Coys55

It was probably part of an early attempt at decimalisation, with the florin (1/10 of a pound) being introduced in 1849. The intention may have been to replace the crown with the DF, but it didn’t quite work out.

If that was my question I would have given that answer a haha, but I guess not everyone shares my sense of humour.

Congratulations on finding a good one! Even if it was accidental.

I’m afraid not, but I’m really not an expert on these penny varieties. I am interested though and will go through my own old collection of bun head pennies at some time just in case.

Thanks for posting the image. I agree that there’s nothing there, but see where you thought it a was.

If you wanted to be really fussy a full set would include the 1887 Arabic 1 and Roman 1 variants and the 1888 and 1889 Inverted 1 (or is it a die-filled normal I serif or broken punch?) for second I in Victoria variants. All three variants are listed in Spink so I think it's reasonable to include those in the set. I did anyway...

There are a lot of fakes around so I wouldn't touch a wreath crown on eBay these days. Prices at auction are generally lower anyway, even allowing for the add-ons and postage. The last two I bought were a 1928 and a 1931 from lockdales in 2021.

Several of the his claimed discoveries (e.g. the 1875H and VIGTORIA pennies) have turned out to be not what he thought, so maybe it's just newbie enthusiasm.

Yes it is. A search threw up three others sold by London Coins in 2019/2019 (both auction #167) and 2017 (aution #156), all in significantly worse condition but with clear G.

Here's a definite Vigtoria. I don't think your G looks the same, even allowing for the condition. Compare it to the two Gs in D.G. and REG on "your" coin and I think it's pretty clear. Personally I think the seller saved you £6.

Looks more like a 10cf to me. Definitely London.

Looking forward to seeing this.

I find it interesting that we'll argue for days whether a letter is pointing at a tooth or gap or if a tide is high or low on a penny, but no one is interested in Victorian die numbers, which are as clear as day and surely worth studying and would throw up new and possibly unique dies. Some of the money paid for what seems like tiny and obscure penny varieties really astounds me. We're a strange bunch, and I include myself in that statement; I'll spend ages identifying the die pairing on a Rhuddlan cut half, or even a quarter, and could easily get interested in said penny varietes, but I have no plans to do so. Yet. I think I'll steer clear of the die numbers too TBH. Hmm, there's a lot of die number shillings on ebay... 🐰

Oh yeah. I missed that.

Is it just me or would the "low tide" P point more at gap than a bead if the arrow was drawn as close to the edge of the P and as straight (rather than at a slight angle) as on the "high tide"?

I'll go with class 9b too; the unbarred Ns (I don't think they are pothook) are disinctive. Also not my main field of interest or expertise, although I did somehow end up with 35 or so of the things and a copy of the Galata Guide. Post as many short cross (including cuts) as you like and I'll have a go though.

If it's Gilbert on Canterbury then the full reverse legend would read either GIL/BER/TON/CAN or, if the moneyer's name was spelt Gillebert, GIL/LEB/ERT/ONC So directly to the left of the cross should be L, R (or B), N (or T) or C, although I can't honestly say I can make out anything. On the obverse, starting at the far left, I think I can see an E and the ligated NR and would agree it is a class 5 which would imply the presence of a sceptre off-coin.

Great work Stu.

Exactly. There are no H’s on those two pennies, or faces on Mars or images of Jesus in toast.

Interestingly, when I zoomed into your 1877 (no H) I can see a similar ghostly H. And it's in just about the correct position too. And no, I don't really believe it's an H either, but the more I stare at it the clearer it becomes.

I can’t see an H either. I think there may be a blemish in there that the brain may try to interpret as something meaningful, especially if one is looking for it. Like the image of Jesus in a slice of toast or an alien face on Mars.

That’s what I thought. I wonder what the chances are of getting all that stuff off? Difficult to know without knowing exactly what it is unless we’re sure it’s degraded foam.

Would silver dip even get under the foam if it's covering most of the surface? I've been googling the "degraded foam" issue and some people suggest bathing in acetone. I can see why that may work if the fone is plastic based and I believe it's safe for silver coins becasue it's not a polish or abrasive. Any comments?

Ah that’s a thought; I once had a nice set of technical drawing instruments in a foam-lined case and when I opened it after about 40 years in storage it was a horrendous mess. It was so bad I just binned the whole lot. But no, I wouldn’t clean it myself in anything other than soap and water, and I assumed that silver dip would fall into the cleaning category and be a non-starter. Do you think that silver dip get that stuff off, if that’s what it is?

It’s a 1932, mintage 2,935. I don’t own it, but am thinking of bidding if it’s probably OK (although I’d be covered if it wasn’t) and recoverable from its present state. it would be a pity if it is OK but not restorable.