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Hey. Just to say yes i am sorry and the language i used was out of order. Its a fantastic forum and wish everyone all the best. Keep smiling and happy collecting. (including vicky and dave) Pete.

Well done Jeremy! OK, a lot of people probably dislike him or think him crazy. But he has made the current Labour leadership contest interesting! It could so easily have been otherwise. For example I only remembered that another party had recently elected a new leader when I read it on the BBC's webpage. As to his name... who knows? Or perhaps cares? But few people aren't aware that some sort of contest is going on within Labour. And by all accounts a lot of those who showed little interest in politics until recently, may not even have bothered voting, are getting excited. Because as Russell Brand highlighted, the middle-ground style of politics we've had for the last few decades has sadly seemed uninteresting, or even irrelevant to an awful lot of people. Which is pretty bad for democracy really. 63% of voters didn't vote for the Conservatives. And of course, a lot less than 100% of those eligible to vote did so. So really, something that gets people interested in politics and voting seems like a good thing. Will Jez win? No idea. The votes in Scotland have clearly showed that it's not that people don't like radical ideas. A recent YouGov poll showed people generally hold quite a few 'radical' views (both Left and right wing, often at the same time). Just that Labour ideas weren't what they wanted. Will I vote for him? Not sure. In my younger days I would have been delighted with a candidate like him. But now a bit older I find myself balancing electability with charisma, government with vision. But I shall be voting (as a £3 supporter). Because to my mind democracy (as we have it) requires a government that includes an opposition. To hold it to account. To broaden debate. And to remind it that the elected party is there to work for everyone, not just those who voted for it. And to do that I think we need the Labour party. Jez and all. .

Gold prices are quite low at the moment (the lowest for around 5 years), the bullion value of a full weight sovereign is currently around £160 - if you only paid a few £ more than that I think you did well. As Coinery says, we all start off on this path, and the trick is to keep mistakes to a financial minimum. Upgrades are inevitable, but do factor in commission and postage when buying and selling at auction (including eBay). At the end of the day it's a hobby, and the process of acquiring, attributing, and trading coins is enjoyable in itself, along with owning and admiring your collection. Keep a record of what you paid for each coin, who from, and when. Many dealers will offer a no quibble refund if you are not happy (for any reason) with a coin once you have it in hand and/or will send you a coin on approval at no cost to you. This gives you the huge advantage of being able to examine the coin in hand before committing to the purchase, rather than relying on photos (often only 2) and subjective descriptions and grades. It's also helpful if you can focus on a collecting area, or at least one area at a time, rather than trying to collect any and all coins from any period and any country. Make full use of this Forum, it's the best free resource there is, for English coins at least. Just a few of many many tips that so many on here would offer I am sure! Above all, enjoy it NM!

I think you raise a good point that's often missed by a lot of us who have (or have had) large collections, and long-since moved beyond that desperate feeling of not really having a collection until you've got a few coins. If you don't go crazy, I think buying a few lesser grades is a good thing, but stick to a small area and keep looking for the same coin and dates for upgrades. You'll lose a bit of money this way but, boy, when the 3rd upgrade drops on your door mat, you'll come close to skimming your first purchase across a lake, such will be your enlightenment. To be honest it's no good expecting novices to buy well from the very beginning, whatever advice is given, because you need to know what a rubbish coin is first. If you have to rely on experts from the outset you'll never come close to becoming one yourself...just don't make your education too expensive. I did exactly the same thing as you...and so did everyone else on here, whether they admit it or not! The only consolation I can offer you re the money you'll lose along the way is that, one day, you'll sell one or two that will start to address the balance, especially when the time comes that you make fewer, and hopefully smaller, mistakes? Happy collecting Nons!

I just can't decide whether the nay sayers are right and it will spell the end of the Labour party or it heralds in a new type of politics, where the principle that a political party is only successful if it can exert power by being elected, is replaced by one where working to build openness, justice, benevolence towards others and just plain old ‘fairness’ in society are seen to be of value. But I am hopeful ... .

Ooooooh, just re-read my own post about a 1000 years of pennies! Who's going to take that baby on? What a collection that would be!

Yes, indeed, very nice coins. I like some nice mostly "red" copper/bronze coins that are rather well struck. For some reason, the KN coins of 1918 and 19 come with better obverses than the H's so finding a non-mushy H is a nice thing indeed. I remember reading some years ago that there was a hoard of 18H's that came to market but that whilst red, all were of the mushy obverse type (hey, did I "coin" a new hyper-varietal? - No, just a die state....).

What on earth is all this about???! It seems to have come out of nowhere. Are you ok PWA? I do think you may have initially over-reacted and fired the gun that seems to have started this avalanche.....then it was all ok again and Dave went off on a bit of a tangent. What happened there Dave? Seems to be a storm in a tea cup, we're all friends here. I won't delete anything, but I will go through altering some of the language, including things partially obscured by dashes etc.

Uh, Dave had it right, I am just sick of people going off pop reports from the slabbers; obviously I do not know you from any other. Possibly there are other coins out there of merit that may be equal or even better, who knows? There are some coins that are absolute beauties, no question. Funny how the bit about negatives came out as I suppose I can't judge myself but think I am rather a positive person who loves nice milled coins, particularly silver and copper. Well, sorry if taken wrong but possibly not in the w--ker mode.... PS - I have coins that are a full 50 points better than the next reported by ANY slabbed and yet don't make the "finest known" claim.

The Rise of the SNP has Westminster(Tories mostly) treating Scots like we're back in the 1870s India and Part of the British Raj. Remember Cameron blubbering saying "please don't Break up our union" and then swiftly shit on and sneered at As soon As they have a majority Government. I'll Never forget IDS face when Osbourne announced that Britain will get a wage rise, like a man posessed, disturbing at best.

Pete's 1868 Gouby BP1868Ab Penny:

Open 3, 1897 dot and Gouby X (1911) are the three I always look for. Still need the former and latter though. Ive seen a few Gouby Xs around but they're advertised as such and I kind of have my mind set that I'm going to find one in a bargain bin or on the cheap on eBay, I've been searching for the last few years so would feel hard done by to pay full price haha.

I have found my 1926 ME in a bucket of bargains as well.. same with one of the rarer 1860's. always looking for those open 3's 1897 dots..... they never turn up.