Chris Perkins

Wars Du schon in Deutschland Mitch?

Keep the fivers coming and I'll keep your craving satisfied Juan!

Get it weighed and it'll be worth bullion value (assuming the mount etc is the same puity as the coin). It's something for a jeweller, not a numismatist.

I'm trying to put together a full set of each year, for each book. And a couple of spares would also be good. Unbelievably the previous owner kept very few samples of the books. I got a Collectors Coins GB first edition the other day on ebay (don't have it yet). I've already got Collectors Coins Ireland first edition. I think if anybody should have all of the books, it should be me! Have you seen the archive are on the rotographic website?

Yes, I'll echo that. If they're bronze (halfpennies and farthings) then either give them to a charity, or try to sell them for scrap. If they're 'silver' (halfcrowns, florins and shillings) then if your friend has a reasonable amount then he might persuade a bank to exchange them for new pence. If they are just worth a few pounds in face value then give them to charity also.

Without proper organised advertising or at least an advertising budget and a real business plan (preferrably offering something really different in comparison to ebay) I don't think that those little auctions sites can survive.

If it didn't fit in the machine then it's bound to be a clever made up one using a hollowed out coin with a smaller one stuck in the hollowed gap. If it were a single 5p piece of metal then it would have been accepted in the machine as most machine measure size, weight and conductivity.

I'd give you a fiver for it.

It's a fake Piece of Eight. Probably contemporary. Mexico mint.

Most coins are worth buggar all.

The Anastasius Coin, the same as mine that was recently on eBay went for £207. So, at £220 I think I had a good deal.

It's a tough one, the pictures are small. It could well be UNC but with flat areas from a weak strike.

Usually, but not always. 1887 coins are difficult, as are 1821 crowns and even Geo III shillings when they are properly struck. I have a YH Victoria shilling that is so stunningly prooflike, but shouldn't exist as a proof. Still, the wreath on ebay certainly isn't a proof.

I know the seller of that '33 Rob. It's difficult to tell the difference between wreath proofs and really blindin' non proofs. But you're right, that seller (his name is Martin) really should know that the '33 he has there is not a proof. I noticed he also implied another wreath was a proof recently, and I won it in fact. Perhaps the price went higher than it should, had he not mentioned proof in the listing. Perhaps he also copied the listing text of the previous coin (which really was rather more prooflike). I think he's just simply very enthusiastic, and he's pointed out pictures in the past that he has remarked were possibly proofs. I think he just gets a bit carried away with 'proofs'! Although, of the many wreaths my other friend has, a few of them look stunning. To make absolulely sure he has shown them to 3 reputable big money dealers (and little old me) to get an opinions first, rather than trying to sell them as proofs, or sell them as normal implying that they may be proofs....Surely, anyone who knew about about coins and wasn't sure about the proof status of a coin would check it out first?

Yes, it's clearly a proof. Very distinguishable from a normal one.

Lots of coins from that time were stamps with adverts and names. I'm not sure what relevance 'LONDON' has though, but it has almost certainly be stamped by a 3rd party after the coin was made (in Birmingham).

Not much chance of that happening now, for obvious reasons. I also spoke to Gouby (saw him Saturday actually) and he's always meaning to update his penny book. Trouble is, it's so much work you really need to have a spare few years to dedicate to that kind of thing.

Yes, absolutely. It would be great to have an 'exclusive' and to show the picture of the quarter showing the R/B. Getting official recognition will probably take until some brave soul takes on an update of Freeman (or creates an all new book covering halfpennies).

This one looks real, and it's the same as mine, if slightly more worn: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1 I'll be watching that with interest.

I just need to get this cleared up.... Yours is a Matte/VIP proof worth £400, not a normal proof worth £40? It looks like a normal proof to me.

I've bought from that seller before, and I wasn't over the moon. All I'll say is, that she seems to have an endless supply of Spink cards, and I wouldn't take the chance personally.

It came from my mate of Vale Coins, Blackheath (whom I share a table with)! It was begging me to buy it all day. I always end up buying lots, simply because I'm weighted with cash from selling. I also bought a bag of 145 Roman Bronzes (at least 50% attributable, and some rather respectable). The gold Solidus has a little card label with it from a previous owner that my Vale friend Richard informs me is David Sear's writing, which, if that's so, is a good pedigree. I paid £220 (it was up for £260).

Here it is. Not a great picture. Good definition, really wonderful lustrous fields on the obverse. It weighs 4.48g and is 20mm at the widest point. (a little larger and heavier than a half sov)

I was busy! Ok, I'll do a picture.

That's very clear isn't it! Reminds me of the BBIT George IV Shilling! I see no reason why I shouldn't list it in CCGB2007, even if there is no price data.