1949threepence

Thanks for that, Hussulo. I've noticed some variations with standard pricing though. Any reason for that ? You've got to remember this is a 2007 price guide so some of the prices will no-doubt be out of date-low but I think its handy as a reference. I didn't compile the prices as they come directly from Chris Perkins' (owner of this forum) Collectors Coins GB 2007 price guide. Cheers mate

Interesting theory. Just as a matter of interest, I wonder how much a real 1933 penny, if released from a private collection, would fetch at auction ? £70,000 ?

Thanks for that, Hussulo. I've noticed some variations with standard pricing though. Any reason for that ?

As do I, but I just felt sorry for Gary. It was however, what I was taught at school. Going back to the initial topic, the last few items I have sold on e-bay have gone for way below what I expected. I just wonder if people are beginning to abandon it, perhaps because of the impenetrable mountains of utter crap that nobody would buy in a million years. Things are going for slightly less than last year. I've noticed that. There may be something in what you say. The number of crap worn coins marked as being "from Ireland" is phenomenal. I'm not sure if anybody ever buys this crap. It's a pity e bay can't have pages devoted to coins marked as EF and above, for serious collectors.

Actually the Pound being in the loo works to my advantage. I was hatin' life back when it took $2 to buy the £1 a couple of years back - and made a big purchase from one of those London dealers. Yep, the principle I referred to only works to full advantage here in the UK

For buyers especially, another potentiality to bear in mind is the pound/dollar exchange rate. If by some remote chance the pound strengthens against the dollar, it will be worth bidding on US e bay. Not very likely I know, but just something to have at the back of your mind. Just in case.

Indeed, paying big for lower quality, because of impatience to get something unusual, is a typical rookie coin collector mistake. One which you usually pay for, sometimes years later So do I ~ and the sockpuppets are easy to spot in a bidding up process. They're usually the ones who only have a very few reps to their name, and never end up winning, but appear very frequently in the few hours leading up to the sale, although never in the last few minutes. It's understandable in a way, and I've seen sellers using this method, and still end up selling for less than book price.

I'm afraid the side by side hasn't worked as two of the images have come out too small. Apologies for this. I don't know about 1937 half sovereign fakes, but as with any expensive coin, it wouldn't surprise me. At any rate there does seem to be a problem. It would be interesting to hear the views of others with regard to this.

Let's see them all side by side:-

Yes, there does appear to be a difference. If you look at the base of the nose, the one on the left appears to stick out further than the one on the right. Is it an optical illusion of some sort ? Well, I've uploaded another image of a random 1937 George VI half sovereign, for comparison. It appears to bear out what I said.

at the end of the day, nobody really knows what it is. All we can do is speculate. But if it is a variant, then it is an unrecognised and therefore previously unknown type. IMO £300 is still too much. You'd probably do better talking up the "1" variant factor, and going for a buy it now at £49.99, with a "best offer" option.

Russ you neeed to find that 1864 and let us have a look at it, soonest

Hey, again, you're right. I should have done my research. There's one shown amongst the pics here Worth quite a bit too, as can be seen in this further link

You're right. The difference is palpable. The "I" in FID has a regular, symmetrical shape, almost akin to a bone, whereas the figure in REGINA is a definite figure "1" in appearance. In fact the more I look at it, the more I'm becoming a convert to the "I" being replaced with a "1" scenario. Be that deliberately, or due to error. ahhh, I clicked on your pre edited reply, but quoted the above.

I must admit, Russ, I thought die numbers above the date, only occurred on Victoria shillings between 1867 and 1879. I know they occur on florins, but in a different place. Never heard of them occurring on pennies.

I'm inclined to agree with 400 ~ that it's a random flaw of some sort. Maybe a die error. But, and it's a big but. That really does look like a "1". Pretty much identical to the "1's" in the date. So who knows, maybe there was a problem with the "I" on a particular batch, and they replaced it with a "1" hoping no-one would notice.

Thanks for the heads up, Colin. Tell you what, if I had time, I'd definitely take up metal detecting. Not that most detectors will ever find anything like what that guy in (was it Staffordshire ?) found last year. That said, I can't help feeling a little sorry for the people who post those green corroded efforts on e bay, hoping to make a few quid.......some of them even say "dug up" lol

Hi there & welcome, It looks vaguely Victorian. A scanned digital camera image of both sides would be incredibly useful. When you say it turned up in your change, presumably, being 27mm in diameter, it was masquerading as a halfpenny ? I appreciate it's a long time ago, though. What ? 1960 in fact

What a catalogue of howlers Not content with the cringemaking spelling error, he then proceeds to describe the coins as "mint" ( 2 of them might not be far off, but as for the rest........ ) Then best of all he suddenly thinks farthings didn't finish in 1956 after all..... Dear oh dear

I too have just received the book, Dave. Thank you very much indeed. Very, very pleased with it

Although it's worth zip, still fascinating to try and figure out what it is. Won't be Duke of Wellington - too late for that. My guess is some kind of cheap medal to commemorate something Gladstone did early in his second(?) term. Irish land reform fits the bill, but maybe not in Yorkshire... Well the item is dated 1881, a year which co-incided with one of Gladstone's terms as both PM and Chancellor. So the "stone" that anfieldmods can make out, might be the end of the name "Gladstone". I was sort of thinking along the same lines as Leviathan, in that it might be some sort of military medal. Maybe related to the first Boer war, as he indicates ?

As others have said, it is definitely there, but just faint. Actually it is clearer if you look at the pic from underneath, as it were.

You might find this link useful. It's a diary of coin fairs, including those which take place in London.

that declanwmagee is a bit pricey though, and he needs to get his head round cameras rather than scanning... Well, despite your reservations, we on here won't hear a word against him.....

Hi Dave, I've also, just a few minutes ago, pay palled you £9.99 for the silver book. Cheers oops.....just added an extra £3.00 for postage....