Woodsman

Well I wasn't 'online' for the last bids of the Queen Elizabeth sixpence but as a consolation prize ended up with this 19mm threepence;

You mean I could've had a bash at a second example of a 2 in legend? You mean.........it wasn't you that bought it??? Yes, bit of a slip up there on my part! Looks like they had the 'l' in 1565 unfortunately....

If I come across any decent fakes I'll definitely put pics up here - good to spread the word on them before someone with similar knowledge of them as myself (ie close on none ) gets suckered! If I do get the sixpence, I'll stick pics up over the weekend. Now.... off to the woods 2 hours late....

Well, I'm a long way removed from knowing real from fake coins but I do believe that if something is too good to be true, it probably isn't true and also this little baby seems to be up for 24hrs only to be sold which seems an unlikely way to sell a good coin for a decent price http://www.ebay.ie/itm/British-Silver-Elizabeth-Sixpence-coin-/261226891350 What do you think?

Not a rare coin but not in a decent condition either, particularly the obverse which is quite flat. This isn't an issue/date/type that is known for forgeries or modern copies, so suggest it is real. At a few Euros buy it, you can't lose. No, no convincing copies of sixpences at all (not hammered, at least), shillings and groats, mostly! Looks good to go to me! I must look on the PC tomorrow because I speculated on the basis of one coin that maybe somebody lost the 'L' punch on an obverse I had, and used a 2 instead! This is definitely a different obverse (I think...will check tomorrow), yet another 2 for L in Elizabeth? Edit: incidentally, when I spoke to Chris Comber about the 2 in legend, he believed it also to be a 2 (it's dimensions were exact to microns with the reverse 2 in date), and that he had never seen it before. This certainly looks like coin number 2? I've appreciate a good image if you're going for it woodsman, otherwise I'll have a go myself? Ha ha, should have kept my mouth shut then....!!!! Yeah, I'm going to bid on it alright, probably would have put in something if it was fake too as it's something I need to learn more about anyway. If I do end up with it I'll scan it and put up pics here anyway. Thanks for the opinions on it

Hi folks, Apologies in advance if what I'm asking is either a)dumb or b)has been asked a million times already! This coin is my first 'hammered' and since buying it I've realised that there is more to this than meets the eye and by all accounts a lot of coins sold via a certain auction site are not what they seem.... As far as I'm aware this is an Edward 1 penny, Durham mint. I've tested it with those wee rare earth magnets and the response suggests that it it silver (def not steel or pewter anyway!). As these seem to be in the more common and less expensive type of hammered coins around, are there many modern fakes of them around and if so, what should I be looking for?

Uh oh, I've just checked out your website too Clive and am now drooling over the keyboard I think I may have to indulge in one or two medievals..... As an aside, this seems to be a great forum to pick up trustworthy sellers of coins who are genuinely interested in their stock. Just got some small bits from Chris today and he put in more than I ordered because of the cost of postage, that's not something that has happened to me very often! As a newish to buying coins person (who was getting a bit disheartened reading about all the 'chancers' out there), this forum/website is very encouraging so thanks all, take a bow.

Thanks Clive. I read somewhere that the 10cf date around 1309/10? If so, presumably Edward 1 coins were minted for a number of years after his death?

Looks like Peter's been on the poet juice again! But welcome Woodsman! It'll be fun to hear how you get on with the detector. And if you find any shillings of Charles I you want ID'd, I'll be happy to help! Thanks Tom, no such luck yet....! I'm becoming a bit of an expert on 1970's rotting 2p pieces though... Best so far has been some musket balls (some rifled) and a lovely 1870 silver French 2 francs

Hi folks, just joined up after finding you! I've had a coin collection for years (40!!) but all relatively common - mostly 20th century foreign and coppers from 1766 onwards (oldest ones well worn and found digging the garden over the years). Recently got a metal detector with my son and now both gone mad on coins again.... In our ignorance we've bought coins on ebay including some roman bronzes, and edward silver penny and a bronze coin of Azes II plus some more regular ww1 era coins (inc pow camp token). Now I realise just how out of my depth I am with older coinage as regards fakes. Best chance I have so far is with the small rare earth magnets to rule out pewter fake silvers and the bronze drachm and a roman silver have come from dealers so (hopefully...) are real deal. Condition of the roman bronzes (and commonness) suggests they too are real so the one I'm 90% on is the Edward 1 penny (Durham) - it's not pewter or steel anyway according to the magnets...! So, looking forward to learning from the forum and checking out what's for sale here and knowing it's authentic! For me, it's not the value of the coin and I actually like some wear on them as I find the whole connection with history quite breathtaking!

Ok, thanks - good to know about the lack of modern fakes for this! Re the magnet and pewter - you're right of course that pewter isn't magnetic at all. I tried the coin at 45 degree thing and it's amazing the difference - on pewter, the small magnet slides off like the proverbial rat down the aquaduct whereas on silver (some other metals too unfortunately!) the magnet slides down much slower (some sort of temporary effect on certain metals) so while it doesn't confirm silver, it does rule out magnetic metal (ie steel) and completely non magnetic (eg pewter) - works really well on high silver content coins, quite well on this edward penny and not so well on a late roman coin (bought from a reputable supplier) because I think maybe by this stage the romans were scrimping on their silver a bit! Re the spelling of Durham - unfortunately the edge is quite worn at that point and I can't make it out. Thanks a lot for the help!

Thanks for the welcome folks!