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Fantastic sunset just now.

Hi everyone, I am also sickened by these fake coins being passed off as genuine antiques. To try to do something about it, however small, I have created a blog that I will add to over time, based on the excellent knowledge gleaned here - I hope this is ok with you all. The blog is here: https://replicacoins.wordpress.com/ It needs tidying up but it is a start. If anyone wants to contribute as an author, PM me with ideas etc. I will try to keep it free from anything libellous, I don't want to get the blog closed. If anyone out there with a legal background thinks there is anything I should worry about in the blog, do say? If anyone has some good examples of replica coins do let me know? You never know, it may save one or two people from being ripped off. I have also created an eBay guide, but I think eBay will pull the plug on that pretty soon. That's all for now, must get some kip!

A cud is a small blob of metal which shouldnt be there (quite common on modern 20p's) A serif is a stroke or line added to the end of a letter or number .ie on an 1864 penny the horizontal bar ends with a serif (line rising upwards ) or a vertical bar or serifs (cross crosslet type ) . the red marks are serifs

Bang goes me saving for Christmas. I've just walloped £135 on a Richard 1st Shortcross. Best portrait I've ever seen on a Richy and it fills a gap in my set. Only just got listed , would of been a shame to let it slip by ? Note....this is real , Not a worst offering. ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1927-Proof-Threepence-Very-High-Grade-Toned-/202134763936?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=UZf3FY3KvBFbIjD4s%252FRKhjS22rI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 nice toning but i just couldn't get over the state of the obverse, at least it was a nice honest picture, may look better in hand,

I see that you've now done some digging, but it was simply that no two coins can end up with the same incuse marks and scratches unless they are copies. If the marks were on the dies, many coins would have the same marks, but they would be raised (not incuse) on any coins struck.

In Tudor times it was illegal for Irish coinage to circulate in England and Wales because the coinage was struck to a lower standard. Consequently English coins traded at a premium to Irish in Ireland.

They may be marked with a small R. Museum reproductions do the same coin/token. There all cast from the same original. If you look at them you'll see exactly the same marks and indentations on them plus they look as if they are peeling. Take a look at the one here http://www.museumreproductions.co.uk/shop/viewitem.php?productid=466 Then examine the two from the eBay links and you'll see what i mean. On the paxs side next to the S in pax you'll see it looks clipped on the edge.Also the X in pax has a smudge / blob on it. They are just two easily noticeable marks on all of them. Also look at the short cross that runs on the obverse , notice the nick on the cross between the S and P. There is other noticeable marks too. ? Remember no two coins should look alike , each should have its own nicks and knocks.

Not legal tender, but widely seen in circulation in British cities with large Irish populations. For some time the UK pound traded higher than the Irish Punt so Irish shops and pubs were happy to accept them at face value. I traveled a lot to Dublin on business and my pub of choice would let me run up a tab so that I generated a sum large enough to apply the exchange rate to.

Still is.

That's just coke/metal polish/some other cleaner and has been burnished. Maybe heated as well, but that is a less probable afterthought. How many do you want like that - I can supply hundreds.

Here is an example (there are many others): Search the forum for 1864 florin and you will find all the previous threads mentioning the reasons why they are fake. I believe the original coin that all of the fakes were copied from is in the Heritage Archive.

I noticed an outbreak of "interestingly toned" coins on the 'bay last night. Mainly Vickies, but may have been some post 1900 too. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Queen-Victoria-One-Penny-Coin-1901-In-Capsule-Good-Condition/182945753365?_trksid=p2485497.m4902.l9144 Looks like this seller has found a way to get this finish, heat and something I guess (it looks like when you polish a hot motorcyle exhaust).

Heres a link to the rubbish pax pennies that are getting flogged. The two other links are ebay sales of those same crap pennies. Not sure how you can word it but the pictures may prove useful if you want to add them to your guide. Regards Stu. http://dorchesters.com/william-i-the-conqueror-penny-paxs-type?filter_name=Pax%20penny http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162695896234 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/hammered-coins/162738646034

Reverse (which is the obverse) would be nice, looks like it could be a good loft find!

If you scroll back this link, you will find all the replicas about. If it helps any. ?

I still have pictures of the fake 1864 florin die number 64 if you want them?

Great guide. Don't worry about eBay pulling your guides. They don't bother. I have one up about fake pax pennies. I regularly update it with links to live fakes on there site. Nobody's said anything and its been active over 12 month's now.

He has another auction next weekend of hammered coins, some nice looking coins again up for sale.

Great idea!!

Sophie Welcome to the forum and welcome to the hobby. The only advice I can add to that already given is to always buy the best coin you can afford. Quality always counts.

Never! I like a good port and like whisky, you can taste what you've paid for... Soph.

Nice one! Though hardly an eBay's worst offering!

And the rev

Here is another wopper I found, Your heart misses a beat when a coin like this pops out of the ground. George III Dollar. 40 mm across

Ah, I wondered if that was it. Yeah, you can trust that seller, though his (her?) coins always seem to go for reasonable amounts. I suspect they have quite a few followers so less chance of a bargain. It's always worth keeping a record of such things I think. Then you can refer back and compare when something else comes up you like. My coin of that variety? I bought my original in 2004 and didn't manage to find one I liked better until 10 years later! Not that they are terribly rare .. but I am awfully fussy! Then I bought another because I liked the provenance. Silly hobby really!

Not far off the price for a real coin in decent preservation!

That's the one thing you don't want. Coin collections are a personal thing. They will probably buy something that is overpriced and in a grade that you will want to improve on. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder etc.