Chris Perkins

Bernie, Well you've obviously had a good try. Is it copper or silver? If it's copper it sounds like it could be a Hibernia Halfpenny, Hibernia being latin for Ireland. Having 'Hibernia' on it certainly means it must be Irish. Perhaps this book would help: http://www.predecimal.com/george3rd_coin_book.htm If you register you can also post a jpg scan/picture of it. Thanks, Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

With a little bit of wet 'n' dry perhaps I can create a market for worn Churchill crowns ! (Don't try that at home kids!) Chris

Yes I agree, you just summed up all of the difficult to grade British coins of the last 100 years. Chris

James, The first one sounds like the official Diamond Jubliee Victorian medal. With a young head on one side and the veiled head on the other. Dated actually 1897 and worth a fiver or more depending on exact condition and size. You'll need to register and submit a phote for the second one as it remains a mystery to me. Thanks, Chris www.predecimal.com

Dear Kent, Well sounds like you have a lot of work ahead! The coins you mention sound Spanish. Probably 8 Reales, 4 Reales and 1 Real. I'm not an expert in hispanic coins so I imagine they could possibly colonial (ie South American). Like with all coins, their value will depend on the exact grade. If most of them are 20th Century coins from around the whole World then I would imagine you should consider purchasing the Krause 'Catalog of World coins 1901-2003' as that contains market values for every coin (well 99.999%) produced during that time. it costs around US$50.00 Please feel free to attach scans to your messages here, as and when you can. I can certainly help on the British coins. Chris www.predecimal.com

Flying Angel, Like with all coins, it's the condition that counts not the age. 1898 is really a very new coin and when you realise you can get an Alexander the Great 400BC coin for under GBP50.00 the 1898 Half Penny is quite insignificant. Having said that if it is in Extremely Fine or better condition it'll be worth a few pounds. For coin grading info and a list of scarcer dates see: http://www.predecimal.com/coinadvice.htm For a book containing all GB coin market values 1821 - now: http://www.predecimal.com/collectors_coins.htm Thanks, Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

Dear Mat, I thought I would have no trouble finding that coin in my 19th Century World Coin Catalogue, but I couldn't see it! According to this source Upper Canada was formed in 1849 and there is a provincial halfpenny dated 1832 but nothing as early as 1820. I think you'll have to register and post a scan of the coin. The second coin is a 'Cumberland Jack' made to poke fun at the then Duke of cumberland, it probably dates around 1837, but is pretty common and not likely to be worth more than a couple of quid if it's in exceptional condition and the loop is contemporary. Welcome to the forum and back to coin collecting. Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

Yes toning is good in most cases, but I tend to prefer it if it's even myself. Half one colour and half another has less appeal to me personally. Chris predecimal.com

Sylvester, In the book I offer on the site: 'Collectors George III coins' it does have some mintage data for the coins of George III, although some of it is patchy: http://www.predecimal.com/george3rd_coin_book.htm The author R J Marles must have found it out somehow! I don't own the Krause 1701-1800 book, but I would imagine if it's anything like the 1801-1900 and 1901-2003 book then it will have lots of mintage numbers in it. Quite a lot of money though when you just want UK stuff and not all the countries in the world! For some reason the likes of Spink/Seaby and other British publishers seem to be shy when it comes to publishing mintage numbers. Stick around, Chris www.predecimal.com

Well the best way is of course to see the coins in person, but usually with a list I can certainly divide it into the 'definately quite worthless' and 'perhaps collectable'. Cost will depend on time....Quite often people send me huge lists and I'm able to dismiss it as school boy stuff within minutes! Although some coins do require research. Probably best you compile a list and send to: cp@predecimal.com Thanks, Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

Well it lists at $14,500 in MS65. I wouldn't....Simply becuase it's American and I'm biased! US coin prices have been shaky in the past few years and when I think how much cheaper a 1927 MS65 Shilling would cost, which is a similar size with only 3x the mintage it is not comparable. I mean $14,500! WHY? is that an aftificial bubble that will burst or am I talking rot. is it really that rare with a mintage of over 3million? If you need it and can afford it for your collection then buy it, but if you intend to make it an investment never bet with more than you can afford to loose. Thanks for using the forum, great name by the way. Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

Rob, I'm not sure if it should have stops, although the picture has one after the GVLIELMVS. It doesn't specify the type in this years Spink book which I imagine is what you have. To investigate further you'll need the very expensive 'Peck' Copper bible. Chris www.predecimal.com

Can you attach a scan in your next post? It may be a Nüremburg type jeton. Chris www.predecimal.com

Dear Paquita, You only get 26 unwanted emails a day! At one stage i was getting over 1000 thanks to that bloody virus the other week. I would help but am unable to as I only have non UK coin books stretching back to 1800. Perhaps you could send a message to the forum member 'bob-e'. Bob is a diver and may know more about shipwreck finds of that nature. Thanks, Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

No there isn't! And you probably could have found that out quite easily if you'd looked around some coin sites, including my own. Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

Love to help Marie, but I feel a little naked without my books! I'm away from my base until the 5th but may be able to provide your answer regarding said commemorative medal when I return. Chris www.predecimal.com

Jeff, Well it could be a sovereign. If it feels heavy like gold then it probably is. To verify you need to find out what it weighs, tell me its diameter and provide a scan good enough to grade it by. Forgery was quite popular then so it could be a silver of other less expensive gilded coin. Chris www.predecimal.com

To speculate Jeff it could be a locally (nottingham) issued condor farthing token used in the 1790's or perhaps 1810's but of course it could be much newer and you unfortunately don't have much to go on. Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

You'll need to verify it's genuine. I have seen a lot of pennies that have been cleverly cut and stuck to other pennies. Sending it to the RM would most likely get a reply stating it was an error. It's unlikely they will want it or put any kind of figure on it. A normal auction would be fine but would probably have a limited audience. From personal experience very unusual things do better when they are exposed to a much larger interntaional market. You are welcome to send it to me for verification and if it is worth 50p i'll send it straight back with no charge! I could also arange to either advertise it on my website for an agreed price or put it in one of my reputed online auctions. Of course I would charge an agreed commision for selling it via either method but have high enough morals to not charge a penny should it be worth very little! Be good to hear from you, perhaps you can email me personally or use the forum messenger service. Thanks or using the forum, Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com (cp@predecimal.com)

Sounds like the standard WWII medal that all servicemen were presented with after the war. If you register you can upload a picture. Chris www.predecimal.com

You are very welcome, Please feel free to use this forum for any other questions you may have! I want to get it filled with lots of useful reference stuff for my visitors. Chris www.predecimal.com

Good god no!! don't do it, it'll ruin any value they do have and render them lumps of artificially altered copper. As they are maybe mucky you should never go futher than a bit of soap and water to remove loose dirt and a very thorough drying. There is a little about not cleaning coins in the advice hub. Just don't do it! Collectors want originality. Chris www.predecimal.com

Dear Ruby Rose, Yes, a popular request they are! It's a Victorian brass gaming token made in the style of a George III Guinea or Half Guinea, circa 1850. Quite common I'm afraid but I imagine perfect ones would be pretty collectable. Thanks for using the Forum. Chris www.predecimal.com

Dear Caroline, Sounds like a perfectly sensible thing to me! You're right, they are unlikely to be worth more than face value in the short term unless in mint condition but It'll certainly be fun rooting through your change for the odd NHS 50p, or DNA 2 pound coin! People do collect them. The member Shezz is trying to amass one of each different 50p from GB, Channel islands, Isle of man...well read his post. There is a market for them in mint condition which should mean you can pick up Extremely fine, not quite mint examples for face value or a tad more. Ask family and friends too, I'm sure they'll save 'em if they knew. It would be cheap to do and the coins will still be spendable if you don't have any change to pay the window cleaner and have a double! Watch out for the Euro though. If we go Euro during your lifetime you may have to choose between paying them in or keeping them forever. Chris www.predecimal.com

Dear VS, It's probably an S391 (From Spink 2003) but I'm no expert on Celtic coins and they tend to look very similar to me. Grading is always trouble with coins made before more modern striking processes were employed so I would imagine it's value would be dictated by how much someone would be willing to pay for it bearing in mind its unfortunated lack of obverse. Book price is GBP300 Fine and GBP800 Very fine. Thanks for using the forum, Chris www.predecimal.com