aleroit2000

Hi, some days ago I saw a Tv movie based on the adventuer of Hornblower. In a scene he wea playing cards and when he won, another man paid him with some "papers" (or something that seem to be..). In another scene he had to pay the house and his girlfriend said to her mother thath he had just paid her an "half cown". So I'm asking: as the movie was in 1803, there were at the time banknotes or similar? And there were half crowns? As it were before the Great Recoinage? If yes, what was the face value? Becouse at the time there wasnt' yet the pound, but the Guinea, valued 21 shillings... Thanks (and forgive my bad enlglish... )

possible or impossible?

Can I ask why unlikely? I dont'n know as well as i wouuld Great Britain, so I'd be interested in this. I live in Italy and the only negative thing of the euro is that some (much?) prices increased. But having a "strong" currency and using the same in Italy or France, or Germany or Spain or Finland is great. Well, it's also true that here in Italy we had a "little" currency, the "lira", without the story (and the value) of the pound....

I'd like to know what do you think about... bye Alex

I can't edit previous message, and there are some mistakes.... Probably the "realest" is the fourth, but I think that the second HAS an "I-don't-know-what" that mAkes it very good (IMHO). bye

Well, I was spoking from a numisamtic-artistic point of view. I think that on coins a portrait is (or not) "good" for a lot of reasons. Probably the "realest" is the fourth, but I think that the second as an "I-don't-know-what" that mekes it very good (IMHO). And I think that nort always on coins a real portrait is the better. I.G. on Vatican euro coins, the portrait of pope John Paul II was very real, but, perhaps for this reason, I dont' like it.

Hi, in the next months, will be struck two new commemorative coins. The first will be the 2 euros, bimetallic, that will commemorate the artist Pablo Picasso and probably will be struck in may. In the next monts will be struck also a silver commerative 12 euros coin, dedicated to Christopher Columbus. Here there's a first image. Bye alex

Hi, Here there's the photo of the coin. About the metals, are the ones of the 2 euros coins: outer: cupr-nickel inner: nickel - brass diameter: 25.75 mm weight: 8.50 gr.

Hi, on feb. 10th there will be the new commemorative 2 euros for the XX winter Olimpic Games in Torino. I know that in Great Britain euros are not "well seen", but I think it's nice... What do you think? 2euros Torino Bye Alex

Yes, it will be struck for circulation... Probably in 40.000.000 pieces!

Hi, yesterday I found this penny in a coin stand here in Italy, and I bought it. What do you think about it? What about the conservation? I bought it becouse here is not very easy to find british coins, and when you find them, there are absurd prices... Well, I'm awaiting for your comments... best regards Alex

Hi, I can tell you that according my italian coin book, the 120 grana coin is 37mm diameter and 27.53 gr. But I think that this coin is quite.... strange.... letters of the obverse are "strange", and also the "120" on the reverse. How is the edge? It should be "PROVIDENTIA OPTIMI PRINCIPIS"

Well, I paid it 7 euros, more or less 4,75 pounds. But consider that normally common pennies of ElizabetII or George V or VI cost not less than 3 - 4 euros (and not in Unc!)... Some times ago I found a 1919KN penny in a shop, not very better than this, for 25 euros! Prices of brit. coins in Italy are absourds!

Well, it would be very strange to find a 1863 italian coin minted in Rome, as until 1871 Rome wasn't italian, but was the capital of the Papal State.... Actually, the 1863 coin was minted in Paris and there aren't mintmarks. In theese years there were mints in Turin (mintmark "T"), Florence ("F"), Milan ("M" and Naples("N"). And coins were also minted in Birmingham Rome became the only italian mint only in 1892. Bye and Happy 2006

Hi, I'd like to know if anyone knows why as in predecimal coins the year date was always on the reverse, in decimal coins (except 20pence and 2 pounds) the year is on the obverse, with the titles of the Queen. It'a a "case" or there is a particular reason? Many thanks and Happy 2006!!! Alex - Italy

Hi, you have a 10 Tornesi, a copper coin of the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (south of Italy). This Kingdom was established after the Wien congress in 1815, unifing the two old kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, that until 1815 were separeted kingdoms but with the same king (from the family of Burbon). The kingdom was conquisted by the Piedmont army and united to the Kingdom of Sardinia (Savoy family) in 1860, that in 1861 changed name in Kingdom of Italy. I can tell you an indicative value, but could you please tell me the year and the condition (conservation) of the coin? regards

Ok, thanks! the address is the one in the first messagge? If not, please send me it by PM regards Alessandro

Hi Chris, a question: this "cash offer" is available also from/to Italy (in euros currency) or only with the UK? If so, I'd be interested, if not.... no problem! let me know best regards Alessandro

Many thanks at everybody! You're Great!

Hi, what do you think about this coin? Isn't "too" lustre?.... But I don't know well this kind of coins, so I ask you..... Farthing Thanks for any comment Aless

Hi everyone! First of all, forgive my bad english! I've now decided to begin to collect decimal coins, from 1968-1971 to nowadays. As I'm italian and will result dificult to me to find single coins, what do you think is better. collect, and buying, single coins or is better buying mint folders (expecilly for the last years, where there are a lot of commemoratives)? Many thanks

well Sede vacante is a medal as we can call medals every coin that is struck to commemorate somethinh or someone but that's not intended for circulation... I prefer too coins that are struck for circulation and that you can find them in circulation..... e.g. I'm interested in euro o pound coins only for circulation and I simply ignore silver, golden, platinum... commemoratives..... But in a strickly point of view I think that Sede vacnte can't be considered a medal (also becouse there are papal or Sede Vacante medals...); it's only a commemorative silver coin not intended for circulation... bye Alex

Well, as you could imagine, here in Italy the new Pope and the name are the news of the day, of the week, of the year....... and there are also tv programmes that explains the coorect order of names, of papacy etc, etc..... e.g. according to recent studies it seems that Pope John Paul II was the 262nd Pope (starting from St. Peter), but hi papacy was the 264th, couse there was a Pope that reigned 3 times..... very complicated....... According to the name, it's considered the first "programme declaration" of the elected pope, so there will be differences if the name will be John Paul, or John, or Paul, or Benedictus, or Pius, or Leo etc..... anyway, I think we don't have to avait so much..... today there will be the "Extra omnes" (anybody out) and in the next days there will be the white smoking and the "habemus papam" (we have the pope) and we'll know the name of the new pope.....

You bought a liras set or a euro set? Can I ask you how much you paid it? Now the only sure news about Sede vacante coins is that "probably" they will be struck..... And probably in the next months (when there will be the new Pope..... - a nonsense..... ). Yesterday in Vatican were emitted the new Sede vacante stamps series..... in any case, when the coin (or the coins....) will be struck, the only way to obtain it will be: 1: avait more or less 12 hours out of the Vatican coin shop in Rome; 2: have a special account, as vatican coins collector; (that is very difficult to obtain.....) 3: buy it (or them) in a normal coin shop with a price that is 10 times the Vatican prices; 4: be an important cardinal or a relative of the new Pope..... Bye... Alex

Yes, but this is couse vatican euro coins have a quite low mintage and are all "sell" in official and proof sets....... I remember some years ago, when I was in Rome, when i bought in Vatican shops they gave me the change in vatican liras... The Sede Vacante has always be (since 1939) a "commemorative" coin. The problem is that now is very difficult to buy or obtain vatican coins and when it will be struck probably it will be available only in coins shops, whit fool prices. Anyway, I've read in the newspaper that the cardinals have decided to struck some "sede vacante" stamps and the classical coin. But they haven't decided yet when... On the other hand, it seems that at the end of april will'be emitted the programmed 2005 official set with Pope John Paul II. If is so, the new Pope will appear on coins only in the next year... If I'll have more information I'll write in the forum Ciao