TomGoodheart

Another one where I'm out of my depth, but hazarding a guess it looks like a penny of Edward I. Minted in London (CIVI/TAS/LON/DON on the reverse). Possibly class 4 (open E to EDV.. and comma shaped contraction marks)? At least that's a start until someone can pin it down for you.

Hi Andy. Coins like this with a date will be sixpences (or if smaller, thruppence). The lion privy mark on the reverse makes it a third issue coin from 1566-67, though I'm not sure about the bust variety. Spink 2562 maybe? Someone else might help there. I am a bit bemused by what appears to be a cross mark on the obverse in the legend. Not sure if that's normal or an oddity. Lizzie coins aren't my speciality I'm afraid.

Hi Andy. What you have there is a contemporary counterfeit of a Charles I shilling. When I say 'contemporary' I of course mean that it was made around the time of Charles I's reign (probably in the late 1640s, early 1650s) It's probably base silver (silver mixed with something like copper). I can't find an exact die duplicate in the Brooker records (Syllogue of Coins of The British Isles #33, the John Brooker Collection) but the obverse (face side) looks perhaps similar to Brooker 1208. Coins like this with later privy marks (this one appears to be an attempt at a Sun mark) are scarcer. There are collectors who specialise in such things (I sold my little collection a while back). An interesting piece of numismatic history! Hope that's of interest.

Very true. I and other collectors have on several occasions discussed what we think of as possibly the 'only example' of something. Or one mentions a new find and someone else pipes in 'oh, yes, I have one of those I thought unique'! And for all I know there are another 20 (or 2000) similar little groups doing likewise. And until these 'rarities' come onto the open market rather than circulating amongst people who know each other it is impossible for the 'outsider' to know of them. Or verify they are as claimed. Oh, and that earlier bust/ later privy mark shilling I mentioned elsewhere? It's likely the first time it was spotted was in the Osborne sale (1991) but was not identified as interesting by the auction house, being lumped in with some other coins. A further example was found in a hoard in 1993 which the purchaser considered unique at the time. And I have now seen five examples in addition to my own, suggesting it's not that rare, simply unrecognised. But it's taken 20 years for that knowledge to become 'common' to the little group of collectors I'm in touch with and I have no idea whether most dealers or auction houses would currently recognise such a coin as anything unusual. Just an illustration of how slowly information can take to get out into the wider world (and probably of some collectors' natural reticence to advertise novel finds, which would need to be overcome for such a project to be really useful).

Sadly, I'm washing my hair or else I'd have loved to oblige ... But seriously, my first thought was 'Peck'. 700 pages, 50 plates. And then there's Gouby on top. So I'm guessing that for silver it would probably be an equivalent task to identify all the different varieties and possibly a similar sized tome would result. However, a Wiki sounds plausible. A web based resource open to all to edit and add to with a small editorial team to maintain consistency. Someone with access to publications such as the BNJ or Numismatic Circular could perhaps use the various articles to provide an initial framework that can be expanded?

Seller claims it's silver. But also says the weight is 3.9g which is about 2g light. Unfortunately it looks a lot like these ...

Well, they aren't that common. And tricky to find centred with a full flan for some reason. Now, if you ever see one with an anchor mark, that is rare!

Sorry, I'm being dense tonight Matt! Are you asking have I seen another Sharp F2/1? In which case, yes, about eight with the small mark of value and a similar number with the larger, over the last six years or so. Nice example attached. Sadly not one of mine I should add! You're right about S2881, it appears that the dies were used for the Aberystwyth issues too (though without the inner circles of the Tower issue). Brooker only has examples of the 'first' bust (double arched crown) and 'third' (smaller bust), not this. I've seen a couple of probable obverse die duplicates of this coin (where the crown just breaks the inner circle near the privy mark). Or is there something else about it that I'm missing? And for what it's worth, I'd say the prices in my Spink (F £80, VF £325) are broadly right though I've seen examples go for less and for more, if that helps?

Yup. It's Spink 2795, or Sharp F2/1 for us Chas shilling collectors. As to sales history, what did you want to know?

I've pm'd you Chris. If anyone wants the Austrian or German coins, better lemme know before I decide to send them to Chris for melting down!

5 Mark

50 Schilling

N' other half crown

Like many of you I expect, I have odds and ends lurking around in drawers and I decided perhaps it was time to cash in a few silver oddments. So my question is, sorry, my questions are generally what could I expect to make on the following? Should I ebay them? And I guess, anyone here particularly want any of them rather than me ebaying the lot? First one, an olde half crown (RARE!) (Sorry, getting into ebay mode!)

On the basis that the A in GRA is clear I'd be dubious. If I wanted an example of an inverted A I'd expect some sign that it is an A, and not something that has to be confirmed under a high powered microscope either!

This kind. Cost me £18. That to me is small budget, but there are those here that would consider that expensive. Doesn't look much does it? And that's why I picked it to show you, you see. Because in order to know that it's rare you need to know your coins: what's normal and what's not. And of course, if I want to make a profit, which is what people usually mean when they say 'rare', I will have to sell it to someone who also knows why it's unusual. And there's the problem. If everyone knew rare coins you can buy on a small budget then they'd all be buying them up! What you don't want is 'ebay rare'. In other words, all those 'rare' Darwin £2 coins (if you see more than 3 of anything on an ebay page it simply can't be that rare!) To be honest, as a beginner I suggest you forget rare. Go to the library and look at a book on coin collecting. Ideally, pick one on World coins and one on British. And see what appeals to you. That's how I started. Got a book called The Splendid Shilling and started collecting shillings because I liked the look of them. Find something you like the look of and take it from there. But the liklihood of a beginner finding anything very rare or valuable is slim. And if you don't know much about coins, are you likely to recognise a rarity? So take your time. Try junk shops, antique stalls. Don't spend too much until you know your subject or else you risk throwing your money away. And enjoy your hobby!

I just don't think I have the self discipline to attend in person. I'd end up spending way more than I want I'm sure. I've had some disapointments putting in bids beforehand and just having to wait and see the outcome. But at least I've saved a few pennies too! As to prices, I suspect some places do keep their estimates low. And also sneak in an interesting item or two described as regular to make people think they will get a bargain maybe?

Sold on the day I'm afraid. Oh well, that's all part of the fun of the chase I suppose!

Curious. I've had a look (as no doubt you have) at a couple of sites about coin design and production and there's nothing quite like it! It seems a lot to go to to produce a souvenir for the engraver, who after all could just keep the plaster original. The master from which reduction takes place to make the master die is made out of resin, so it's not one of those. So my best guess is that it was produced to show people what the final design would look like, perhaps for a press announcement or publicity photographs?

Thanks Dave. (You quickly find out who your friends are here don't you?) It was just .. ironic or whatever the word is. It was on a site I've never been on and an auction house I've never heard of! As I say, I'll call them tomorrow and see if it's gone or if I can pick it up in the clearance. I spotted another coin there that's quite interesting too. It's a general antiques and collectables sale so maybe nobody has picked them up. *he says with fingers crossed*

Many thanks! Surprisingly (to me) little change from 2006 prices!

Nice. I do have the database bookmarked and check it now and then. But to echo John, if you find any Charles I shillings I'd be interested to see them!

Ever done a search only to find a coin you'd have liked really wanted but the auction has ended? Happened to me today. Search at 7pm; auction ended .. 5.30. Hence the *bother* S'OK. I just wanted a convenient place to mentally kick myself and this is it. I'll give them a call tomorrow to see if it sold. Probably did but .. nothing ventured. And then I'll either come back to celebrate or another kick.

Um .. could I trouble anyone for a few prices (F and VF) too please? Spink refs 2790, 2800 and 2801? Yes, I know I'm cheap but I just haven't got round to buying a new copy yet. Thank you in advance!

I think the plan is to have a £500 coin made from 1kg silver. Bullion price would be, what, £18.75 / troy ounce? Isn't that around £600/kg? Which is a loss on face value straight off (so maybe I won't spend one in Tesco!) Silver values are pretty decent right now but Chard are selling 1kg Kookaburras for around £820. How high would bullion need to go before you recoup the cost?!?! I suspect they will prove to be another white elephant, people will naively buy the things expecting to make a fortune only to find they can't offload them for anywhere near what they paid. Trust me. In five or ten years you'll get people on here asking 'how much' and going away (very) disappointed. Bloody ripoff IMHO.