1949threepence

Interesting. I've got all the sets from 1970 to 1990, and on mine the frosting starts on both sides from 1980. Prior to that there is no frosting on either side. But of course, that's only my sets. There may well have been some frosting of earlier specimens as well.

Much less tendency to tone on the frosted ones, I notice. Not sure why that is.

I'd agree with that. If I found one, I wouldn't want to keep it, but I would be interested in getting any money on offer.

Those are ballpark snapshot odds at any given time. Actually they would be greater than that, given the number of new fivers produced. But probability theory suggests that over a longer period of time, if the remaining three are still not located - or more probably forgotten about, by those who were even aware in the first place - those odds gradually lessen as you have endless opportunities to look. It certainly won't do any harm to keep an eye out, it's a bit of fun, and unlike the lottery, it's totally free and can be done at any time !

What the hell kind of photography is this "Masterpiece" ? - I mean, c'mon, you're 'avin a larf my son

Thanks for that - very useful. I found the articles. At the end of the fourth article Peckris says that "next month, in the final article on the coinage of George V, I will cover the period 1927 to 1936". Unfortunately that one article, which would be the relevant one for 1934 pennies, seems to be missing. Or at any rate, I can't find it.

Thinking about it, didn't @Peckris in his articles about bronze coinage for the coin magazine, cover this period? I did read them but can't recall whether he referred to the mint toning in those years, and I've chucked them away now. Might be worth digging yours out, if you got them, and still have them.

Pete, as nobody else has tackled your question, I thought I'd give my two pennuth, for what it's worth. Whilst we all know that 1934, some of 1935 and 1944 to 1946 pennies, were mint toned, actually finding out why is not that easy. The only thing I can find is what Freeman wrote at page 17 of "The Bronze Coinage of Great Britain", 1985 edition. That's the nearest I can find, although you could always contact the Royal Mint for further information, or ask to see the Royal Mint report for 1934. It's not 100% clear. I also had a look in Peck, but apart from an acknowledgement that they were mint toned, I can't see anything else in there.

Ah right, understood. Thanks.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ So, what exactly are you disputing with the Royal Mint? For clarity. Is it all mintage figures, or just some? Obviously nothing to do with this undisputed mintage of 500

Right. Well to cut right to the chase, I don't think I would be disputing anything with the Royal Mint, based on the figures supplied by one of their (essentially) private sub contractors. Nor would I trust anything I saw on e bay. So far I've seen zero evidence that the Royal MInt themselves have given contradictory information about the mintage of this item. Indeed, I can't see any information at all about its mintage on their website.

What I'm trying to get at is where you got your figure of 500 from, initially. Presumably from the APMEX site, and also what exactly the Royal Mint said to you. I can't see any mintages for that piece on the Royal Mint site. Surely the obvious question to ask the RM is why APMEX are using a figure of 500 for the mintage - or have you asked this already?

Your call, but if you are planning to sell, don't forget to acknowledge and thank the buyer. Courtesy goes a long way, if you get my drift

I did wonder how quickly any of them would be found, as the venture wasn't that massively publicised. Articles like the above are also soon forgotten.

Thanks. That looks normal, plus all the 1889's have the same reverse (N)

Yes, I found that one as well. Does APMEX have any link to the Royal Mint itself? They look like a private company to me. So @youliveyoulean is that the site you got your 500 mintage from?

Here's the other one, slightly shaded to emphasise the lettering, and turned to one side. Having compared them with yours, I have to conclude that your example is not quite as it should be. The letter spacing definitely looks different.

Here's one of my 1889's. I was hoping to get them both on, but the saved image only shows the one fully.

Hmmm - the top of the C does look a little squashed up towards the T. Have checked my 1889's and they look more regular. Maybe an optical illusion.

Agree with the others, definitely a die flaw, Rick. Very common in buns, especially the older ones. If it were an overstrike, it wouldn't run up to and cross the linear circle.

Do you have a link to precisely where you got that information from initially?

Thanks a lot, Bob.

Cheers Jerry

Don't think I ever showed any of these three - Freemans 80, 82 & 87 all in very pleasing conditions. The 80 from LCA, the 82 off e bay (was allegedly broken out of an MS65 slab, and I think is ex Alderley) and the 87 from Colin Cooke. All in 2014 when I wasn't really posting to the forum too much.

Oh well, the gender of this seller is as mysterious as his/her written ramblings