Chris Perkins

And what happens if one side is more worn than the other? Do you get AU58/EF45, or does it bring the whole coin down to AU50?

What's FVG???

Because there are tiny signs of wear, so it can't be UNC.... Britannia's head, lower part of the ribbon in Victoria's hair, one of the leaves in the wreath. It's bloody good, so perhaps it's a GEF, or if it could be put down to cabinet friction, perhaps AUNC. No doubt an American would call it AU58, or even MS60 Brown! Dare you to send it for slabbing!

First is around VF, second is around EF.

Wreath Crowns all have milled edges.

Do you know, they make so much money, you wouldn't believe it!

The packaging of special Wedding, Baby and Executive sets also falls into that catagory.

Well I put it up considerably, but I'm not paying more than £16 for it! I'll wait until the 2005 gets settled in and then find one.

Actually my 2004 Spink has pretty much fallen to bits through use and I would like a nicer edition to keep for reference, so I may just bid on that Oli. (If anyone else from here bids I'll ban you from the forum! - Not really, that would probably be ethically wrong) I have an unused CYB, because I was selling them and just kept one back.

Yes, but there are powers at work greater than us.

Or there is a possibility that it was milled somehow by a 3rd party at some point after it was made. In Freeman there are mentions of pennies that were milled but found out to have been milled later.

Around VF.

But do they appeal to real collectors or are they just aimed at people that read Sunday magazines, novices and tourists. Novices see coins and they think wow, that set will be worth thousands one day, just like an 1826 proof set (for example) when really that will never be the case because the newer sets are made in huge numbers and readily available to every T, D and Harry. I'm all for putting the populas (sp) straight on this matter, and have hedged towards that in CCGB2005. If people want to buy novelties because they look pretty, then so be it...But they should never imagine that what they have is exclusive or will ever have much more value above the issue price plus inflation. (although there are a few exceptions in the modern series of course, 1989 Sovs, error 2p etc)

Do we really need any commemorative, apart from those that actually commemorate really important events, coronations, jubilees and the like.

According to Freeman farthings (and the other bronze coins) are composed of: 1860 - 1922 95% Copper, 4% Tin and 1% Zinc (although variations did occur) 1923 - 1942 95.5% Copper, 3% Tin and 1.5% Zinc 1942 - 1945 97% Copper, 0.5% Tin and 3.5% Zinc 1945 - 1956 (as 1923 - 1942)

If they want to come and get them printed here, they can....I'll simply get them printed in Hungary instead! I'm sure perhaps the competition have thought about having them printed abroad, but I suspect the logistics and the fact they (especially Spink, and Token publishing who print their own) probably get bloddy good deals in the UK will prevent that.

Not with you. How could the oppositon benefit? (unless they get theirs printed here too!)

No, not at all, I had a couple to sell for Richard of www.coinsforsale.co.uk. I have a strange double sided squashed 1966 Florin and a 1929 milled edge halfpenny. Nothing much else.

I sold a mis strike aluminium (or similar metal) 1979 (I think) penny recently for £25, and that absolutley wasn't plated or spray painted. I also have what looks like a silver coloured 2p, yet to be investigated. There is no way in the world anyone would pay £3000 even if it is some kind of genuine error.

Realistically I suppose it should (if everything goes smoothly) hit the shops in early November. I will of course hopefully have a few copies myself, and don't forget that everyone reading this will get one free for helping out!

German. Just down the road in a small town called Thalheim. It was fun at first with my Pidgeon German trying to get across what was needed, but I'm sure they have the hang of it now. I did get a couple of UK printer quotes of course, but they were absolutely mad compared to the German ones. The origin of the book will not be marked inside, so for all those that prefer to just 'Buy British' they'll never know!

Today I received the first ever copy of Collectors Coins GB 2005 from the printers! It looks wonderful in its technicolour jacket, and it's so good to see a proper spine on the side. Overall it's a million times better than the previous (dare I say, very ameteur) editions. Seeing it in print, there are a couple of minor changes to be made to the cover design, and the proof reading has to be finished before a final book can be produced. If all goes well it should be mass produced from about next Wednesday. I have instructed the printer to simply print as many as he can, as quick as he can (without compromising the quality of course). The first batch of 5000 should be finished before Christmas, but I will of course have hopefully 500-1500 by the end of this month to satisfy demand. All very exciting.

Gavin, I've never heard the term subsidiary coins. Usually, your right, they are 'current' or perhaps even 'contemporary', like with the term 'contemporary forgeries'.

Those mintage numbers can be decieving because they are the number of coins made that year, but not always with that date. 1869 is rare, and the Collectors Coins 2004 book is probably quite conservative with its prices for the 1869 Penny. Low grade examples are worth just a few pounds. (Juan, sorry I have no list for you yet. It would be so much easier if you could just pop round and have a look!)

Unlikely I'm afraid, it's a romantic thought, but as long as there are enough better examples to go around and supply demand, your 1952 NZ penny will be worth about the same in 100 years (plus inflation). And by then a copy of Krause 2001-2100 will probably set you back more than £200! The kind of coins that go up in value usually have a mintage of just a few thousand or are in extremely high grade (the best few thousand of any particular coin). Sorry to sound really miserable and negative, but it has to be said. (although, i realise you were probably joking!)