Chris Perkins

That depends what you mean by 'milling' the edge, as it has a double and sometimes confusing meaning. Milling a coin originally meant making it with a powered machine and not hammering it by hand, that certainly wasn't Isaac Newton's idea as it was being done long before he was born. This milling process also led to the idea of putting the coin into a round collar with letters imprinted on it, so that these letters would end up around the edge after the coin was struck. This was an excellent anti forgery idea and was shrouded in secrecy at the time. This was also being done before Sir Isaac Newton' appointment as master of the mint in 1696 so I'm quite sure was not his idea. As for milling as we understand it today... ie the edge with a ridged surface, well that may well have been Sir Isaacs idea but I have yet to find mention of it in any books I have been glancing through just now to try and find out! Chris www.predecimal.com

As they've made it big now, I'm sure Hawkins can afford proper dental care! Chris

Leevan, This item is a Victorian coin weight. Coin weights were produced by the Royal Mint as well as private company's (like Avery, who are still going I think?) and were, I believe sold to merchants, shop keepers etc as a way of checking is a coin handed to them was real and not an underweight forgery. Simply by putting the Sovereign on a set of scales with a brass sovereign weight on the other end you'd know if it was a genuine 7.98 gramme sovereign. Nowadays of course digital scales are far more accuarate. Because the weight you post has a young head Victoria on it, I would imagine it dates from around 1840/50. They are collectable and I have a little experience selling Georgian coin weights but I have not sold a Victorin one, so am unsure of it's value.

Leevan, Thanks, I don't really. It's just that it's all the usual stuff that people ask about! Over the years I have simply learnt about what people always ask about. The Spanish coin is currency and I certainly find it interesting. Chris www.predecimal.com

Not sure what it is but if it were gold it would be pretty heavy. Looks brass to me, and with a hole in I wouldn't have thought it would be worth a great deal (unless it is gold?!) Chris www.predecimal.com

That is a Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee medal. The official version, and was issued in 1897. There were 3 different metals used (although that is clearly the silver version) but the value depends on the size (in mm) because there were 2 different sizes struck. Chris www.predecimal.com

That looks to be a Spanish or Spanish colonial (S America or Spanish Indies) 2 Real coin (or a quarter of a piece of 8). I don't know much about them, nor do I have books that go back that far for Spain/S America etc. Chris. www.predecimal.com P.S. For people browsing the forum Leevan, can you put more desriptive titles for the posts? Even the writing on the coin is more descriptive than No.3. Thanks mate

That is a medallion to celebrate the Coronation of his majesty King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra (of Denmark I believe) in 1902. In that condition, just worth silver content (if it has any!) Most commemorative medals were made in numerous metals both officially and un officially. I'm not sure if that is the official one or not, but whatever, it's not worth a huge amount. Chris www.predecimal.com

No.1 Is a Mother Theresa Taler from the Austro Hungarian Empire. It was at one stage the only acceptable coin for trade with eupore and arab countries and for this reason is was made continuously with the same date. It is still made to this day with the same date and has even been produced in massive numbers in London! I'm sure there must be a book on them, but they are usually worth £6-7 for silver content. Chris www.predecimal.com

Apparently some blanks in the 1670's (and possibly at other times?) were imported from Sweden. So perhaps they wanted to make sure it was proper copper and that the Swedes were not doing the dodgy. This would perhaps also apply to any outsourced blanks. (nothing against the Swedes!) Chris

Then you can have it FOC. Use the private messenger thing or whatever to let me know the address and i'll send it to you. Now, your mum can hardly object to a free coin, can she! Chris

Not sure about that DAS, I think i've heard about it. Was it simply because the coins were not the correct weight. I'm sure the flan manufacturing process was not as uniform as it is today. Not sure. Sylvester, any ideas? Chris www.predecimal.com

I stand corrected and ashamed Chris

Yes they certainly are collectable. I believe GIII halfpennies also readily circulated in colonial America and there are even types that were made there. No doubt there's a book about them somewhere. Do you have some to sell? Chris

Bonjour, You'll love it, and good to see a 'U' Rumoured! Chris

Sylvester, You interested in a 1745 LIMA, plain angles sixpence. I have one here that's had a small silver ring welded to the top (for the blind people in 1745 ) but I imagine that could be removed and leave little trace. The grade isn't all that fab but I couldn't remember if you needed this one? Chris www.predecimal.com

They were dated 1968 and introduced that year so the Great British public could get used to the new coins. They were 1/10th of a pound, just like the florin which was issued until 1967 (but legal tender until 1992). The 5p which replaced the shilling was also introduced in 1968 and the 50p which replaced the 10 shilling note in 1969. Chris www.predecimal.com

DAS, (Hello, I assume you are the same DAS that has been a good customer these last few weeks!) An Evasion Halfpenny, or an evasion anything for that matter is a counterfeit coin, deliberately made to differ enough from the real thing to avoid being illegal. I would imagine some of the British fake George III half pennies with legends like 'George III Rules' and so on, could be described as such. The maker could claim that they are commemorative or token coins in celebration of the king, when really at that time when poor people couldn't read all that well, they could also be readily passed off as the real thing, but with little risk of prosecution for the maker. I think I probably have a few Evasion halfpennies and most seem to be from the reign of George III. Another example given in this years coin yearbook is the imitation Sumatran coins by European merchants that were inscribed SULTANA instead of SUMATRA! Chris www.predecimal.com

I don't recall seeing his teeth, are they big? Chris

You have a wild imagination there Sylvester, that's good. Numismatics needs people like you! Chris

As if Eliza will have a clue about your Fry fivers or tiddly 5p's! Don't forget she's a colonial I imagine your cheque book having a date starting with 20-- would probably put any sellers off in 1985 too! Chris

Did you see my W+M Half Crown with the obvious overstruck 'M'. I think ESC lists that variety as rare. http://www.predecimal.com/forsale/williamandmaryhc.jpg The page it's on: http://www.predecimal.com/new_early_milled.htm Special price to you! Chris www.predecimal.com

It must have been a joke, or perhaps it's that same person that has the braille Guineas! Chris

Very pretty coin, that Double Eagle. I also had a look around that almost entirely US forum and was shocked at some of the grades given to the 1917 US Cent! Did someone really give it an MS63!!!! Even anything AU is pushing the boat out! Hope this link works: http://www.coinpeople.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1452 Chris

Yes please do put them on the board too, I just check my email more often than the board. Chris