PhilipC

Yes Spink have told me they will be producing an "English Gold Coins" book or EGC to match their ESC book. Hopefully that will identify the rarities a bit better. Don't know when though, I will ask next time I am in there. A new version of ESC itself is due very soon, looks much better with loads more pictures. Hopefully the rarity ratings in that will be brought nearer the mark, too I suspect a 1674 5 Guineas in fine would be £10K. Samuel King was the only person I have ever heard of who collected 5 guinea pieces by date. Philip

I collect guineas by type. They seem to have very high prices for an item that most people don't appear to collect. I suspect most people buy one or two they like and that's it. The rarity ratings for guineas and prices in the various catalogues are wildly out (IMHO). Philip

I'd be interested in buying this, how much do you want for it? I'd grade it GF for type. Thanks Philip

Thanks, it is an odd colour and a very odd anchor, quite unlike any others I have seen. Many thanks again. Philip

Hi, anyone any idea whether this is genuine/what the mintmark on this is? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Charles-l-hammered-silver-shilling-plume-above-shield-very-rare-/151437210248?pt=UK_Coins_BritishHammered_RL&hash=item23425c7288 Many thanks Philip

I'll be there on Friday too - if anyone wants to meet for coffee/sandwiches during/before/after I'd be delighted to meet fellow forum members! Philip

That makes a certain amount of sense, especially if their research shows that buyers of gold are a much smaller market. Splits up the issues for most reigns though, which is a pity. I'd buy into a "Standard Catalogue Part I Roman to 1662" then "Part II 1663-1967". Those who collect hammered AND milled would buy both (as at present) but others could just buy the half they were interested in. There is a precedent of sorts - in 1968 Seaby published a catalogue of coins from 1816 onwards - unlike the main catalogue up until then, it carried values for every date, not just every type. Don't think this is quite right - what was promised in the foreword was a NEW book for gold, containing details of varieties, like ESC is for silver. They will split the standard catalogue into 2 books, predecimal and decimal. You will get less varieties in these books going forward as these will be listed in the updated ESC ( and the new "EGC"). Think this is major good news, as ESC is so out of date, and an "EGC" has been needed for years. Philip

You need to look at the Spink boom which I dont have immediately to hand for value ... it looks like a good condition penny to me and Paul Dawson of Spinks I would suggest might buy it, or David Guest at CNG. I'll look up Spinks value tonight and post unless someone beats me to it! Philip

Hi Kath, Yes, it is rare and worth more than scrap value. I would grade it at fair and pay about £30 if I was buying it, expecting to take maybe £50 when I eventually sold it on. John. Thanks, that is extremely helpful John. I think this dealer is trying to pull a fast one! Kath Maybe he just isn't too hot on British stuff! I was probably a bit generous on the grade (especially the reverse) but I would still expect to take £50 at the point I sold it on. John. Yes perhaps. That's a kinder view anyway. However, he is still obviously not the right person to take a collection of mostly british coins to. How can I find an honest dealer with the right knowledge? I have inherited a collection most of which is probably genuinely only worth it's scrap value. However my investigations make me think there may be one or two coins that are worth a little more. I am not a collector and would really like to sell. I live in Bedfordshire so it would probably be easiest if I could find someone local who I felt I could trust Kath Sorry that I live in Cumbria!!! I don't know of any dealers in your neck of the woods that I could recommend, perhaps some of the other members might? If you find yourself stuck give me a shout and I'm sure we could work something out regarding logistics! John. Wasn't there another thread - someone wanting a dealer in Bedfordshire? (A new hotbed of numismatics? ) You could try KB coins in Stevenage, the nearest dealer I know to Bedfordshire. He is on 01438 312661. He certainly has a huge list of stuff for sale in all grades and he must get it from somewhere so he might even travel to see you! I have known him for over 20 years. It would be worth preparing a list first to send over to him or to talk through on the phone. Alternatively if you want an independent opinion you can come and talk to me (I live in Herts) - I am not a dealer but could tell you what (if anything) was worth anything. I think the 1865 florin only has the one type with the colon after date, I think ESC may be wrong about saying there are 2 types, I will check my notes later. Philip

I'll have to check my 1795 set but it looks a bit odd. On the face of it this is a 1795 maundy penny worth about £10-£20 given the photo. However I am puzzled why the legend sizes are so different so I'll check if I have time. Philip

I have the 1667/4s listed as Adams (1) which was in the sale, ex Lingford, Pearce and Hunt (fair to fine). Adams (2) sold at Spink the previous March which was ex Bonhams 5/6/1997 lot 77 (overgraded in that sale as fine) and the 3rd was in the Circular Sept.93 no.6197 (poor) at £850 where stated to be the second known at the time (presumably yours). Clearly this would make the Bonhams example the 3rd known as people were already aware of the Lingford and Pearce collections. Any details for the fourth would be welcome. Off the top of my head, Harry Manville had a 1669 1/- which was lot 628 in his sale, Spink 140 16/11/1999. Infuriatingly, the info on the 1666's isn't immediately to hand. Must tidy up!! The other 1667 I saw was on ebay about a year ago and was in Fair and somebody wanted £3K for it - don't think it sold. This MIGHT have been the Adams specimen but for some reason I thought it was a new one. Not sure if you can search ebay for all past sales of an item to check. There might of course be a 1667 in the BM. Interestingly Stephen Fenton told me at Coinex that there are some rare shillings for sale in his (St James) auction in November, including 1681 E&C, 1683 first type and 1666 guinea head. I won't be bidding as I have these but others might be interested!

Of the coins you list, all are rare with the 1841 being the commonest. The rarest of the list is clearly the 1667/4 of which there are 3 known examples. There was one listed in the Spink sale of March 2005 which was with other duplicates from the Adams collection prior to his whole collection being sold in the December of that year and which contained a second, slightly better example. Having been offered the duplicate prior to auction, I have to confess that neither was particularly appealing given their low grade! There is one particularly good example of the 1726 which Spink sold around 10 or 12 years(?) ago. This is way above the rest and particularly choice. All of the above crop up from time to time, you just have to keep your eyes open. Relative rarities will usually reflect the requirements for coinage at the time. That is why no halfpennies were struck during Anne's reign for example following the huge issues of William III. Hi, I have all these except the 1798 shilling (the only one I ever saw for sale was offered to me for £5000). The 1667 halfcrown I bought from Spink many years ago - I thought there were 4 known. 1726 halfcrown I have only ever seen two, mine is in F The 1697 crown is pretty rare but the occasionally turn up. Now the 1674 crown is the rarest of the lot in my opinion - I think there is only 1 known (and I know who owns it - grrrr) What about the 1666 shilling without elephant (2 types) or the 1669 shilling? I have never seen the 1669 offered for sale. Philip

Chris Apologies for the confusion - lack of IT skills I am araid Many thanks to all for the warm welcome Much appreciated Hi, I gather you are a halfcrown man, did you know there were quite a few especially hammererd on sale on 7 Feb at sixbid.com plus a nice 1681 E&C? [i have one already so wont be bidding on that!] Wider issue - has anyone considered having topics by denomination e.g. halfcrown/crowns/shillings? That would mean those of us who specialise could add to these groups. PhilipC