1949threepence

Hi Huss, In addition to what Derek has said, I've noted a typo under "Buy from listings with clear pictures" ~ on the last line of that, I think you mean "hoped", rather than "hopped". I might also add about about watching for shill bids in auctions. Other than that, a very good & comprehensive guide.

For what it's worth, I'm not convinced that the highest grade coins are always the rarest, which means that pricewise what middle grade coins there are tend towards the unc rather than the fine price. I think however that this rule of thumb applies to coins in which the overall supply is strictly limited - the 1918KN penny and 1946/49 threepences being good examples. With the reasonably common Victorian pennies where mid-grade coins are abundant, the opposite applies. I certainly agree that a mid grade 1918KN, for example, is going to fetch a lot more, pro rata, than a mid grade 1893. The overall rarity of the coin comes sharply into focus when set against low grade price/demand vs mid grade price/demand. Mid grade being about VF, I think we'd all say.

That's going a bit far Peter! A genuine VF 18KN should fetch £25 or so - there must be MANY collectors who want "above average" but can't afford EF or higher, and would cheerfully pay that. And I'd say the VF 1893 should at least be a few quid too. I think you're being too pessimistic. If you're not, then I will happily pay 99p to buy a GVF 1918KN off you You'd get a lot more than that for a genuinely VF 1918KN.

I agree with most of the other replies on the thread. I'd also point out something more or less alluded to, and that is the importance of grade. What emerges with rare dates like 1919KN pennies or 1946/49 threepenny bits, is that whilst it is relatively easy to pick up well worn examples very cheaply, the gradient in value between those cheap specimens, and their BU counterparts at the other end of the spectrum for the same year type, is incredibly steep. Obviously that suggests massive rarity at the higher and especially, highest grades In your case, that would be much more the case for the 1918KN, than for the much commoner 1893. Condition is definitely the key factor. To be honest, 1918KN pennies in anything more than NVF, are as rare as hens teeth. The overwhelming majority pulled from circulation in the 1960's were good to fine only.

And if you use any obscure WORD that' in a dictionary, a dictionary run against your password will crack it fairly quickly. Ok, I'm now going to GIVE AWAY my (non) patented system that is foolproof (I believe). 1. Think up a pass phrase or long name that contains roughly half the letters of the alphabet (e.g. THE QUICK BROWN FOX ... but don't use that!!!) Commit this to memory and don't ever tell a soul or write it down. 2. Come up with something easy to remember, such as your name (e.g. "John Thompson") 3. Use the pass phrase, whose letters turn into numbers starting with 0 (T=0 H=1 E=2 Q=3 U=4 I=5 C=6 K=7 B=8 R=9 O=10 W=11 N=12 F=13 X=14 in the example I gave), to encipher your chosen password. Under that system, "John Thompson" converts to "J10112@0110mps1012" (I've used @ to represent the space, but you can pick any character) It sounds unwieldy, and is, the first few times you use it. The more you use it, the more you come to learn what the numbers are in your pass phrase and the process becomes instinctive. The great thing about it is, you can write down a password hint, e.g. "full name" and even someone who knows your name won't be able to crack what it converts to. And even knowing the length of your name won't help them, as some letters convert to two-digit numbers, so the length of the password won't be the same as the name. So, for the cost of slightly time-consuming conversion, especially when you first start using it, you will be able to write down strong password hints, secure in the knowledge that someone who understands the hint still won't be able to crack your password. And yes, I use this system. And no, you can't know what my pass phrase is! I like it, Peck, and may well adopt it. Given that a combination system is obviously the most difficult to crack. Your system would have kept Bletchley Park busy during WW2 ~ sort of like the Enigma variations (except no Elgar in evidence) ~ if you see what I mean

Not at all a rant, rather a very interesting and thought provoking post.

In the eighties we were on a rugby tour based on the West Coast of Scotland...they locked us in There might be a few half English roses up there...we all did our bit I still get the xmas card and a big grin she is now probally a 20 stone munter ....I could and would of married her...then I met Mrs Irish Peter I know we are gradually drifting off topic but do you ever show your collection to other collectors or are we all a bunch of Billy no mates when it comes to coin collecting. Billy no mates here. For one thing, there's no local coin club in my area. Maybe even more pertinently, I don't know of anyone among either friends, family or colleagues who has the remotest interest in coin collecting. I have tried to talk to my girlfriend about it, but her eyes just glaze over. So it's just me, dealers, e bay and this forum As far as insurance is concerned, I haven't bothered with it. I have discovered a very effective hiding place for my coins. If burglars broke in, they'd have to be seriously bloody good and have a lot of time, to find it. Although if they broke in while I was in the house, then I could potentially be placed in the same horrible situation as the collector described by DaveG38, earlier. Sadly, the law dictates that householders are largely impotent when it comes to self defence measures against intruders ~ that really is off topic so I'll shut up and get back in my box

I agree. The designs are very shallow indeed! Some of the Designs are really quite good I think. I rather like the Archery Design. As for the majority of the rest of them, I could take them or leave them personally. Although I do think that the designs suffer being on the new smaller and lighter 50p coins and they may have been more fitting and better looking on the larger sized 50p coins. Totally agree with that sentiment. A more pronounced reverse design, on a larger surface area would have helped IMO. I don't run with this idea of releasing coins "out of year". Releasing circulation coins the year before they are dated is, I suppose, in line with the same principle as selling year books or annuals the year before the one they are intended for. Not keen though. On the same theme, I'm wondering why we are only just seeing the business strike 2009 technology £2 coins ~ December 2010. Not seen one before this month, but now three in the last week.

Thereby disrespecting both the coin and potential buyer. Not good.

Those finger prints can actually be over a century old, though. You can't necessarily attribute them directly to mistreatment by dealers and collectors over the years. Same applies to carbon spots etc.

Some collectors will have a mix of date runs and types. The point is, there are no rules when it comes to personal collections. Just whatever suits at the time.

Have a very happy birthday, Bob

Ive never seen either of the 2008 olympic varieties. So you were lucky to get them. Does anybody know if any 2009 £2 were issued for circulation ? I don't think I've seen any so far. Hi Scott, I can confirm that 2009 £2s were issued as I got a pristine example in my change on Saturday. Maybe they are only just seeing the light of day. Yes, I've just received a technology 2009 in pure UNC as well.

No colon dots after F:D. Peck 1623a, Gouby 1860 Type T. Took me ages to realise though. I didn't realise, either.

h***i's bid, with one second to spare, has to have been a previously laid snipe. He couldn't possibly have had time to make a manual over bid with just 3 seconds to spare. Bet he's cursing that other late very high bid edit: Well done

I've actually only bought one slabbed coin, and I did break that out of the slab, in order to place it in my cabinet. Don't much like slabs, and as Tom says, they take up too much space, are not storage friendly, and you can't handle them. That said, I did agree with the MS grading description of the coin I bought.

When I decided to become a type rather than a date collector I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Until I realised the particular ball and chain that comes with that. You see, a type collector must have each 'type' in as high a grade as possible. James II or George I silver, anyone? I think the problem for me started when I was a child and collected Brooke Bond tea cards. The difficulty was that once you had the album you had to have the set. What was the use of a nearly complete album? And so it is with me for coins - I have to have the date run!! I think the moment of illumination for me was when I finally completed my date run of 20th Century halfcrowns. I sat there staring at absolutely identically unattractive George VI UNC silver halfcrowns and Elizabeth II 1950s halfcrowns, and I thought "So what?" I have kept the pre-1937 halfcrowns, though I'm tempted to farm out a few of the George V, but since then, the only date run I've been remotely interested in is bronze pennies. Yeah, there's just something about the bronze penny series that in a sense, marks them out as distinct from all others. They really hit the spot, don't they.

I'd really enjoy skimming through some old coin mags from the 1960's or even earlier. Must try and buy some at a coin fair. Nowadays we could do with a decent mag that is more technical and less lightweight (for want of better words). I have to admit, I'm not much of a one for letters pointing to border teeth, as you need a magnifying glass to even see them. I do, however, like some varieties, such as wide and narrow dates. But minor differences in obverse/reverse combinations, don't do it for me,

As it encompasses my current speciality,I might well buy it fairly soon.

I agree with you Tom, but I'm still eagerly awaiting the mintage for business strike Charles Darwin £2 coins. I actually got one in my change, as I have 3 of the 4 2002 Commonwealth Games £2.00 coins.

Well done on the 1995, Rob. I think I might well have been tempted with £30 for the BU 2002 Commonwealth Games set.

Like others, I'm not convinced by insurance, especially when it comes to adequate documentation and valuation. But there is a specialist collector's insurance company, based in Exeter, here

No worries, Boomstick, pleased to have been of assistance. I've re-found the link, posted on here by Rob, I think, a few months ago, to a specialist collector's insurance company based in Exeter ~ here

Took my young daughter to a Walsall Ipswich match, he got subbed walked past the Walsall fans and without any justification gestured with his hand towards the Walsall fans, right in front of my daughter If they had been giving him a load of stick then maybe.....but he is supposed to be the professional... it just really wound me up!!! Sounds a bit childish and petulant. Nothing excuses such behaviour.

I'm not an Arsenal supporter but I would much rather see the menacing scowl and steam coming out of Roy Keane's ears. I have nothing special against the Tractor Boys, just their manager. Well, to be totally honest with you, I don't like him much either. I remember him as a Man U player. Dirty, bad tempered and aggressive. Not a likeable guy, frankly. But if he can get long term results, then we can pass over all that.