DaveG38

I may be misunderstanding here, but are you saying that the 'L' to a bullet is the rare type? If so, then there have been several on ebay lately, the best being a pretty much UNC one for £24. Are you sure it isn't the 'L' to a space type that's the rare one? In fact, I haven't found a specimen with the 'L' to a space! DaveG38

First of all, many thanks for the support from forum members and for the kind offers of help. At this stage, I am not sure what might be needed, but I will certainly approach the forum as necessary. However, there is one area where I would appreciate some advice, perhaps from 'HistoricCoinage,' and that is in the area of the structure and layout for the book. This project is not entirely a twinkle in my eye as I have been thinking about it for some months now and have already put finger to keyboard. Progress is as follows: 1) Title - I have decided to call it 'British 20th Century Coin Varieties.' 2) I have identified from my 6 main sources all the reported varieties that I can find. 3) I have sorted out all those that I have examples of and am on the lookout for the remainder. 4) I have more or less sorted out the overall structure for the book. 5) I have designed a standard layout for the individual sections, which I hope is useable for readers. 6) Have written about 35 pages covering pre-decimal Elizabeth II and George VI bronze. The area where I would like some advice is number 5), where a fresh pair of eyes and brain might be useful in order to ensure that I have the best layout and approach. If anybody is willing to look at a section of the book, say the Elizabeth II farthings and let me have comments then that would be really helpful. It goes without saying that all such help will be acknowledged in the book as will any other inputs made by forum members e.g. photographs etc. Regards. DaveG38

Chris, Many thanks for the reply. I agree with you that its better to be safe than sorry rather than discover that I have infringed copyright when its too late. Oh well, another task or two to add to all the others!!! As to publishing, it will be done by me personally - I have published a poetry book for my other half already and the process is pretty easy. The tricky part is the marketing, but I do see options for me for the coin book. What I am impressed with is the quality of self published material these days. Its gone a long way from the days when all you could do is staple together the pages!!!! What's it about? Put simply, 20th century varieties. Lots of commentators mention them, but often describe them differently or don't include them all. What I am going to attempt is to reconcile them, with lots of photos from my personal collection - I've got most of them, but not all. Don't know how long it will take - probably a year or so. Regards. DaveG38

What about this one then - or am I missing something here? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/World-War-II-Collect...1QQcmdZViewItem DaveG38

I don't know which coins were treated with hypo and whether any other treatments were used in the past, so I am afraid I don't know whether the 1918 farthings were darkened in this way. However, hypo has been around for a long time, so I wouldn't be surprised to find it was used. It's also traditionally used for 'fixing' in black and white photography, and this goes back to the earliest photos in the 19 century. DaveG38

Hi, Hypo is correctly known as Sodium Thiosulphate. It comes in crystalline form as colourless water soluble crystals and coins will have been treated with a solution rather than in any other form. Its chemical formula is Na2S2O3. Its effect in darkening coins is to produce a layer of sulphide on the surface of bronze coins. Copper Sulphide is black - hence the darkening on the surface. Hope this helps. DaveG38

I have had this problem myself and my solution, which has always worked, is to use non-coloured methylated spirits dabbed on very gently with a fine tissue and then very carefully blotted or wiped off. It has even worked on the highly polished fields of a proof coin, with no ill effects. Even wiping fairly firmly has no effect when examined under 15X magnification, so I would recommmend this approach. DaveG38

Chris, I have never found the other one that I want (but haven't looked very hard), hence my enquiry. As I understand it, Davies reports two types equally common as numbers: 2300 and 2301. The difference is quoted as being in the thickness of the letters C and H in CHURCHILL (not sure if its the first or second or both). Michael Satzman quotes them as being small loop and large loop to the R in Churchill. I'm assuming that these are the same varieties described in different ways, and that there aren't four altogether!! DaveG38

I too want a Churchill Crown! Before you all rush to offer me yours, or send for the men in white coats, I actually want the variety which has a larger loop to the R in CHURCHILL. As far as I can judge, my one, given to me when I was a kid, is the small loop variety. Anybody got one? I appreciate it means a tedious chore of checking through stock, so am prepared to pay a reasonable price plus postage. The two types are reported to be equally common, so it shouldn't be too hard to find. The problem I have with ebay is assessing the coin shown since the photos are often not good enough or else a stock photo is put up, in which case I can't be sure of getting the right one. Many thanks. DaveG38

Couldn't agree more about this particular 'coin.' On a slightly different subject what do people think of the new 2008 Elizabeth I crown? I don't usually like modern coins made for profit by the mint, but I have to say that this one, particularly in the proof form, is very appealing. What does the panel think?

Gary, I'm now confused and bewildered (my usual state). Are you saying that there is the common flat neck variety of 1911, plus two hollow necks, one of which is rare and the other much more common? If so, do you know how these correlate to the I of IMP types mentioned by Salzman? My guess is that these are the same as two of the types above, just identified in different ways. Or have I missed something here? Also, my copy of Freeman (1985) mentions hollow neck varieties on 1912 coins - anybody seen one? DaveG38

Hi, This variety is not especially new. It is mentioned in Michael G Salzman's book entitled 'A Handbook of Modern British Coins and Their Varieties.' My copy of this runs up to 1970 and from the looks of it its a mid-70s publication. Unfortunately some idiot removed the title pages, so it has no publication date. The ISBN is 0 9508457 0 1. Interestingly, Salzman describes the varieties as 1) Hollow Neck, I of IMP to a space and 2) No hollow neck, I of IMP to border tooth. He also classifies them as Common and very common respectively, which is clearly at odds with Michael Gouby's assessment of rarity. Also, of course Michael Gouby describes them by reference to the I in BRITT, but as far as I can judge they are the same two varieties as Salzman mentions. This variety is also reported in Collector's coins 1990 and 1998, but not in Collector's coins 2007 - not sure why Chris left it out of the later edition. Hope this helps. DaveG38

They've obviously been on this site and found my earlier post about a 20p piece where the queen is wearing a bluetooth mobile phone, and liked it so much the're going to use it. I'm so excited, and looking forward to fame and fortune!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DaveG38

Nice coin, but to me this looks like Obv 1 Rev A. Obv 1 has the I of BRITT pointing to a bead, whilst Rev A has the I of FID pointing to a space. These seem to be the conclusions from the pointings of this coin. However, it could be that the pointing isn't absolutely clear from the photos. Info by the way from the 'Micheal Coins' web site. Mmm your right it is 1+A, I've got my : and I confused. Michael Goulby uses I to space / bead and Davies : after FID to space / bead. Oh well never mind 1+A is still as rare as hens teeth and must be worth £100+ Gary, Sorry to have pointed out the error, but as you say, still a very nice coin and pretty rare, so a good deal. A bit of a cheek I know, but would you object to my making use of the photographs you posted in something I am currently thinking of putting together. That sounds a bit mysterious I know, but until I am sure I want to undertake this task, I would rather not commit myself on paper or screen! Until I am sure, I am just collecting material in the meantime, just in case. If you are not agreeable I quite understand.

Nice coin, but to me this looks like Obv 1 Rev A. Obv 1 has the I of BRITT pointing to a bead, whilst Rev A has the I of FID pointing to a space. These seem to be the conclusions from the pointings of this coin. However, it could be that the pointing isn't absolutely clear from the photos. Info by the way from the 'Micheal Coins' web site.

I have just purchased a 1839 quarter farthing in EF condition, with the intention of selling my existing one, which is of a lesser grade. However, before I do so, does anybody know of any varieties of this particular coin, and if so, what the differences are? I haven't found any in any of my books, but I do seem to remember seeing some reported differences on the Colin Cooke site. Thanks. DaveG38

You have copies of Bramah and Batty!!! If ever you get the urge to sell let me know I have been looking for ages without success I know my luck I will buy one the day before it is scanned into google books!! The 4 volumes of Batty sold on ebay for £357 finishing last weekend. Unfortunately I got waylaid and didn't get a bid in. Many thanks to Bronze and Copper collector for the information from Batty. I've checked my two coins and both are identical and show none of the characteristics of the varieties shown. So I guess I'll have to sell the lower grade one. Once again many thanks for the info. DaveG38

Dave, I seem to remember there being a variety where the pearl numbers on the crown were different, but I cannot find reference to it at the moment. Eleven pearls either side of the crown is the norm. If I find the reference I will let you know. Thanks Colin, any help gratefully received. DaveG38

I can't find it, but I am sure I have seen this one before on the forum? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EXCELLENT-ELIZABETH-...1QQcmdZViewItem Am I right or is it my eyesight?

What do you think of the new style, modernised Queen's portrait? On this 20 pence coin, she's got warts and is using a bluetooth!! See the url below

To be fair, it was me that alerted them, and I made it pretty impossible for them to be in any doubt that it was a con. As I pointed out, how can two separate auctions be selling the same coin as lot 568 from the Glendining Auction on 11 May 1954! Even ebay couldn't get that one wrong..... or could they? Mmmmm.... Was the coin the actual one in Parsons' sale i.e a worn 1697 crown 3rd bust, 2nd harp with a NONO edge? It is illustrated in the Parsons catalogue despite its grade. The coin is this one, which sold on ebay a couple of days ago. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VERY-RARE-WILLIAM-II...1QQcmdZViewItem Looks like the one you mentioned.

To be fair, it was me that alerted them, and I made it pretty impossible for them to be in any doubt that it was a con. As I pointed out, how can two separate auctions be selling the same coin as lot 568 from the Glendining Auction on 11 May 1954! Even ebay couldn't get that one wrong..... or could they? Mmmmm....

Hi All, Fraud alert - see the link below. From the description, this item was sold for £2051 on 12 August on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VERY-RARE-WILLIAM-II...1QQcmdZViewItem There's no picture, the description matches the sold item, and the seller has no feedback - the item is also starting at 99p and no location is given! With all this against it, I can't believe anybody would be taken in by this one, but you never know. DaveG38

On a more serious note, has anybody got some quality photos of the satin churchill crown for comparison with the common type? I'm not suggesting that the idiot in this story has one, but to me the normal crown looks satin like - horrible, but satiny. If so can they post a pic - you never know any one of mine might be a £600 one - ho ho!!!

Yes, but it went for only $2.76, so nobody was really fooled this time. How could they be with a photo like that? DaveG38