Chris Perkins

They are Spanish/Spanish colonial 'Pieces of Eight' that the British acquired (most captured) and over struck with George III/Britannia etc. They had a face value of 4s 9d at one stage and were produced as an official issue by the bank of england to relieve shortages of normal regal coins. I quite like them actually. Values, like with all coins, depends on condition and variety. They were incidentally struck with the same date up to 1811.

Have you got a scanner, that might produce better results.

Who knows! Ask the manufacturer for something in writing.

Yes, whitmans are awful for preservation. i don't know why so many people still want them.

I've got a chunky iron King Dick somewhere! A very old neighbour gave it to me in the 80's. I expect he had it from new. They don't make 'em like they used to.

Yes, one of the first 188,400,000 50 pence pieces! Usually when a new coinage is initiated there is a need to strike massive numbers of them to replace all of the older version in circulation. It was the same with the Euro in Europe a couple of years ago. It's worth a couple of quid in mint condition, but if it's less than perfect, take it to a bank and get a new 50p for it.

It would probably end up worse. If the marks are toning marks (of the non gold contained within the gold) then it probably won't come off. If the mark is something foreign on the coin, try soapy water and a soft toothbrush. Handle it just by the rim and give it a gentle soapy rub with the tooth brush. When done, lay it on a very soft towel, and dab it once gently, then let it dry naturally (keeping an eye that no water marks develop) That might work, but don't sue me if it doesn't! Proofs are very sensitive to any form of handling.

Sold all 5000 now! I have 120 left and WHSmith just put an order through for 350! :S So I'll see if it's cost effective to print 350 especially (without spine error!) or I'll send them say 70 and keep the rest to sell via predecimal.com before the next one is ready. I expect WHS probably don't realise there's a new one around about October 10th, so they can possibly even last on what they have until then. Whatever, it's good that their sales were strong, and perhaps I can talk them into taking an initial order of 1500 of the 2006 version based on the sales of the 2005!

Someone just called from the London Evening Standard about this topic (not Eddyk's drugged Avatar....The re-design of Britains coins)! Luckily I was able to express an opinion based on my own thoughts and some of yours in here! He thought the Britannia thing was very interesting as I mentioned the legendary godess like figure had been on British coins since 1672, and previously under Emperor Hadrian etc. I also mentioned our arguments for killing off the 1p and the slightly contoversial "Why not just sumbit the Euro reverses". He said that would probably be a sure way of getting the country to accept the Euro. So, I don't know if I'll get a mention, or when, but it might be an idea to grab a copy of the London Evening Standard today, if your locality allows (I'll be in the 'Letters' section, if at all).

Is she dead? I hadn't heard. I thought she was pretty funny sometimes.

Yes, but it was Saint Patrick in Ireland wasn't it?

We were jogging, as part of our new healthier lifestyle actually! Well, kind of jogging a little, then walking the up hill bits!

Yesterday in the woods near Thalheim, Saxony the girlfriend and I saw a real wild snake slithering across a path. When it noticed us it slithered much quicker and we really just got a good look at the last 2 thirds of it's body. Research leads us to believe it was either a Common Viper, or a Ring Snake. It was probably more than 30cm long and a good 3cm thick. I've never seen a wild snake before!

Simply because I've been involved in banknotes recently.....The Houses of Parliament appeared on the back of the Treasury issued £1 note (1916 - 1926 I believe)

Oooo, I know where you're coming from. The people have been promised a referendum on the Euro haven't they? If so, then I really think it would probably take a whole generation for them to agree to it. Maybe not at all if other countries like Denmark remain strong with their own currency, and especially not if the UK economy also remains as strong.

Try what ever eddy's avatar is on!

Thanks eddyk that was very interesting, and even readable too, once I'd scrolled past your bloody iritiating avatar. I don't suppose many of the public are talented enough to design a coin though. I expect whatever is chosen (if not from a professional artist) will be entirely re-worked by a Royal Mint designer anyway. And it will also be sad to say good bye to the familiar current designs. I think Britannia should stay somewhere though, as she has done since 1672 (and previously on Roman coins of course).

Yes, good point, you're probably right. Come think of it, I think i've heard of £1 coins with just the edge lettering and no front or back strike.

I think real ones have the edge lettering up one way of the other because the lettering gets put on last and it depends what way round the coin goes through the machine.

I want them too! But I suppose the forum members come first. If you want to sell it Dave, let Sylvester have it.

Clearly a fake Dave, a 1999 coin would have a Scottish lion on it. The reverse is wrong for the date, and the edge lettering is awful. So the forgers were at work at least up to late 2000 (and no doubt still are of course)

Keep a perfect one if you can, but if there are any creases or folds, or any signs whatsoever of it not being a perfect flat sheet of newly printed banknote paper, then go get some new cash for it! If not perfect it won't be worth a lot more than for value for quite some time....And £50 is a lot of money.

You'd think vending machines would be properly set up to reject fakes (or perhaps they do, but they're just loaded with them in order to give them as change!) Let's see a picture of your Welsh Primary school £1 Dave. When you can.

Gold value i.e about £53.00 each. That's what I would pay, most dealers would try to get them for less than bullion value. I'd hope to sell them for £60 - £65 each after acquiring them for £53. Email if you want to sell them: cp@predecimal.com

When people send me collections that include a couple of Roman coins (as is sometimes the case) I simply identify them and put them in a chronological order with the rest. I have mostly base metal coins now, and probably about 20 different emperors covered, including a few slightly unusual Roman ladies, and a Nero coin! No real direction, I just happen to be in a position that means I accumulate the odd one here and there. i do enjoy idenifying them, and learning about the usually brutal history of the folk on them.