Chris Perkins

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

Alan, I don't know much about Celtic coins myself but if you attach a picture in the forum, using the 'You may attach a file to this message.' prompt perhaps I'll chance upon it in a book I have featuring Celtic coins. Make sure it's a good quality jpg picture and not too large. Although I imagine it's not that easy to scan a concave coin and you'd need a very good digital camera! Chris www.predecimal.com

David, Values start at US$375 for a coin in VF(20) condition and not ever mounted as part of jewellery so I would imagine if it's the same with US gold coins as it is with British ones, that it won't be wanted by coin collectors and will default to it's gold content value. Which of course changes every day but the coin should consist of 0.9677 onces of pure gold. The coin is .900 fine and weighs 33.436 grams....Off the top of my head Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com (Source: Krause Standard Catalog of World Coins 1801-2000, latest edition)

Dear Andrew, I have a few of those myself. it's a jeton made by Lauer of Nuremberg, Germany. Jetons were counters first used in Europe for doing sums, basically as an alternative to the abacus and Nuremberg was one of the centres of european jeton manuafacture. They were used mostly I think in the 16 and 1700's but remained popular until within the last 100 years. I think some of these smaller coins were used as toy money, for dolls houses and the like. Also perhaps they were made to show off, because the detail and likeness to the original coins are superb! They are collectable and I'm sure just like with real coins the value will be hinged more on the closeness to as new condition than on age, but I'm afraid I don't know of their exact values. I'm sure a few search engine searches will bring in lots of info if you use the phrase 'Lauer Jeton'....In fact I just found this: http://www.users.bigpond.com/gcates/jetons/ Enjoy! Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

Shezz, I have checked the book and there are over 80 different 50 pees from the countries you specified. Those are all non proof coins but I'm not sure how many of them were actually circulated to be spent. I have scribbled it down on 2 sheets of A4 and to save time wrinting again here it may be best if I just send it to you in the post. email me your address if you like. Chris Perkins cp@predecimal.com

The only book I know of that will show you all of them in English up to 2003 is the Krause 2003 catalogue, but that's very expensive and covers all World coins from 1900-2003. I happen to have a copy so I'll have a look. You just want the GB, Eire, Channel Isles, IOM and Gibralter types? Chris www.predecimal.com

Dear Donal, Yes it's certainly an Irish coin not an English coin, although at that time Ireland was completely 'British' so that explains the British King on the other side. I'll need more info on the coin, especially the size to be of more help. Thanks, Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

Dear Trisha, Unfortunately the info you provided describes about 70% of all the Roman Bronze coins! Most of them had Imperaors or an abbreviation of that, most also had Augustus, and most of the earlier ones had SC on the back as that was the Roman equivalent of 'Promise to pay the bearer'. if you register you can post a picture with your listing or I would recommend the online attribution system of: http://ancient-coin-forum.com/ Thanks for posting. Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

Right you are Bob. Chris & Kylie

Well worth risking your life for numismatic history Bob, are we supposed to be impressed?

Dear Bob, No problem, go here: http://www.predecimal.com/collectors/shop.htm Then click on 'specials' in the left pane. Scroll down a bit and the capsules are second from the bottom on the left (and on the right for the super sized ones). You'll be able to see the pictures and prices when you click on them. Let me know personally should you wish to order any, as personal cheque payment saves me money! cp@predecimal.com Chris www.predecimal.com

Bob, You pretty much have 2 choices, either the round clear capsules available in just about every size in the Coin shop specials area, or perhaps the Jewellery box style display boxes which look fine but the coin will just sit in them....I mean it has no hole to fit in. The kind of boxes that the Churchill crown was in tend to be specially made for the coin. I think a capsule is a good idea because it ensures whoever ends up with the coin, as long as it stys in its capsule no harm will come to it. Chris www.predecimal.com

Hello Bob, Hard to assess the grade with the discolouration and the photo not being that sharp but I suppose it could be around a 'Fine' grade coin. The catalogue value for a coin like that as Fine is currently GBP75.00. The 1783's look to be pretty rare. I'm not sure how the colourings would affect it's market value, I suppose some collectors that go by eye appear may be turned off, while others that crave authenticity (as most do) may be turned on to it and it's history. What do you think about a Kylie Avatar? Chris www.predecimal.com

Dear Kate, Thankyou! Actually I have to make a little amendment to the info stated above. The value is GBP8.00 in VF, GBP35.00 EF and GBP75.00 UNC. I didn't realise the book values started at VF not F. If it really was put there when it was new I would keep it and just put the pound up there! And i tell you what would be another great idea to put up there...Last years One off Golden Jubilee Crown (5 pound coin). It so happens I have one on the site for GBP6.00 and could also throw in a plastic capsule for it. I'm really not sure what a farthing would have bought back then. I'm sure it would have been far more than we would consider a quarter of a penny these days. The highest denomination coin or note circulating in 1799 was a Guinea, valued at One pound and One shilling (GBP1.05 decimal) so if we compare that to the highest denomination of today...The fifty Pound note then perhaps the Farthing was worth around 50 x 0.25 which is 12.5p....Then you have to take into account 204 years worth of Inflation/deflation, so really I have no idea. By way of hard evidence I do own an 1810 London Newspaper and it's price in 1810 was 6 and a half pence and it looks like a posh one! The farthing stopped being produced in 1956 because it was seen as such a small amount that it wasn't needed. (Like the Half Pee in 1983). Thanks for using the Forum again! Chris www.predecimal.com

Dear Kate, Thanks for adding a new and interesting paragraph or two to the site. New content keeps people coming back and I need to get this forum filled! The 1799 Farthing was a 1 year type, the farthing before it was dated 1775 and the next one after it 1806. That farthing was made in the Soho area of Birmingham by a very good coin maker called Boulton who at that stage was still perfecting his new steam powered coin press. The coin you have is basically one of the first that was struck with a machine and of far superior quality than anything that went before it (with regards to lower values certainly). What you have represents one of the earliest ancester of the modern British coinage. There are 2 varieties concerning the number of berries on the branch Britannia is holding but it's very difficult to tell them apart unless the coin is in super condition and they're both worth the same anyway. The book values are currently GBP8.00 in Fine, GBP35.00 in VF and GBP75.00 in EF so if it's a nice example i'd certainly think twice about making it part of your house! Worn examples are common and worth very little. So you want to ensure it stays the way it is for 200 years! All of the products offered for coin storage on the site are free from chemicals and won't do it any harm but they certainly haven't been tested over 200 years yet! I would recommend a plastic coin capsule and perhaps you could seal it closed with something. The coin you can put with it is obvious...A one pound coin. Because the design changes every year making each one a one year type at the moment (I believe) and the 2002 One pound coin had the reverse design representing England. I'm not sure where you are in the UK but if it's England then there couldn't be a more ideal modern cousin. Chris www.predecimal.com

If you're still reading to this point, well done! This was my reply to the humans email: Dear Tora, Firstly it's wonderful to actually know that the ebay beast does actually have some human servants! Secondly, you are an internet company and like all companies that use the internet and create web pages etc as I do, you will have a daily back up and I'm sure can quite easily restore my listing with a little effort so that I can change them to comply with your rules. I did once get an email before telling me my auctions had been cut off and was then careful to comply with your rules. However I often re list itmes and clearly in advertantly re listed an item that went against your rules. I have never recieved any warning about the way my listing link to my site and have only just had my auctions cut off twice! Like I say, If a warning was forthcoming I would have no trouble changing the auctions normally within a couple of hours. To qoute your email with it's automatically placed footer: 'We appreciate your patience and understanding regarding this matter, and wish you continued success on eBay.' I am NOT patient, NOT understanding and right now want nothing more to do with eBay! Put the items into my 'Auctions ended' area so that I can relist them....pretty please. Take off your eBay hat for 10 seconds and ask yourself what the fair thing to do would be. Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

The next day I got an email in return from a real human: Hello Mr. Perkins, Thanks for writing to eBay's Customer Support. I realize that this situation would be frustrating, and appreciate the opportunity to help you resolve this issue. We understand it can be worrying to have an auction removed from the site, but eBay does have strict policies and guidelines which protect our community. Unfortunately, when eBay ends a listing for its failure to comply with eBay policy, it is automatically removed from the site and is not saved. According to our records, you were issued a procedural warning on 23 May, 04 July and 01 Sept, stating that the item you were offering was in breach of our policy on Links, but your auctions still contained the violating link. For more information on our listing guidelines, please visit our policy page at the following URL: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/listing-ov.html We appreciate your patience and understanding regarding this matter, and wish you continued success on eBay. Best wishes, Tora Larson eBay Trust and Safety ______________________________ eBay Your Personal Trading Community

In case anyone is remotely interested I replied to the above email in this fashion: Dear Ebay, You really have no idea how long it took me to list those auctions and how careful i was to ensure I complied with all your bloody capitalist rules. Could you not have said in an email 'Dear mr Perkins, please change your listings within 24hrs etc' I would gladly have changed them, but now I can't even see them to change and relist them. That just caused me a major inconvenience, some of the auctions were a friends who was expecting them to end soon, most of them had respectable bids on them already. is there any way you can reinstate them so that I can change them to comply with your rules and at least start them again without having to create the listings again? i really think you've made enough money out of me to give me a break! In the mean time I will seriously look around for another online auction company and probably will be closing my account after these auctions finish. If i can't relist them easily I'm afraid I will probably be closing my account That was very rude indeed!!! Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

And sorry for taking ages to reply too. I used the name Guest_Chris by mistake myself once or twice and didn't notice your message was a new one not by me! Chris www.predecimal.com

Dear Chris, Yes indeed it is a Farthing and 1891 is not a hugely rare date and the value will depend on its condition. It a worn circulated condition (which I would guess describes it as you were unable to read the 'H' properly) it probably wouldn't be desired by any serious collectors. The picture below is how it would have looked when new and is priced currently at GBP40.00 which shows how the condition factor really dictates the price, not the age. (Thanks for your help Sue, please become a member and help me out in here!) Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

At about 4pm on the 1st September I got the below email from eBay, and have written some thoughts (in brackets) where most appropriate. Please be aware that I am not ever this offensive and never use the language below normally. This has really annoyed me, as you can possibly tell! The email: Dear Chris H Perkins (chrisperkins@freeuk.com), We appreciate that you chose eBay to list the following item(s): (Yes, because you're making lot of money out of me aren't you) 2947818379 New - SAFE Signoscope T2. Watermark detector. 2947827215 *NEW* 32 page large stamp stock book. 3043250566 100 Acid Free 46mm transparent Coin Envelopes 3043252282 100 Inert plastic Coin capsules. Choose sizes 3043254924 Aluminium case for up to 5 Lindner coin trays 3043255847 *NEW* Aluminium carry case for 261 Coins. 3043454799 10c (Japan) 1870 VF and a Burma 1 Mat 1852 3043455125 2 Anna (India EIC) 1841 in around Fine grade. 3043455610 5 Cent (Canada) 1858 in VF Condition. 3043456153 Straits settlements 1845, & Ceylon 1870 coin. 3043456429 Half Farthing (UK) 1844 in VF Condition. 3043456859 Hong Kong Gothic Cent 1865 and 5C 1873. 3043457373 Bombay and Calcutta 2 Annas EF 1862 and 1875. 3043458142 2 Anna (Calcutta, India) 1875 in UNC/AUNC. 3043458568 2 Anna (Calcutta, India) 1875 in EF+ Grade. 3043458908 Sixpence (UK) 1757 in Good-NF Condition. 3043459953 Cent (Straits Settlement) 1875 in UNC/GEF. 3043630963 Cayman Islands silver Proof set 1986. V Rare. 3043873381 Coin trays. Highest quality chemical free. However, your listing(s) were in violation of eBay's policies. We would like to take this opportunity to let you know what part of your listing(s) are not permitted. Although members may place a simple link to their web page in the description portion of an eBay listing, the following links are not permitted: (So now I have to work out which of the below I was doing Illegally!!) (1) links that advertise specific items or features on another web page. (erm possibly) (2) links to other auction-style sites. (nope) (3) links to sites offering the same merchandise for the same or lower price than the initial bid set in the eBay auction. (Don't think so) (4) links to sites offering merchandise prohibited on eBay. This includes links from general viewing areas to websites that bring the viewer to adult content without first viewing a disclaimer or adult verification page. (Certainly not) (5) links to third parties' web sites without the permission of the third party. This prohibition includes linking to IMAGES hosted on others' web sites without permission. (not me 'Guv') We realize you may not have been aware of this rule, however the above links cannot be placed in eBay listings. Therefore, we have ended this auction(s) and all fees have been credited to your account. (Well isn't that very nice of you, perhaps you don't realise the time it took me to list those auctions and the fact that some of the items were being listed for someone else. Perhaps it would have been slightly more friendly if you could have asked me kindly to change them? Perhaps you would like to stick one of my coin trays sideways where the sun doesn't shine? Or is that also against your rules, as you don't yet own the Sunlight?) (Why the bloody hell couldn't you just have asked me nicely, so I could change the listings to comply with your precious bloody rules!?) Please view our guideline page for a better understanding of our auction policies and how they affect the way you list your items: (No) http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/community/png-list.html For information on infringing, prohibited or questionable items, please view: (No) http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/community/png-items.html For more information on why eBay has ended an auction, please visit: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/community/png...endauction.html Any future listings that are not in compliance with our Linking guidelines will be ended early and repeated violations may jeopardize your account status. We value you as a member of our community (Yes, because you make money out of me, and for no other reason) and wish to continue this relationship. Therefore, we respectfully ask that you abide by eBay's Listing Policies and User Agreement in the future. We thank you in advance for your cooperation. (Just a minute...In advance for what cooperation? You stopped the bloody listings without asking me! Give me a chance to cooperate in advance and perhaps I would of.) Regards, Customer Support eBay eBay Trust and Safety eBay International AG ------------------------------------------------------END I have complained to them in no uncertain terms and demanded they re list my items and let me ammend them or I will revoke my over 3 year membership. Please feel free to add any other eBay experiences to this area. (Please try to keep it relatively clean! And maybe there are some people out there that can also provide me with evidence of eBays human side, but I doubt it!) Chris Perkins www.predecimal.com

Thanks for that Bob, I'll get around to doing that when i've finished posting a message containing lots of rude words about ebay!! For those of you that don't know, the Avatar is the little goldfish (or any other) logo that Bob is sporting. Chris www.predecimal.com