Chris Perkins

I just logged in to have a look. So far there are 5 English fakes (3 milled, 2 hammered), 1 Chinese and 2 Ancient Greek listed, so currently very much in its infancy, it would seem.

The poster obviously didn't know who I am and seems to have posted an identical post in at least one other forum, so it could be some kind of advertising agency doing the posting. But it was actually very revealing to me Rob, as it confirmed my belief that dan.t.he.man of Pickering, does have an involvement with the new Westgate Supplies, which is very interesting.

On the subject of fakes, the BNTA have just launched a website for members with user name and password protection, where known fakes are documented and shown (I assume, I haven't looked yet). Apparently users can also add fakes to the database. The information is not available to the public and this is the reason: After much thought, and consultation with many of the BNTA members, the Council decided that the best route to take with the forgeries database would be to protect the information in a “members only” section of the website. This means that the information is not shared with the public and genuine collectors are not put off from building their collections by knowledge of the quantity of that forgeries exist. The best way to battle this problem is to educate ourselves as members of the BNTA and feed this down to our clients when helping and advising them to buy coins. So, this concept boosts one of the core ideas of the BNTA : that collectors should look for the BNTA symbol when buying coins and are advised to seek out BNTA dealers when building a collection. The private nature of this information also adds value to your membership of the BNTA, with access to information that you would not be able to easily find elsewhere. I think that's a wrong decision and it seems to suggest that collectors are a bit silly and that they all really need a BNTA god to offer guidance. Many novices do need guidance, but surely the best way to battle any problem is to educate EVERYONE, not just a minority group of UK coin dealers. It would be nice if everyone was aware of the BNTA and that collectors actively looked for the BNTA symbol, but I suspect of all the coin sales on the internet in the world, less than 1% is made by a BNTA member and that nearly 100% of the coin buyers either don't know who the BNTA is, or don't really give a toss!

No response then? Expect a letter to your home address in the next couple of weeks, Dan. And I will of course remove the link above for the moment - we can certainly talk about that and I don't mind linking to you when things are sorted.

I like my music like my forgeries.... brassy. It also made me proud to be an American, although I've never been there and have no connection to the USA whatsoever!

So you are still both working together then? I suspected so, as the addresses were the same. Don't we have a bit of an outstanding issue, Dan? Contact me please. I'm in the UK next week, perhaps we can meet up.

It went for £235 in the end, which is a very nice surprise. The others also did well and there are 3 more that end at the weekend. I'm currently doing pics and cataloguing my 50+ 1770s fake halfpennies in the hope that there may be a scarce US made one among them.

I think that makes it art imitating art, imitating art, imitating art, imitating life, imitating legend.

Cleaned in the past, as it looks very bright? But not that it really matters that much for a peach like that.

CCGB2014 says £300 BU, and that one certainly looks a lovely grade.

It looks like shilling, I know! But I honestly have no idea who those bidders are. One of the bidders whacked on the £230 on the 29th June (my Birthday, as you all know) and the other has been coming back to it and nudging a few times a day in small increments. Yesterday he stopped around £100. Today he nudged until he finally out bid the £230 just now. Edit: initial bidder bid the £230 on the 30th!

This surprises me. I've got some electrotype/counterfeit coins on ebay at the moment (after giving SEUK first refusal) and my electrotype Scottish 1582 40s in copper has gone a bit high (£235 just now, with about 6 hours to go). I've noted that I've incorrectly called it a 60s, but can't change it! here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271533065323 I know that older electrotypes are collectable and I know what I paid for it about 10 years ago. £235 is more than I thought it would get to! It's not one of you lot bidding to win and neg me for selling a fake coin is it?!

That's a very good idea Peter.

Shall I put "Clive and his Egyptian mate"? I don't know the name of your mate, or I would include it, if he wants me to.

Oh yes, I remember seeing that one at some point. I've never seen the content, but I don't think it includes basic lessons on reading Arabic? Yes, looking at a review it is a: "profusely illustrated general history of Islamic coinage".

The RM seem to use the Pistrucci St George whenever they don't want the hassle of having to pay a living artist for a new design (most of which are nowhere near as good as a Pistrucci). However, I would imagine that the current copyright rule of artist death +70 years means that anyone could potentially use it now. And I think back then the rules were different and it may have been only during the life of the artist (if at all) and Pistrucci having died in 1855, there would probably not have been an issue with its use in 1859. Lovett may well have used his version knowing that Pistrucci had died and his copyright with him.

Ooo, I had some very similar to that offered to me by a friend and hallmarked as 'Fine Silver' in Chinese. They were all fakes! Zinc (which is about the same density as silver) with a thin silver coating. The blackness on them was just applied to make them look old, as it washed off. Another friend of mine (the scrap man) tested them with a very expensive XRF machine. We confirmed it by filing one to reveal the bluey zinc under the silver. My mate who bought them also said they were definitely silver! Get them check with an XRF. The Chinese have been in the fakes game for many years.

Excellent. Bit far North for Romans to be losing things, and that makes it all the more fascinating.

Could that have been bank fees perhaps?

I expect a quite small market, but it is (as far as I can tell) the only book on reading and understanding specifically Arabic coins. It's a book originally published in 1973, then revised in 1980, by Richard Plant and it's been in and out of print a couple of times since then. It was originally also translated into Russian! I want to provide affordable assistance to inquisitive people both now and for future generations, so hope to keep it in print in one shape or another for eternity, even if I won't be able to retire from it! For a few quid it can become part of your field or experience.

I'm too busy collecting pics and (e)valuations for "Collectors' Wives 2014".

I've got a new website, in case anyone didn't see.

This must be a first, surely. An honest ebayer with a thirst for knowledge! Perhaps there is hope. Hello Edward.

What, on the new Scottish currency post 2014 you mean? First things first, I'll get the Irish one in the bag. Currently work is being undertaken on the Greek book, Irish book and Arabic book (which is pretty much finished).

Thanks. And that reminds me, I need to add social media 'like' buttons and such like!