coin watch

I'm certainly no expert with milled but could the 5 be over a 3? Great close up photo too! Also just out of interest you mention Baldwin, was there any other dealers from the UK at this fair?

We have been expecting you Mr Bond..... .....Come to think on it that's a very big positive for coin collecting, I'm not a fan of these RM issues but if it encourages new collectors...yeah I'm happy with that!

The thing that worries me a little is the value in coins especially with recent increases in values. With money value (cash) being ever decreasing it seems more likely to me that cash will (one day) eventually cease to exist, which makes sense to me as I think the eventual goal by 'government' is knowing everyones wealth. So with coins being a material wealth that can be contained in a small area I cant help but think this sort of regulation will come our way (UK) if it proves a success with regards to more control! Either I'm getting more paraniod as I get older or I just dont trust the 'powers that be'.......

Am I right in thinking that if such legislation is introduced for English coins then as a collector I would have to prove where I acquired my coin? and if I cant do that then I would have to 'hand it over' or if kept loose its value?....Blimey 70% of my whole collection does not hold an immediate provenance. I hope British politicians are coin collectors! If not then there goes another part of my freedom!

Hard work and stress!!!....The joys of a hammered coin collector! I know what you are saying here, I too have felt the same way with a number of coin purchases. I think its all part of the growing expectations of the 'next stage'....coins that perhaps were nice a few years back now look crap next to the latest up-grade. What the best...a couple of top quality coins or a collection of lesser grades!?...suppose the best way is to enjoy what you have in your collection, cos there will always be many others who would see a collection in a different way!

Seems as if the ebay 'snipers' are now targeting the dealers lists......beware the 'dealer list sniper'..... I too have noticed some coins selling at an amazing rate, as soon as the dealer shows a coin available its "sold" If you dealers are reading please list your coins in the evenings (uk time) please!!!

Thanks for that advice, I'll give it a try.

Interesting, thanks for that Chris. What I am trying to do is find a decent way of gaining a full image of a coin on a plain white background, I have thought of upgrading to a better scanner or maybe find a good camera to do the job. I'm not really that bothered about the extra zoom so maybe this one device is not for me. Some of the coin images on this forum are great, how do you get them done? at the moment I hold my coin under a desk lamp and use a digital camera with the close up function, though this takes a good true photo I would like a better way of getting the same done but on a plain background...Any suggestions?

Had a good look at one at the London fair last Saturday...........But I look forward to what your honest thoughts are on it

Although this is not my area I have seen many of these Northumberland 'fakes' and this looks like it may qualify as one, just going by the look of it would put me off. I'm sure the knowing members on here will clarify it. There always seems to be one for sale on the bay!! I think it must have been a mass production at one time for our far east friends!!!

What I have started to notice over the past decade of studying the hammered series of my choice is the amount of differing dies that were used for pretty much most issue types. Apart from a few rare types where the use of maybe one die gives that coin it's 'unique' scarcity there are many differing dies for each type. Like the A2 coin in question here, there are many A2 dies that must have been used with many very small subtle differences that can be seen if you study enough coins, the robes I have found to be one of the main contributing features that can vary hugely. Not that I'm saying this coin is genuine as it looks 'unusual' in the photo but I'm just pointing out that it seems with many dies used it would be very difficult for one person to say for definate it does not exist, maybe beter to say "not one I've seen before" A would agree with all thats been said with with regards to the differing tone on a hammered coin, with the difference in weight, size, flan-uneveness, edge splits and maybe the variant in silver content would all affect the ring tone.

Thanks for that. The Tower mint of Charles I is my main interest and from what I understand the museum holds a reasonable group of coins to browse, so a day out may be on it's way!

I have thought of doing a visit to this one but it seems the parking is limited, plus with the cost of rail travel it has always put me off. Do you know of any other low cost (or free) local parking near the museum?

I bet the owner of this Briot halfcrown was pleased it did not sell for the estimate of £50!

I'm sure they do, but I would not like to be the onwer who's item they might be gambling on! Or do they only gamble sell their own items for sale!?

LOL I saw the Lockdales entry and estimate too! But I was mean and only went up to £250. If I'd got it, I would have sold it on almost immediately! you wheeler dealer you!!

Mark Rasmussen has a website I have found Mark to be very helpful and knowledgeable. Many of his coins aren't photographed but his grading is generally conservative and he is happy to show you coins by appointment. Me too, Mark is an honest dealer in both his grading and prices, he has always found time for me. A few dealers are like this, while others serve your collecting needs with no thrills, but then like every thing else in life there are dealers who really don't give a !!!! I also use ebay at times....but thats a minefield!!

I think those seem only recently recognised as seriously scarce, so any example is a good investment. A decent provenance is always an attractive addition. The provenance of the shilling was nice too, but even if I had the money I just don't know if I could justify quite that much given I too have an acceptable example ... Although the Briot is roughly 15-20% over Spink prices, it is the same price as the one on the CNG site for $2450 which also has an excellent provenance (Cumberland Clark, H L Farquhar, Dupree, GS Hopkins and Pritchard), but is nowhere near as nice. The latter was in Lockdales about 18 months ago with a description of unlisted type in Spink and an estimate of £30-50. I bid £720, but it went to CNG for £800 or 820, can't remember which, so at least three people were awake. That one is worth £1K, not £1500, but the Morrieson, Lockett and Asherson one is a much better coin. I suspect it is also Murdoch 135, but can't prove it because it was bought by Spink and no provenance is given in the Morrieson catalogue. I wanted it for an example of the triangle over anchor mark to get away from shillings of which I have half a dozen. The design variation was also attractive. The mules are definitely commoner. I visited Barry Prichard just after his halfcrown sale and had a choice of this Briot or a 1a3 (went for the latter) I had an interest in the Briot purely because I almost purchased it a couple of years earlier for £1,200 from Baldwin. I too noticed the mess-up Lockdales made on it's listing, I put in a cheeky £600 and hoped no one else would notice...but alas!! I have to say I think the 'book' price for these coins are somewhat low in comparison, infact I think the price was lowered a few years back, maybe because of the bargain Adams sale! Not interested in any Briots now!

I can second all that's said here. This mentioned shilling was the very same coin sold at auction in 1991 as a part lot with another shilling for a hammer price of £95 for the two, given the description with the lot I would say maybe £70 for this coin. So twenty years later add a zero!!!!.....Wow now that is something to think on, also will this continue or will a coin like this still cost £700 in another twenty years! this is the sort of thing that concerns me, I love the idea of collecting and buying if need be an expensive coin but then I also like to think I may also get a decent return if need be. Tom your fears mentioned have already happened to me! so it's a tight purse for me now unless my luck changes

I'm hoping there maybe one to examine at the Prinz publications table at the London fair on Saturday. If any good then Chris's price seems more attractive! I see they are readily available on the bay for about £180. What I haven't see is the nice cradle that appears on Chris's link, don't know if that included. I'm hoping this might be an easy and more improved way of gaining a good close up coin image. At the moment I still hold a coin under a good light and use my camera which takes a good close up but then I'm left with all the surroundings to crop, too time consuming plus I have a crap scanner, so this might be the answer though a tad expensive!

It really depends on what you find of interest, and when you do eventually find that interest it will then be down to the next stage of whether you can afford to pursue what you want, and the most important bit it being worthwhile, you dont want to get bored a few years down the line and end up selling a collection for a just a part it's outlay! So be focused I'd say! As to "Are you a man" well I was the last time I looked (though my wife may differ!) and "with a plan" well I like to think so

Plus what they do have needs some serious work! This for example is as any fule kno a coin. Rather tricky to search for specific items on that basis! Agreed it's a poor image, that's why a visit is well worth it. Sometimes making an effort for a visit like the BM makes the hobby an altogether better experience. Photos are still not just the answer even with the digital age!

I have been twice and found it a good experience and fairly pleasent. The room is one collective large table enough to seat around 12 people, on both my visits I was in there with only one other person which I found better for privacy plus and more important you get the attention of the ever present attendant, this is important if you are looking through a number of coin trays because each tray is scanned before presented to you and as you will only be allowed one tray at a go this tends to take up some time, baring in mind the max time window will be 3 hours this could loose you study time if waiting around for others to be seen to, so I would suggest to try and book a day that is fairly free, if possible. You can only take in very limited items, coats and bags are a no-no and have to be left in the cloak room before entering, beside this plus if you can deal with several cameras focused on you at all times it really is a good experience and well worth it. I had to make a second visit as the first I just about got through viewing what I wanted to see, when I went again I had a better idea what I wanted to see and made more time to make notes. Apart from the coins there is also a mass of references to see if required. Having said this I do beleive the BM will eventually be listing more items online, but how long this will take??

I'm hoping there maybe one to examine at the Prinz publications table at the London fair on Saturday. If any good then Chris's price seems more attractive!

I think 90% of 'money' these days is virtual with the remainder of the cash being constantly devalued, so buy what you like (just watch out for virtual debt!)