The Bee

Hi Kipster, Yes looks like BP 1899 Ac (10 1/2 teeth from foot of 1 to front tail of 9). I was lucky enough to find a really nice example in a random auction lot the other week Best Regards

Q. Reverse E Halfpenny ? One last query is the image below an example of a reverse E halfpenny ? (possibly 4 E its an 1861) I assume it might be, as the lighthouse seems to be different from my other examples and L C W is on the rock above the date - great to get confirmed if possible Best Regards !

Many thanks copper123 ! Below I've attached a low res image of the obverse - with what looks like a patch of different coloured metal showing through the worn surface. Maybe the halfpenny was minted (offset) and then coated in something . Best Regards

Lastly on old halfpennies, below is another "back of a PVC coin album" find. Its presumably been struck off centre. I think its dated 1696 . Might have had a coating of something on it (you can see a different colour ? appearing through the obverse)

Many thanks for the confirmation. I'm sure others have better William III halfpennies. I have another example with super patina, really tactile. Though I think I'd be afraid of damaging the surface of this one with a cocktail stick. I'd need a lot more practise Below is the result of gently removing lots of old DNA and gunk from another 1861 halfpenny - I know its not valuable. It may be quite common for find, and of course there will be many better examples out there, but currently its the best I've come across T over T, R over R, and E over E (even the colon looks overstruck !) Best Regards

Here is the other A and obverse

Hi, I very recently bought a 1964 edition of English Copper, Tin and Bronze Coins by W. C. Peck (I have accumulated quite a few earlier halfpennies and farthings) I'm trying to make sure I describe them correctly This circulated example is from 1699 . I assumed it was Pack 687, but on looking closer the first A in BRITANNIA looks to be unbarred ? (the second A isn't so clear but might have part of a bar) I wondered if this was normal for the standard 1699 ? [The obverse looks a bit better than the reverse] Best Regards

Brilliant Many thanks Terry and Richard, I'll add to the description that there is an R over a partly filled R in Britt (with re-cut H slightly higher in Halfpenny and 2nd slightly higher T in Britt) Best Regards

Many thanks Richard, I did wonder however is there something hidden under the R in BRITT. Could it be a R over a B possibly ? Best Regards

Just to add to the above below is a close up of BRITT. Under the left hand side of the 2nd T is I think a hint of a lower T Very Best Regards

Another worn and circulated 1861 Halfpenny. I have just been going through a mixed lot, mainly worn Victorian pennies, On the plus side it includes a nice 1899 Penny (10 1/2 teeth BP 1899 Ac); a very thin 1939 Penny (just looks a bit odd), a decent token halfpenny 1794; misc. Victoria and Geo III; and another 1861 Halfpenny. This time (not sure if its damage) the foot of the right leg of H in halfpenny might have been re-cut and the second T in Britt is slightly rotated. The lighthouse has masonry at the base but not further up (could be wear ?) Assuming its a standard Obverse and Reverse - possibly with a couple of minor odd additions

If all else fails I think the realised prices might be available via "the Saleroom" Best Regards

Many thanks Martin, Glad you liked it. I wasn't sure how to describe the halfpenny, so that's brilliant. Its a bit worn and not obvious what's going on when you look straight at the coin (on the photo of the obverse you can just see the light bouncing off the 1. Tilt the coin slightly and the 1 jumps out clearly. An affordable impulse purchase. If its any use to Richard he is more than welcome to use it for halfpenny varieties. Very Best Regards

Last Bronze today an 1861 Half Penny . Condition is poor (Gouby 7 obverse not sure on the reverse) but the date was of interest. Must be lots of examples around in better condition, but nice to have this one

Many thanks Richard - great to get it confirmed - I do have problems with lighthouses (well the ones on GB Bronze anyway !) I will adda note to the tray Here is the obverse which I think must be K Very Best Regards

Back to 1874 H having checked the pennies sadly I don't have reverse I as yet. For a circulated coin the H over the gap look a good clue. But so far I have only one example of an 1874 H Penny where the H is over the gap between the beads, but its not the reverse I. Its quite a worn example of Gouby BP 1874 Jd Anyway onto the pictures, the circulated Penny below might be reverse g and obverse K. It is a wide date H and the sea crosses both sides of the linear circle. There is no rock on the left of the lighthouse and the O from ONE looks to be close to the top of the lighthouse. I'm not sure about the lighthouse though, seems to be one of the areas that wasn't protected and gets worn. Have attached a picture of the obverse and a close up of the left and right sides of the linear circle showing (I think) the sea crossing both sides If I'm mistaken please feel free to correct me ! Very Best Regards P.S. the spots to the left of the galleon seem to be annoying examples of light pitting (corrosion) which pepper both surfaces

Hi Wondered if this handwriting was known at all ? First ticket found in the collection I'm working through - a George II Farthing

That's exactly what I did . Very kindly I was able to buy the original version and then Michael had spare updates and sent me one after he got back from holiday (I guess not everyone who bought an original copy were still collecting when the update came out). So currently it "lives" on the floor usually open for me to refer to (my books "work" rather then sit on shelves for display purposes). Told Michael that its a brilliant read (if you like that sort of thing of course) ! Very Best Regards

Many thanks Bernie, really helpful. So at some point I will need to find an A over A. And not at all Martin , I should have posted a clearer picture earlier I will add R over R to the description in the tray Very Best Regards

Many thanks Martin, Here is a close up of the A and another picture of the R in Reg - hopefully a bit better this time

1860 Penny N over N (Z) Gouby Dd [I think !] also possible double struck R in REG Spotted the first error quite easily but it looks as if there is a second one, well unless I've misidentified the penny in which case that'll be the 3rd error !

Hi Martin Many thanks , no its not an I, I think I thrown a bit by the closeness of the back of QV's head to B in Britt which seemed closer than other 6 + G's Currently I only have one example of an 1874H obverse where the sea doesn't cross the linear circle . I have it as 7 + G

Penny 1874 H Hi, Started to sort my Pennies yesterday so I don't totally lost. While working through 1874 penny widths I checked the obverse of one, and it looks a bit different from the rest Its worn, but the back of Queen Victoria's head is almost touching the B in Britt, the rest have a much larger gap. The only Obverses I seem to be able to find seem to be a bit scarce, so I assume I'm missing something obvious. Great to get feedback on what the Obverse is (assume reverse is standard). Any thoughts much appreciated !

FYI I have ordered the 2nd edition updates from Michael Gouby, for the British Bronze Penny 1860-1901 (mine copy being the 1st edition). Apparently not everyone who bought the 1st edition upgraded to the 2nd edition and so Michael had spare copies of the update. The first edition was a really interesting read (well I found it really interesting anyway !). My plan is to re-organize my Bronze pennies more clearly into a "best penny" date run 1860 - 1970 which I can upgrade from time to time. Then using separate trays from 1860 onward I'll use those for varieties / date widths etc. 1860 onwards and label them as I go, so its easy to read what is where at a glance. Clearly it is impossible to have every variety (just as its impossible to collect every 18th/19th century newspaper title - some have tried) but I can upgrade the varieties when the opportunity arises. It will hopefully avoid the pennies getting out of control and help with structure. I will probably also try for a few half penny varieties as well as upgrading and some more farthing varieties over time. I have the beginnings of date runs prior to 1860 with some common varieties (and some fakes/non regal)- but for silver it will just be date runs. Best Regards !

Hi, Just wanted to share a 1862 Penny with raised piece of the metal (probably irregular rather than a dot) above the right leg of R in Victoria (ink or other stain under the R !) Just wondered if anyone else had seen anything similar ? Best Regards