TomGoodheart

Well, obviously there's the romantic (particularly for Americans) value of a coin dated 1776. As for worth, well, you'd still have been able to buy a loaf of bread with it (a pennyloaf in fact!), though by that date it would have been poorer quality. A proper meal would cost you about a shilling.

Looks like Peter's been on the poet juice again! But welcome Woodsman! It'll be fun to hear how you get on with the detector. And if you find any shillings of Charles I you want ID'd, I'll be happy to help!

Oh, I took the 'proof' thing with a pinch of salt. I'm not aware that such things existed in the mid-1600s. Yes, there were trial pieces or patterns. And with hammered coins the occasional 'fine work' piece. But proofs? I'd just call it a particularly nice example and leave it at that myself ... .. and if you could get it for rather under US$ 45,000 I think it'd be a good alternative to Roddy's. From the photos anyway.

https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=489&lot=3928

Oh, I think that's excusable Nick!

On occasions I've gone to the Post Office and got a few £5 coins and spent them in Tesco, in the hope that maybe someone would pick one up in their change and give it to a kid and the next Lockett would be born. But I now suspect that the RM's output has really very little effect on making coin collecting popular as a hobby. And in fact, when people see how little their 'treasures' - often bought at some expense by doting Uncles and Grandparents in the hope of being 'worth something' a few years down the line - are actually valued, it may put them off for life. I don't even bother to pick out new 50p designs from change any more. Sad really that the noble RM, with its 1000 years of history, is now the Franklin Mint of our day ... .... though that new multicoloured Kitten themed £2 coin with bejewelled eyes that miaos if you drop it is quite cute.

Yes, it makes sense that larger coins would be found first. Then as detector technology improves and people start to go over 'old ground' the smaller denominations and deeper coins come to light. Whether we've seen the peak of it, I don't know. I suspect there's still a fair amount of land yet to go. But eventually everything that can readily be found and dug up presumably will be. Leaving only the remotest areas, or the impractical, such as under roads or buildings still to be explored.

The whole forum's gone bananas! I think we should all drink 'bottled' water until we can work out what the hell's going on around here? LOL I think it's partly what Rob says, it's a big collecting world and other people's enthusiasm eventually rubs off on us. Plus I don't know about other areas, but there's little quality hammered Chas I around as far as I can see. After a period of buying very little I started to think beyond 'that looks nice' to actually considering expanding my horizons a bit.

Well, I think it's possible to challenge import duties. However AFAIK, that won't get you back the £9 or so the PO charge for collecting said erroneous charges, since that's admin and nothing to do with HMRC.

Any ideas what this is?: 230982443530 Because I'm pretty sure it's not an EDWARD III HALF GROAT. ??

Pics? Where's the drooling smiley when I want it? And welcome!

Odd. I couldn't get the pics to work at all .... and wasn't prepared to risk wasting my money ...

??? CHARLES 1ST SHILLING - Sun Mintmark (1632-1633) CHARLES 1ST SHILLING - Sun Mintmark (1632-1633) The descriptions in the listings don't match the titles, there are no photos and .. yet people are prepared to bid? Surely cheap rubbish is still .. well, rubbish. Though I guess people buy lottery tickets too ...

I have copies of Edward Besley's Coins and Medals of the English Civil War (128pp, Seaby/National Museum of Wales, 1990) and George Boon's Cardiganshire Silver and the Aberystwyth Mint in Peace and War (287 pp, National Museum of Wales 1981) if anyone is interested before I list on ebay? I bought them from Galata in 2004. They are both in good condition (though I've written my name in them in pencil) and make very interesting reading for anyone interested in the period. The Cardiganshire book discusses mining and minting processes and the accounts of Thomas Bushell, the Besley covers a wider scope, though is a smaller book. Both are nicely illustrated, the latter with some plates in colour. I paid £23 for the Besley and £50 for the Boon but I'm willing to haggle/negotiate on price if I know they're going to a good home! I'm happy to answer any questions if anyone wants more details!

Ah, yeah. I came up blank too! But like I say, whle I don't know about the Pobjoy mint (who make these Angels), I'd expect the same year of issue denominations to all bear the same privy mark.

Traditionally privy marks indicate a year or sometimes a mint. So I can't see why the marks for issues of same year would be any different. Though .. without meaning to be rude .. I'm bemused why it would matter for a bit of bullion mounted in a ring ... But then it's not my sort of thing at all .

Not me. It doesn't say 'organic'. Brings back memories of a house we bought as a repo. The owner had (apparently) a short haired dog (possibly Staffy) that the neighbours told us had had pups. They also told us she left them in all day. Had to clean everywhere, including taking up the floorboards, to get rid of the smell. So I think I'll pass, thanks.

And number two, Spink 2799, Sharp G1/2 triangle in circle. Ragged small flan, but a very crisp portrait and probably near as struck. Still bright, though hints of toning starting to appear. Yours for £90.

Sympathy is nice ... but I'd rather have money! Talking of which.. I have two more coins for sale. For those of a ..er, sympathetic nature!! Before I offer them elsewhere .. first Spink 2784 Sharp B1/1 ex Alan Morris. Creased and straightened but a decent enough grade and hard to find this early series. The first photo is a bit contrasty. In the hand it's closer to the second: I'm asking £175

Sorry. First one's gone now and there's a pending offer on the second. First time ever I've had success with BIN or Best Offer on ebay!!!

I've deleted it for you Nicholas. Feel free to repost it if you still want to meet Russian brides. Richard

Alternatively as a special offer to Members, you can have both for £156 which includes insured, next day delivery postage!

As far as I know, they're of virtually no interest to anyone else here, but ... I've listed my Bell mint mark and Crown over Bell coins on ebay. Both unusual mint marks for these particular obv/rev types. 151035668906 151035658996 I'm happy to consider offers, so feel free to pm me if you might like to break into the wonderful world of Charles I shilling micro-varieties!!!

Indeed! The history of a coin from the Netherlands ending up here in England is interesting in itself. Was it traded? Brought over as some of the financial support Queen Henrietta requested for her husband Charles I? Or just a souvenir of European travels?

I was more interested in this from November 2011. "The Bank of England publishes a list of the names of people who the public deem to be suitable for appearing on banknotes. Some of those who have been nominated, but have yet to make the grade, are David Beckham, Sir Jimmy Savile, Princess Diana and Sir Terry Wogan." How times change, eh?