Peter

I wouldn't touch the dummies book. Learn from this forum and the Net. Peckchris suggestion on CYB is true but if you want to specialise try Michael Freemans or Pecks efforts on copper/bronze and maybe Davis for silver. I will also state that Rotographic books that Chris turns out are excellent....they cover valuation, varieties, grading history and are all competitivly priced. Is there anything specific series you are interested in? Regards Peter

I've got a Nikon D40 which although not current has a cult status. I just use auto focus with the standard lens supplied (18-55)....my surplus coins are selling like hot cakes I'm going to re-photograph all my coins (my daughter will as she has less camera shake ) I know some people go to great lengths to obtain quality pictures....life is too short. This isn't meant to be a plug but here is a 1935 1d currently on my selling http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230432800998&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:ITEbay domain. This was knocked off in about 20 secs on the window cill on a piece of red felt.

Peckris, I have a HP Photosmart C7180 printer/scanner and have touble with the finished scans, they just dont look right compared to other peoples scanned coins. Any recommendations for settings and/or software for amending the images etc? Ditto - cheap Canon scanner; at least 6 years old. I scan a dozen or so at a time at 600dpi but don't ask the scanner to do an A4 scan - just a postcard sized part of the platen. It can do 1200dpi, but then that's one coin at a time. Sometimes they're a bit dull, particularly with older bronze, and I find a brightness tweak of about 10% and 5% contrast brings out detail you'd otherwise lose in the gloom. I use a Nikon DSLR and get brilliant results with out a tripod and using natural light.

My bidding finger is poised http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Job-Lot-Collection-of-George-III-Victoria-Coins_W0QQitemZ220547817754QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Coins_BritishMilled_RL?hash=item3359aca11a

Its close..a very good GVF or NEF...the eye appeal shouts EF prices

Over the last few years the seller has had some nice coins You can always chance something like this on Ebay...plenty of mugs out there.

She bought me the Malt but I wasn't hammered Tin farthings.....now there is a reason for her to get shirty....a crap one...ohhh those edges

Love it I meddle with low priced currency coins...until Mrs Peter found out I had spent nearly £1000 on three 1/4ds VIVA raw coins

Chris...Please don't wish me dead.....My silver collection will pay for a round the world cruise....the copper collection (excluding farthings) a Med cruise & my farthings are going to a future grandson (not too quickly I hope) & my gold on loose.........

Try Chris...I'm on no commission but we've put up with each other for over 5 years....I will give him more trade in fact if I plop my clogs early the family are aware of him and Colincooke(RIP). SIMPLES.

From Ebay of which the listing had run for 8 days so obviously not.

I've just bought the whole shooting match of Krause books 1600-2009 & Italian & American on a CD...It is fantastic...all fo £4.99 !!!!

I didn't mean to sound harsh....but I was having a crap day and logged on to cheer myself up (recovering from H1N1 & I'm self employed...so a harsh Jan/Feb ahead) Welcome Smileynialley Its probably worth holding on to the stuff for sentimental reasons. I'm now shifting some sentimental coins on Ebay after hoarding them for years (I've now got better examples) and feel they have served their purpose. Other peoples trash is other peoples treasure etc. I was just pointing out you hadn't a fortune...sorry.

Put it on Ebay at 99p start and it will probably reach its mark (include US Ebay) or sell it to someone like Chris who will obviously want to make a mark up....but will have contacts and is 100% safe in dealing with and I'm sure would give you a fair price. However it will never depreciate because of its rarity. Personally I would prefer 2 weeks on a Greek Island with Mrs Peter..... You've got a nice decision....I do hope we've helped.

You have a mixture of low grade foreign and predecimal British coins of which none have value. The notes I know nothing on but the condition is poor. If you look on Ebay you will find 1000's of these cluttering up the coin pages....mostly not selling. Regards Peter

Its called ghosting and effected bronze coins until the metal mixture was changed in the 20's to prevent this....keep looking. Regards Peter

You have a George 111 Soho mint halfpenny if its 29mm or farthing if its 21mm. The date appears to be 1807 but these type of coins were only minted in 1806 & 1807 Regards Peter

Call me Mr Picky but it has quite an edge knock at 6 o'clock. Still its one of 932 and sought after. Maybe Chris could offer some advice because I know a lot of these have passed through his hands. I also would be interested in the dealers name.

Rob You beat me to it.....at least we agreed.

It would appear your coin is an Edward 1 1272-1307 silver long cross penny which was minted in Bristol. These coins are quite common but the Bristol mint ones are rarer. The most common mints being London & Canterbury. You are correct in that the coin has been clipped.The long cross on the reverse was an attempt to prevent clipping. These coins were often halved or quarted for use as small change. This coins were high quality silver and English coins were sought all over Europe and beyond. On the Continent they were imitated and these were called esterlings. If you google some of the above you will find more information. Regards Peter

The reason I hate eBay is the sheer waste of time dredging through the dross to find decent coins. It doesn't help to sort by "opening bid", as quite a lot of the better items will start bidding at 99p, so knocking that strategy on the head. If someone would come up with a surefire way of filtering out the crap, I'd have much more time for eBay, but when the crap is between 95-98%, well .... life's too short. You can easily cherry pick dates and filter this again into denomination. I accept there is a lot of rubbish on Ebay but I've still picked up some top stuff.....Don't be afraid to offer against some of the dealers listings....some dealers BIN are way too high but a crafty offer and a compromise can often be achieved.

Cheers, seem to be "not as rare" as i thought that it would be by all accounts, using one site, but another site seems to think that it is rare as tey have a coin up for sale with a picture (same coin) no price but in large letters the word Rare" across it?? So it really was the date of 1321 ........I wonder how many peoples hands that has passed through? thanks again mate Hi As it is an Islamic coin the date of 1321 is approx 1903 in our calender. still interesting and worth research. Regards Peter

Ebay is a brilliant market place for coins. Set your limit and go for it. Where else can you view the nr of coins 24/7 Some of the dealers on Ebay sell at coin fairs so as long as the picture is undoctored I don't have a problem Everyone seems willing to slate Ebay. I can rember coin lists being posted to me and no photographs and relying on the dealers grades of which I wasn't always happy

I'm not arty farty but as a read and reference Coincraft 2000 is up there if this could be updated with latest info plus printed on better paper (and get rid of the prices)...a good read....a bit too big for the back pocket at coin fairs though

I would think the Wee Scottie is a bit sharp...although I wouldn't Know a slender 3 or even an open 1903.....stuff you penny collectors the future is farthings.