TomGoodheart

And an almost seasonal Bah, Humbug from me too!

And remember, we're a friendly lot here, so if you do spot something on ebay (or anywhere else really) and want a second opinion, just post a photo and ask. Of course, we all make mistakes to start with (or for a long time afterwards in my case!) but that's part of the learning process. Coin collecting isn't just acquiring the coins, but also the knowledge about them, so it's a long-term thing. Well, it is if you're more patient than I am anyway!

Well, I'm working tomorrow so can't overindulge, daughter is at a party, so Wifey and I have just had a nice meal, listened to the Big Ben chimes and will probably turn in the next half hour! Old and boring? Moi? Happy New Year All!

I think the key thing is that the Aberystwyth Furnace crown mark is very scarce indeed. Besly says there was a (single!) shilling die, but I've never seen a coin from it! The majority of Aberystwyth coins bear Thomas Bushell's book privy mark and can be distinguished because they not only have the Prince of Wales' plumes on the reverse, but also the obverse, before the King's face. That said, coins like yours struck from Welsh silver are scarcer. It would be an interesting exercise to collect the whole range of such coins starting with those of James I and ending in the early 1700s.

Ooh! Good luck if you go for it! There are some very nice pieces there to my eyes. The 1723 shilling is a stunner ... good thing I only collect Charles I!

I can't see anything that suggests the coin isn't genuine. As for the engraving, that too looks contemporary. I suspect after the restoration of the monarchy there was little appetite for such pieces until perhaps the Victorian era, so the liklihood of it being done very much after the death of Charles I seems low to me. Of course, I'm not an expert on such thingss. Though if I had the funds I'd love to collect a few curiosities such as this!

Well, obviously it's easiest if you only collect a small range of coins. And of course, copyright issues mean that you can only use it for personal study purposes (if that) .. but keeping your own records of coins you are interested in is of course a very useful option:

Well, pending your photos once you have it, it looks decent to me. Crisp enough in the detail, full round flan (which can be seen despite the corroded bit in the remaining edge beading) and centrally struck. And if bright, it'll tone down in time. As for Charlies, well there's certainly plenty to the series to discover. Personally I don't know how people who collect more widely, particularly like Rob, remember all the subtleties across 1500 years worth of coins. I have enough trouble with the Tower shilling varieties alone!

Here's a curiosity! An Oxford half Pound, engraved with the execution of Charles (top) and Roundhead cavalry (bottom)! Oh, and for any of the farthing/penny boys, I think there are some interesting pieces in the same sale: Stacks Jan 13. http://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=599&page=4

mcsearch (and its companion acsearch (for ancient coins) are fine, but has a limited number of auction houses it draws upon. CoinArchives is a good alternative, but was far better when you were allowed access to the archive (and so more than 100 results) without paying! Christies and Noble have a few old catalogues archived (with photos) which, if they happen to be ones you're after, can be handy. But yes, finding decent photographic records can be a struggle. I can see why sites like CoinArchives now charge for full access to their database, but at US$600 (464 EUR) a year it's beyond what I can pay and not being associated with an academic institution I can't benefit from the academic rate (which still isn't free) As for Spink, well I've contacted them several times about the site but it hasn't improved the search algorithm or user friendliness of the site so I'd rate it as somewhere between crap to completely useless. I use half a dozen or so different coin search sites, plus dealers of course, but as coinwatch says, sometimes Google images is the easiest option.

It can be confusing since coins (such as yours) were struck from silver mined at Aberystwyth but at the Tower mint. There are also (Civil War period) coins produced at Aberystwyth and coins just made using dies that resemble those later used at Aberystwyth .. which are known as having 'Aberystwyth' (or 'Aberystwyth style') busts! And finally a very small number of coins, such as this one, were made at the Aberystwyth Furnace mint , where you will see the crown is slightly different (actually to me it resembles the crown used on early Charles II hammered coins): Glad to have clarified things Dave.

Welcome Jay! I don't have anything to add about storage as what I collect a little extra toning won't hurt! But I just thought I'd mention that for around the price of a dozen Britannias you could get a proof 'wreath' reverse Geo V crown (or similar nice coin with some history to it) which I reckon will keep it's value. Whereas bullion coins, well, they are just worth the silver which as you probably know, is quite high at the moment ... just an idea!

I thought 'Concrete Cow' was your local brewer? Well remembered Derek! Hence I'm currently drinking a bottle of Cloven Hoof (vanilla stout). I also have some Pail Ale, Bulldozer and Cock & Bull to try later! But I'm not against travelling a bit further afield taste-wise. Particularly when someone else is buying!

I've just finished today's shift, so am sitting down with a coffee and mince pie. Father Christmas brought me quite a few Wychwood ales for Christmas, so I'm looking forward to taking a bottle (or two) with me when we go over to Mother-in-Law's for tea later. Wifey is driving, so I intend to take a well-earned rest!

I got cash, which is what I wanted, so now I hopefully have enough to buy another coin. All good!

Bah, humbug! Or, in my case! Cheers!

Decent coins and he always seems to get good prices for his listings. I wonder if I should get him to sell my stuff too!?!

Yes, a Merry Crimbo and a Happy Yule all! May your logs never cool and your booze never run low! And remember .. A Coin is for Life, not just for Christmas. Unless it's one of those poor unwanted Charles I shillings, in which case, solely out of charitable generosity, I shall be happy to provide a home for it at very little cost to the donor.

Speak for yourself! Indeed! I spent a lot less than that on my last coin ...

Bit esoteric I know, but so as not to clog up the new aquisitions thread ... has anyone here ever heard of, or encountered, a hammered issue Briot sixpence? Three denominations were issued during Briot's second coinage of 1638/39; halfcrowns, shillings and sixpences; to a total value of a bit over £2800. A small number of hammered versions of the half crown and shilling exist. However there is no sixpence in John Brooker's collection and I wondered whether any exist? My original aim was to guesstimate the proportion of coins with the anchor mark alone out of the total issue (the majority of which are clearly triangle over anchor). As far as I know there are no coins with the triangle mark alone, but if anyone knows anything different ..? Also, coins were normally made in different denominations in agreed proportions such as two halfgroats to three pennies to two halfpence. Anyone know what proportions Briot issued halfcrowns, shillings and sixpennies in for the second coinage? Any info/ideas gratefully received!

If anyone here happens to receive a spam email from me, I apologise. Despite the fact that I'm pretty hot on security and yesterday's antivirus scan being clear, something seems to have slipped through. Unless of course you did want to meet hot Russian women, in which case,er ... Happy Christmas!

Glad you had a good one Bob, and here's to many more! As for me, I wasn't confused at all ..

Like so? LOL Happy Christmas everyone!

As others have said, we'd need a look at this coin to offer any opinions. You can link to photos directly by using a photohosting site like flickr or photobucket James. That way you are not restricted by the size limit that applies if you try to upload pics from your computer. Or if the coin is offered by a dealer or auction house, just link to the listing. You should however remember that NGC is an American company. That they have only graded one such coin as PL doesn't necessarily mean that it is rare in this condition or more desirable. US companies generally only get to see a fraction of the number of British coins available. And some of them appear to have little experience in this field upon which to base an opinion. So I suspect that their views will, for UK collectors at least, be much less important than how the coin looks and how individual collectors rate it compared to other examples they have seen.

What a strange idea. Service rings I can understand, but these things? They just don't appeal to me I'm afraid Leesa. I like my coins to have been used as money, not some regimental souvenir from a country with which I have no connection.