Chris Perkins

Well, as I'm sure the regulars have already noticed, I have juggled things around a bit in the forum, mainly in an attempt to make things easier to find for new people (and old people!). I found that everything had got very big and was starting to get out of control. I had a technical problem at first, which prevented me from being able to fully control the forum layout, but after I donned my thinking cap I was able to sort it out. I am now in complete control you'll be pleased to hear! The main changes basically involved the creation of 3 seperate areas; one for all British coin related things, the second for general coin/money related discussions and the third for this kind of non coin related nonsense! Because many of the topic titles contained no clue about what the information held within it was regarding I also undertook to rename some of the topics based on what they contained. If you're looking for something that you can't find anymore, you'll probably find it exists under a different name, so use the 'search' facility above. I have also approved quite a few new members, bringing the membership total up to almost 100 now, which is pretty impressive. Going by some emails I have received, I think a few of those should hopefully become regulars. Please forgive me if you are one of the new batch and waited a while to be approved (my fault entirely). Any other improvement ideas, and your opinions on the new layout will be gratefully received and treated with the utmost disrespect, and probably a few lies about how 'I had already thought of that and was going to do it soon' 'As you were'... Chris www.predecimal.com

Yes maybe you could start with all the major varieties. I didn't realise there were only 26 1864 die numbers. In that case yes, why not try to get every 1864 die number, and if that proved impossible move onto 1868 die numbers. (or start with 1868 die numbers) I think you know what you want to do already... you want to collect everything you have mentioned and like many collectors have trouble focusing. Whatever you decide to concentrate on you know that if something interesting comes along, you'll take it too! Chris

Well I think you have to start with Gothic florins by date, because it would be so difficult to get all the die numbers, considering some sellers (on ebay for eg) may not know they are there, and you'd have to ask, or take a chance. In fact it will be hard enough to collect by date in GVF minimum! It'll cost you a lot of money whichever! I think collecting all the 1864 die numbers would be another huge task that could take you a lifetime. Start doing it by date, test the availability and in the future perhaps acquire them by die number....Or not. Chris

You know, it is a strange phenomenon that from experience 99.9% of coin collectors/dealers always like proper music. I mean of course, with a proper band and talented people, usually with a leaning towards 'Rock' genres, not the mass marketed shite that the whole world is drowning in, and has been drowning for a while now. Chris

That's what happens when amateurs are free to sell any specialised item to a global audience with no experience. And ebay laugh all the way to their American bank. Chris

And even the Severn Bridge or one of those IKB west railway bridges etc.... I imagine it was an attempt by the very old established Royal mint to pick something a little bit new and trendy, perhaps that's what they thought the public wanted? (When of course most of us would prefer a proper bridge) Olli, I think those Euro sets are unnofficial pattern pieces made by I forget who, but it's the same people that did the Danish patterns and they are making a mint, I can tell you. Wouldn't touch them with a barge pole personally. Although maybe it is true that the Queen approved the bust. Chris

Point taken, it has got big and complicated since it started off. I'll work on making things a little more compact and organised today. How about you give me a coin when I sort it out? Chris

I'm sure they'll be nice coins, they sell a lot of very nice coins. Just don't be surprised if you find you paid a little extra for the convenience and packaging. Do also have a look at my Roman coins on this site: http://www.predecimal.com/forsale/romanforsale1.htm Chris

Erm, Queen II is ok definately, it spends quite a time in my CD player, but I'd probably go for the all time classic 'Dark side of the Moon', Led Zeppelin II (or III) or 'Division Bell' from the last 10 years. I only have Dark side and Led Zep II on Vinyl! Last year would of course be the Darkness - Permission to land. I'm also partial to a lot of Metallica, Yngwie J Malmsteen and Twisted Sister! Black Sabbath's Paranoid is also a pretty well balanced album. I have all bar 2 of Pink Floyd on Vinyl and all bar 1 Beatles Vinyl album. Chris

I don't know why the Germans wouldn't like the Churchill coin! The war was a long time ago now, and there are always bloody Churchill crowns on ebay.de. Landmarks is fine as long as they are not stupid bridges or disgusting 'modern art' landmarks. Chris

Yes the Edward VII Florin is a wonderful coin, shame it wears so badly. Have you seen the 1904 penny for sale on the site? Chris

Well I would say the Una and the Lion, but no one in the world ever sees them, including me! Gothic florin/Half Crowns are high on the list for me too. For some reason I like high grade Edward VII and George V stuff, I just like the heads for some reason, they look like distinguished gentleman even without Crowns or regalia. I also like crowns because of the dimensions, and wreath crowns are particularly nice. I like them all apart from the obvious monsters. Chris

£, Some nice ideas there but most would be impractical I think, for these reasons: 1. If we got rid of the 2p there would need to be millions more annoying 1p's surely, to make up for them? 2. Big coins cost a lot to produce, and notes work out cheaper. There is no way in the world the GOVt would want to spend more money than they need to, unfortunately. 3. Strictly speaking the notes in Scotland and in Northern Ireland are not even legel tender in the country of issue, they are in fact local 'tokens' used readily for all exchanges issued by local banks. So that in mind there already is a unified British note standard, ie those issued by the bank of England. And I don't think the Scots or the 'Ulster men' would want to give up their notes in favour of BofE ones!! Perish the thought, a little variety is ok, even if's a bloody pain passing them off in your English newsagents back home. 4. Until relatively recently there were £100 pound notes, I am not sure why they were withdrawn, but i'm sure something worked out cheaper for someone! Maybe they were not used enough. 5. I think the current paper choice evolved to stop the forger and I think that going back to the old type would perhaps make things easier for them. Have you seen those wonderful Northern Irish notes made of plastic with artistic 'windows' in them? (see also point 3!). I got a creased example from an NI visit and thought that I would try to iron the creases out! Even at a low heat it ended up about 5cm x 2cm!! 6. You have a point with number 6, I think perhaps the Queens portrait does crowd the flan and can see no reason why they cannot use the same one but at a reduced size. Thankyou for your comments, Chris www.predecimal.com

Well that's the only off so far! But I think perhaps I'll hold onto it for the time being. Chris

Well the coins are also pretty boring in certain countries that use the same reverse like Ireland or just one or 2 reverse types. And you're right about the notes...Stupid generic monopoly money. But as a Brit and being used to British notes all my life, the new Euro notes have an awful lot to live up to! Chris

Well really Dick!

Well that's ok then. Chris

I'm only 25 DAS but I can count in predecimal better than anyone I know! Hope I still have credibility with you. Actually one of the reasons I created this small venture is because most coin collectors are older, out of date etc and this is a brand new medium that they know nothing about. I want to mix my computer knowledge with my passion for numismatics. (I edited 2 of your previous messages, to remove the obvious mistake) Chris

I never found one, but I grew up in the 80's and probably back then didn't know what to look for anyway. Chris

My Uncle Peter, who was quite well travelled gave me a few foreign coins that he had collected from foreign visits, I remember some Russian Kopeks and American Quarter dollars. That started my little collection off. The first British coin I remember having was a very worn 1921 Florin, and I got into British coins from there. I too am too young to remember £SD but also remember spending florins and shillings as 5 and 10p's. I used to bunk college to go to coin shops and have been into coins since I was about 7 I think. Chris

Maybe he thought you had a bigger one...So to speak. Chris

Welcome to 2004 Olli! Sylvester can just right click it and copy it from above! Chris

Erm, well now the image is in my webspace, is it mine or Ollis still? Chris

Oh My God, that is awful, those bloody hyped up Westminster collection people, they're worse than Coincraft! Great coin for British Neo Nazis though!

It would be "Freunde", and now, many English titles stay English. Chris