basecamp

Update: Just had a load of my finds returned from our local Finds Liason Officer for the Portable Antiquites Scheme, he was well impressed with the above fish token describing it as a childs toy! He states its a minature toy plate bearing 2 fish from a dolls house. These are often found in and around London but very rare out side the capital he dated it as 17th Century though and suggested that it was a very good find never the less. Obviously some things aren't always what they seem - one token less in my collection

Geordie, what am I supposed to be looking at with the close up image?

Clive, many thanks for that, the 2 un-clipped coins are exacltly 2.3 cm - so question answered! Cheers.

Hi all, I just found two Queen Mary 1553-54 hammered Groats (complete with pomegranate's and VERITAS etc). My problem is that my 2007 edition of Spinks simply lists a Half Groat (2493) as 'similar' - question is how can I distinguish a groat from a half groat?

It has to be said however that the other side does look like the moon - lol! I am sure you will agree

First one I have seen with a crown and a thistle on the same side!

Scottish Money, I am struggling to get my head around all the different varieties of the bodle. I now have seven of them and in the main they (one way or another) all have the familiar thistle on the reverse and different variations of a crown, the CR monogram and a roman numerals I or II on the obverse. My latest bodle however has a crossed sword and sceptre (dated 1678) under the crown. In short how many varieties are there and is there a comprehensive guide available?

I got excited by this Victoria penny with two old heads amazingly I have since found another Victoria penny dated 1898 with two reverses - Chris put me right and its clear by this image how two coins have been machined down and glued together - cow glue if I remember correctly. Anyway the two coins are now sitting in a box labled 'pants'!!!

Thanks for your quick reply Scotishmoney, so do you think its earlier than 17 th Century then?

Hi all, had some really excellent finds so far this year starting in February with my hammered Henry VIII silver penny (Bishop Ruthall) some 15 x 16/17th Century lead tokens and only this morning I found my 6th Scottish Charles I 'Turner' or 'Bodle' (complete thistle! this time). Not sure about this token though which I found yesterday, its 27mm, made of lead and if you look closely has a beaded border. The two fish look like pike but could be salmon - which is of course irrelevant! The other side is blank. Question is though is it a token - has anyone seen any thing similar?

I'd like to share my latest find with you all, its a Henry VIII hammered Silver penny (Sp.2331) Durham mint mm. lis with TD above the shield - Bishop Ruthall (1509 -23). The coin is only the second Durham mint coin to be found in Durham City so I have made history! I have had it analysed at the Archeology Dept at Durham Uni and its mean concentration of elements reads; Ag 97.95 Wt%, Cu 1.54 Wt%, Au 0.19 Wt% Pb 0.17 Wt% & Sb 0.15 Wt%. Apparently the dark staining can be removed but I have suggested that it should be left as it is. Being aware of the importance of the coin it is now in the safe hands of the Durham Universites Durham Palatinate Mint Coin Collection (Medieval coins from the bishop's mint in Durham), I am much happier that many will now have access to the coin rather than me showing it to a handful of visitors to my home! The legend may read 'Henry by the Grace of God King of England' - not to sure though.

Excellent!!! this easy use site will help a beginner link me to identify coins so much more easily and will stop me asking those so silly questions - well done.

Not sure if I want to buy any more of these countermarked coins just yet - particularily if they are expensive ones!!! Still trying to understand how a mercahnt company can get away with defacing the kings head and not be executed for it!

I have just aquired a George III hallf penny 1807 countermarked with 'Robinson Cutler Oxford', in a nut shell why did merchants like this razor blade merchant do this? In my opinion it actually makes the coin more collectable as it adds to the history, I have a dozen of these half pennys coins now all of a similar grade but this one now stands out as more interesting than all the rest! What is the general consensus of opinion out there? are countermarked coins more collectable or not, is there anyone out there who specialises in them that can shed a ray of light?

Just thought I would share my latest coin with you all, as you can see its another Jetton, very similar to the ship penny Jetton pictured above. Its a pity it is so worn but the quality of detail in the remaining part of the coin is quite interesting - I suppose finding a coin thats around 600 years old is a bonus whatever the conditions! Scottish Money had a fair crack and identified a French connection last time - any offers this time?

My collection is out growing the glass jar! I seriously need to consider looking at some storage containers, the coin trays on this site look just the job - but my wife says if I buy them I will then turn into a different person than the one who she married!!! Not sure what she means Any body else get grief of the missus?

No, we are doing some work which is yielding a few finds, although not one of the best this ones my favourite.

To put you out of your misery its a brooch I found last month, its is partially embedded in to sediment that has since 'concreted' (turned to rock). It is now in the hands of the Resident Archiologist of Durham Cathedral (as it was found on their land) who is trying to date/identify the find. Any guesses as to its age? (for scale thats my thumbs bottom left and the Archeologists hand middle right!)

Cow hoof glue would be appropriate looking at your Avtar!

What do they use for glue?

Heres the join line! Some one tell me its not and that it is actually a genuine coin!!!

I will upload an image of the edge of the coin shortly, the line is extremely fine I would love to know how they managed to actually join 2 coins in this way?

Ha! Of course cheating Victorians! I might stick it on ebay for novelty value! thanks for prompt replies - not excited now so will go back to watching England beat the Russians at Wembley.

Chris thanks, on close inspection the beads are intact and it does not look like it has been hollowed out. There is however an extremely fine (microns) line around the outer edge as if 2 coins may have been joined together. Old 'dints' on the edge pass over both sides of this line. However if it is a trick it must have been done many years ago as this coin has just surfaced from underground and definetely has not seen daylight for a long time! Is this trick you refer to an old or modern technique?