Sylvester
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Posts posted by Sylvester
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Oh dear! What are you like!
Pop 2 stamps on it and put it in a post box, that'll do just fine.
Chris
Impulsive Chris, impulsive, mind you i did spend a good hour stood there 'umming and ahhring' (as my mother says) about whether to buy the penny or the C2 6d in GVF 1677 with 7/6 but the 7 was weak, if almost none existant, tone wasn't too bad but not exactly what i would ideally have liked.
Stephen penny is pretty good actually, the dealer stated VF or better on the reciept (so that is technically a legal statement, + signed), what with the weak strikes on these issues and the appalling quality of them and the terrible dies they used, often with many smooth areas where there should be a legend, i'm inclined to partially agree but to go a little lower with an F+/AVF.
Couldn't turn down a chance like that could i?
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I haven't confirmed it yet, but a woman has contacted me who seems to have found a Queen Anne Guinea in her change while rummaging to donate to a church collection box !
Now, it could of course be a forgery or token of some kind and of very little value, but if not, that has to be the change find of all 3 millenia !
God does work in mysterious ways
Chris
I wonder how that one went by unnoticed? Unless they thought it was brass...
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Well in my 1984 Seaby 'Coins of Scotland and Ireland' book it says £35 in Fine, £100 in VF.
I have yet to invest in the latest edition but imagine the value has increased somewhat since then. I'm also no good at grading hammered at this stage in my career.
if you want to sell it, ask my friend Richard at http://www.coinsforsale.co.uk , he knows his stuff.
Chris
Funny you mention hammered coins Chris...
I was meant to post that thing off to you today, but by the time i got back the post office was closed, (What was it 38p stamp you said? i wonder if they take 2 first class stamps on it cos i've got two at hand doing nothing in particular?...that way i can avaiod the post office's dodgy opening hours).
Anyhow the reason why i missed them is because i finished Uni early and nipped over to York coins shop...and this is where i'm afraid to say that what i predicted has actually come true.
I actually went for one of those Charles II Sixpences, and yep instead i came strolling out with that King Stephen Penny, i knew that would end up happening...
Oh well i stand by my decision. (And my train was late hence why i didn't get back in time).
Sylvester.
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Yes, you can't beat Elgar's Coronation Ode for Edward VII or Parry's I was glad when contemplating a 1902 crown.
As E.M. Forster said - Only connect...
Geoff
Ah Land of Hope and Glory...
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I always say that the only reason I got through O level maths was that I took it the year we went decimal and it was much easier to multiply things by ten. Having said that, I do remember mental arithmetic at primary school were we had to cope with questions like "If John buys 15 apples at 3 farthings each how much change will he get from half a crown when there's an R in the month" and I quite used to enjoy them - even if farthings by then belonged to history.
I think it's great that there are so many young people on the forum. I know that the latent interest in coins was there when I was in my teens but it's only that I'm in my 40s that the the interest has really come to the surface. It's just that when your 17-year old son exclaims "Hey, this pound coin is even older than me!" with a note of genuine amazement or your daughther of nearly 21 can't remember decimal halfpennies that you realise how alien even early decimal coins must be to the the younger generation.
Geoff (let's hear it for Grumpy Old Men
I hate it when people can't even remember that we used to spend florins up until 10 1/2 years ago! Some people are about as observant as a block of cheese. And it's not just with referance to coins.
What really amazes me though is those people that find an old really really polished Victorian penny in Poor-Fair condition and think it should be worth something spectacular, because wait for it... it's 100 an odd years old! It must be worth a fortune...alas no otherwise i'd be quids in...
And those that think that £1 coins are gold, yes you get 'em! I mean it's not like brass and gold are even that similar. Brass has a slighly greenish dull yellow hue for Christ's sake, whereas gold is a much richer brighter colour.
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In the early 80s, when shillings and florins were still in use as 5p and 10p pieces, I remember getting a George V shilling (1936 I think) in my change. I still have it. After that it was always George VI cupro-nickel, especially 1948 florins.
A friend who is older than me once went collecting for charity and got a William IV coin. I never saw one of those in pre-decimal days, but later Victoria and Edward VII bronze was common.
Geoff
William IV! Now that is what i call lucky... I bet they were seldom seen by the end of Vicky's reign, let alone after decimalisation!
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How many OAP's have we got in here or young nips?
I am the ripe old age of 21
i'm 19.
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yes she is wearing her crown. it is 12mms in diameter. and i cant see the writing on it as it is too small. it has george and the dragron on the back
12mm hey? Well it's no sovereign/half sovereign as it's too small.
I don't know what it is i'm afraid. Have you any ideas Chris?
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I think that's a problem many collectors have, I mean how could you turn down an EF Edward VII florin, even if you are not collecting them, and if it was for a good price?
Not a problem if you had limitless funds, but I suspect you don't!
Maybe you should designate a monthly budget and promise yourself that at least 80% of it will go on the coins you specialise in, and not a % more.
Chris
I do that already Chris.
I'm going coining (like shopping but better!) sometime next week hopefully, or maybe the monday after (as soon as i get some cash), and i've already decided what i'm getting, hopefully he'll still have the coins, that's why i've got to be quick!
Plus i've got those from you too.
I think i've already spend 80% of my money before i've got it!
Come on what are student loans for?
I've just got to stop myself buying that St Gaudens or that king stephen penny. (I have a terrible feeling i'll come out with that penny instead of the sixpences!) But under the circumstances that might be a good idea...
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I think you know what you want to do already... you want to collect everything you have mentioned and like many collectors have trouble focusing.
Whatever you decide to concentrate on you know that if something interesting comes along, you'll take it too!
Chris
See Chris my biggest problem is i just can't seem to focus myself. But i am trying very very hard.
But if something really interesting comes along as you said i'd take it regardless of whether it was my field or not!
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In fact it will be hard enough to collect by date in GVF minimum! It'll cost you a lot of money whichever!
I think collecting all the 1864 die numbers would be another huge task that could take you a lifetime.
Start doing it by date, test the availability and in the future perhaps acquire them by die number....Or not.
Chris
Everything you said does make complete sense...
(and you felt this coming along) BUT...
I agree that collecting all the die numbers would be near impossible, so i had that as the last option on the list, (as much as i'd like to try it), but collecting by date would prove to be far too many coins for my budget of AEF+, So i was seriously considering collecting only those coins that had a die number. That eliminates alot of coins to start with. And i'll even knock 1879 off the list because at £200+ in VF...well.
The reason why i said 1864 Florins as an example of collecting by die number is because only 26 numbers are known to exist.
However 1868 has a total of 14 known die numbers to get, beaten by 1867 with only 9, but the latter is far more expensive.
I think the best method of approach would be to collect the major varities from 1864-1878, then branch out into getting the '68s by die number.
Or try to aquire an example of die numbers 1-20 regardless of the date.
I really want something with a die number focus though, since the sixpences are all being collected by date. I feel i have to try something different and i'm not particularly bothered how long it takes.
I want it to be a truly absorbing collection, a specialist field etc.
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Might be better on the other hand to pull a collection together of 1864-1878, with as many of the minor varieties and what not as possible, but not all the die numbers.
Of course i could also collect all of the reported die numbers for 1864 Florins.
Which could then lead to the embarrasment of...
As the question goes, 'so what do you collect?'
"1864 Florins...in fact i'm specialised in the area, but i couldn't tell you a thing about an 1865 one..."
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Chris i am in a dilemma here...
Well i'm thinking of reducing the focus on the Sixpence set further, (for now at least) to just collecting the Charles II-William and Mary in as higher condition as i can, doesn't mean i won't get the later ones, but i'll not go out of my way to find them.
But i'll snap up any of the rarer stuff as i come across it. And i'll definately not say no to other sixpences like the one currently residing with your good self.
By doing this i can focus on all the minor varities of this rather small series 1674-1694. (Alright 24 coins). But i have three of them already. One the 1693 is a stand in, the 1674 is definately staying in the collection, but the other C2 one is borderline, it may stay, it may go. However i might not see another one for some time...
Now i think that would be more manageable that all of them to 1787! But as time goes on and i finish off that set i can pick up the rest where i left off.
Now this is where i need your advice...
Regarding Gothic Florins.
Which is the best approach do you think cos i've got three methods but i'm not sure which i'd like to try.
Firstly the good old collect by date approach.
Secondly the collect by date and die number approach,
Thirdly collect by die number only, i.e try to pull together a set of die numbers from 1-261. Regardless of the date. (Bearing in mind there are some gaps in the die numbers so it won't necessarily be 261 coins.)
Which of those approaches do you think is best?
Might be better on the other hand to pull a collection together of 1864-1878, with as many of the minor varieties and what not as possible, but not all the die numbers.
Whatever it is i want them all in AEF or better.
Might grudgingly settle for a GVF if no AEF-UNC are available.
The sixpences will still be the key focus of my collection though, regardless.
Some advice would be nice here...please...
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You know, it is a strange phenomenon that from experience 99.9% of coin collectors/dealers always like proper music. I mean of course, with a proper band and talented people, usually with a leaning towards 'Rock' genres, not the mass marketed shite that the whole world is drowning in, and has been drowning for a while now.
Chris
I agree with you Chris.
I like music from singers/bands that can 1) sing! 2) play their own instruments, 3) Don't sound like everyone else...or follow everyone else.
And i hate Hip-hop and those manufactured bands that have no talent what so ever. The one that springs instantly to mind is that Hear-say rubbish. Not to mention all those others.
If they can write their own music that's even a start!
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Erm, Queen II is ok definately, it spends quite a time in my CD player, but I'd probably go for the all time classic 'Dark side of the Moon', Led Zeppelin II (or III) or 'Division Bell' from the last 10 years. I only have Dark side and Led Zep II on Vinyl!
Last year would of course be the Darkness - Permission to land.
I'm also partial to a lot of Metallica, Yngwie J Malmsteen and Twisted Sister! Black Sabbath's Paranoid is also a pretty well balanced album. I have all bar 2 of Pink Floyd on Vinyl and all bar 1 Beatles Vinyl album.
Chris
Iron Maiden - The number of the Beast.
Although i don't really follow music as such or groups for that matter, i do listen to lots and lots of different types of music, but i've always liked a bit of Maiden...
Ah 'Children of the Damned', and 'The Prisoner'.
I used to have some Deep Purple somewhere but i seem to have misplaced it right now.
But my parents were mad on Purple (amongst other things...) so i could always borrow their stuff.
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I don't know why the Germans wouldn't like the Churchill coin! The war was a long time ago now, and there are always bloody Churchill crowns on ebay.de.
Landmarks is fine as long as they are not stupid bridges or disgusting 'modern art' landmarks.
Chris
One thing that has been puzzelling me Chris about thee new 'bridges' £1 coins.
Why did they not pick London Bridge for the English design rather than that monstrosity they picked?
Afterall London bridge is far more recognised than that Millennium bridge...!
I mean there so many other bridges too, like the humber bridge...etc.
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Yeah, i forgot about the eire coins: what a wasted opportunity. Surely eire can be represented by a different means (a large potato for instance).
If the UK joined i would like to see these on the Euro coins:
1, 2, 5: Coins representing landmarks (big ben, tower London)
10, 20, 50: Coins representing famous people (Darwin, Winston Church Hill (the Germans wont liek that!) et)
1 and 2 Euros: Queens Head: Representing the UK
I agree wth the Churchill, as long as it's not 1965 all over again!
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Yes the Edward VII Florin is a wonderful coin, shame it wears so badly. Have you seen the 1904 penny for sale on the site?
Chris
Yeuk copper/bronze not my favourite metal...
But i'll have a look. But i'll warn you now i usually only tolerate the really lustrous stuff...
Much prefer silver myself...
Actually that's not bad for bronze!
Did i really just say that?
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Yes the Edward VII Florin is a wonderful coin, shame it wears so badly. Have you seen the 1904 penny for sale on the site?
Chris
Yeuk copper/bronze not my favourite metal...
But i'll have a look. But i'll warn you now i usually only tolerate the really lustrous stuff...
Much prefer silver myself...
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Well I would say the Una and the Lion, but no one in the world ever sees them, including me!
Gothic florin/Half Crowns are high on the list for me too.
For some reason I like high grade Edward VII and George V stuff, I just like the heads for some reason, they look like distinguished gentleman even without Crowns or regalia.
I also like crowns because of the dimensions, and wreath crowns are particularly nice.
I like them all apart from the obvious monsters.
Chris
Ah the mighty Una and the Lion... hmmm
But i quite like HIGH grade hammered groats with a nice light blue tone too! And yes i have seen the odd one in my time!
I also like shield reverse sovereigns.
Indifferent to St George, but the G5 and E7 obverses when in high condition look pretty neat!
But my favourite 20th century coin goes to the Edward VII Florin, pure genius. One gorgeous coin.
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What's your's?
Mine would have to be the Godless/Gothic Florin variants and the Gothic Crown...absolutely gorgeous coins.
Sixpences follow not far behind...
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No contest.
Best by far is the £2 coin, or at least it is when it's not a commem.
Second best is the 50p, that Britannia design is well thought out,
Third would be the 20p.
Fourth the 2p.
Fifth the penny,
Sixth £1 coin. They don't half wear bad for my liking.
Last we have that ridiculous, evil 5p.
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Innuendo in a coin forum, well I never.
Oh i say...
Well really...
uhaha...
Sorry couldn't resist it!
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I'm only 25 DAS but I can count in predecimal better than anyone I know!
Hope I still have credibility with you.
Actually one of the reasons I created this small venture is because most coin collectors are older, out of date etc and this is a brand new medium that they know nothing about.
I want to mix my computer knowledge with my passion for numismatics.
(I edited 2 of your previous messages, to remove the obvious mistake)
Chris
As part of the mediaeval course they had me counting in Marks...let alone £sd!
But i came out top with the £sd mathematics, i actually find it easier than decimal, cos i go into panic mode when i see big numbers like 73+59, whereas i can cope with doing everything in 12s and 20s, it's easier to imagine, and i have enough fingers and toes to do the calculation on.
Only thing i have a problem with is when farthings get involved, and you get daft things to add up or subtract like, £4. 3s. 8 1/4d - £1. 14s. 12 1/2d - 16s. 5 3/4d...
Then i panic and thank my luck stars for decimalisation.
What about this for a change find!
in British Coin Related Discussions & Enquiries
Posted
Erm yes and no, some are and some aren't apparently, but i can't remember which are and which aren't...