (BRONZE 1895-1967)"). However, the annual must have been prepared and published towards the end of 1969. That means the 1922 variety must have come to light in the few weeks between preparation of the Annual, and writing the article for January 1970 issue of Coins (which itself must have been prepared by December 1969 at the latest).

I think that ties it down very closely indeed.

[Accumulator 52]

I wish I'd not had a clear out of old books a few years back! While I'm not sure that 'Check your Change' (when it was 4" x 3" approx. in size and had a chessboard pattern on the front) listed it in the late 60's - early 70s, I do know that it was included in the competing pocket guide, whose name I have completely forgotten! Someone must have an old copy of this? Interestingly, from memory, it was the only variety of penny listed for the 20th century other than the H's and KN's. Strange I know. The guide was issued annually as a single volume, had a colour cover and was slightly smaller in size.

It definitely wasn't in C.Y.C. - that listed almost no varieties at all, except the H KN and ME (from memory). I'm not sure what the other guide is you refer to; I do have a 1968 colour booklet with prices, but it contains some terrible inaccuracies, the most notable of which is a failure to differentiate the copper and bronze issues of 1860!!! and it doesn't include the 1922. But I'm not sure the 1922 variety was widely known in the late 60s? As I say, it didn't feature in the main guides and catalogues of the time and wasn't mentioned in adverts, nor in Coin Monthly articles.

I'm absolutely certain it was listed in the other small pocket-sized price guide from the late 60s-early70s. Someone must remember it? The colour of the cover changed each year. I had an old copy until a few years ago but unfortunately had a clear out and it went

I'm a bit of a student of coin prices and price guides from the 60s onwards. If you should find out what this other guide was, I'd love to know. (You're not thinking of COINS & MARKET VALUES, are you? That was an A5 size booklet with a glossy cover, published by Link House - it was once the COINS & MEDALS annual, but became an independent guide possibly in the early 70s. That came out each year, and its prices were always quite modest compared to Seaby/Spink.)

If only I'd not thrown them away! This guide was slightly smaller than Check Your Change and about the same thickness. It was cheaper as only a single volume was needed, unlike CYC. I'm sure it was available in WH Smith. The two I owned had yellow and aquamarine covers with full colour coin photos on the front, but were monochrome inside. I had a feeling the name started with 'Know', as in Know your... money, change, coins, or whatever, though I may be wrong.

Curioser and curioser. You could barely get smaller than CYC which was tiny! It must have been small indeed. But I'm intrigued to know it included the 1922 rarity - I'm almost tempted to wonder if the guide was put together by someone who actually had one and wanted to give it more publicity? As I say, I don't recall ANY of the late 60s guides featuring it. The 1970 Coins & Medals Annual had a "Varieties since 1816" survey - pretty comprehensive on the basis of what was known at that time (i.e., the 1915 "close TT" farthing isn't there, nor the 1923 florin, nor - in spite of 4 varieties that are included - is the 1921 shilling with the pre-1920 obverse; on the other hand there are FOUR varieties of 1957 calm sea halfpenny). The 1922 penny is not in that survey; if it had been known in 1970 it most certainly would have been.

You are very likely correct about the inclusion of the 1922, due to the writer having found one! It appeared in VR Court's survey of 1972 (though he didn't find one) so was certainly known about then. I can actually picture the guide, which was genuinely pocket sized, a little taller, but narrower than a beermat. I've googled, but to no avail. Someone must remember?

That's great! It ties its discovery down to between 1970 and 1972. That's progress.

The first published reference I’m aware of for the 1922 rev of 1927 type penny is in David Sealy’s “Coin Varieties†column in the January 1970 issue of Coins, pages 32-33.

It was David Sealy who wrote the varieties article in the 1970 Coins & Medals Annual (full title "BRITISH COIN VARIETIES 1816-1968 (BRONZE 1895-1967)"). However, the annual must have been prepared and published towards the end of 1969. That means the 1922 variety must have come to light in the few weeks between preparation of the Annual, and writing the article for January 1970 issue of Coins (which itself must have been prepared by December 1969 at the latest).

I think that ties it down very closely indeed.

That all sounds right. I just wish I could find out the name of, and get a copy of, the pocket guide I used to use as a lad back then. I only threw it away a few years ago!

[1949threepence 3,367]

I started collecting one hot Friday in early August 1990, when I received a GEF 1951 florin in my change. Very slow at first, but that sparked my interest in coins.

Difficult to identify a star coin though. Very difficult.