Search the Community

I would like to start a new and I think, important feed. I want to ask you to consider if we are losing out on greater understanding of coins in our collections because people are hesitant to be upfront about oddities, errors, over stamping, and other varieties? I have many examples of 1 type of strange coin in my collections it may be for example an 1860 penny where there is what appears to be an R under a B in BRITT. I sit around looking and looking for pieces to confirm this but hesitate to ask others. Am I hesitating because I want to be the first to find something and as a result miss out as a group activity to compare and share? If I look at a coin and see something odd I have a tendency either to pass it off as a singular error when it could be something others have seen. In the spirit of openness I would like to start to share my strange coins and hope that I do not upset anyone but undermining some economy associated with collecting, simply because I would hope think that we collect because of interest in the subject not just how much some coin is worth. I will begin with the 1846 shilling with three colons after REG :. The R under B in the 1860 penny the Possible B under R half penny 1862 could be just a die run but seemingly corresponding to the "strange sticky out bit" commonly seen on 1861 and 1862 half pennies in BRITT.

Hi everyone Apologies as you’ve probably been asked this a million times! I'm a fledgling collector as far as actually trying to get organised and care for my coins, but I’ve been collecting in a very loose sense for many years. Having read up a bit about it, I know I’m doing it all wrong! So I want to store things properly and get some real information on everything. Coins have always fascinated me, especially the old ones with a real life story in every scuff and mark. I’ve got a bit of everything at the moment, but nothing (as far as I know yet!) of any great value. Just a few small collections that I’ve picked up in jumble, and my own years of adding this and that to a pot... I’d like some advice on the best equipment to get for a beginnner watching their pocket, and I’d also like to know a second tier of storage for more protection that costs a bit more. I know to avoid PVC, to not clean your coins, to only touch the edges (only found that one out recently!) and that circulated coins operate in a whole different sphere to mint and proof coins in blocks and specialist cases. Nubim and lighthouse, pockets and pouches, acid-free and non-pvc... I’ve read a few forum threads and some websites, but there isn’t much straightforward advice for the enthusiastic beginner who wants to treat their coins as well as they can afford, and just wants some pointers I’ve probably got about 300 British coins 1700-modern, and another 100 of many different countries, and a couple of roman coins. One third reich 1943 ten pfennig coin, black with age and portent, which fascinates me. Also some presentation coins, a couple in hard plastic cases and one in a wallet. I’d like to keep everything together, and I’d love to be able to label them (I can do small, neat writing). Specifically, I’ve read a lot about not cleaning your coins, but the latest lot I got (for free from a chap clearing out a relative’s things) which had been stored in a coin bag, each ten or so wrapped in cling film, and they feel all sticky and have sticky-looking marks on them, which I think I should get off before they get damaged any further. Do I just do the distilled water 30-day soak, or use a cleaning cloth, or almething else? Are gloves necessary? Can you recommend a good starter book for reference?! Looking forward to some of your suggestions, and I’m excited at the thought of starting to collect more seriously. Thank you so much!

I'm new to coin collecting and i am still learning things here and there. I recently bought a proof 50p 'new pence'. When it arrived the coin was twice as thick as a standard 50p. Is the standard 'new pence' 50p twice as thick or have I bought a piedfort coin without realising? Or are all proof coins twice the thickness? Any information will be greatly appreciated.