1949threepence

Yes, any obvious residual easy to remove dirt, I'd do with a damp cloth with no soap, and then dry with an anti static cloth. I should have mentioned that as technically it is cleaning, but to be fair, that's not what I class as true "cleaning", as it doesn't involve any radical measures.

I haven't heard about it, but it sounds very interesting. You'd have to be quick off the mark to pick up any of the really good stuff, though.

On the subject of 1970's proof sets, Gouby notes the following with regard to toning:- I've noticed this on my 1970 set ~ penny and halfpenny.

Online coins is back 'Online' John Thanks John

This is the reply I received from Royal Mail today:- Well at least they acknowledge a problem

Yes, indeed. If you discount all the reports other than the numbered #102 etc (otherwise it gets confusing!), it's plain to see that the 1970 sets were produced from 1971/2 through to 1976, the 1971 sets from 1973 to 1976, and the 1972-1976 series from 1975/6. That's pretty conclusive I think? It does show that if the 1970 sets were issued for sale as soon as the minting began, they could have been available from (maybe) 1971 but more likely 1972 given the pressure on in 1971. What did surprise me was the number of 1970 sets minted. Getting on for 5 million. More than I thought.

Some really useful information there, AardHawk

Not sure about the answer to that but FWIW, I do recall going on a visit to the Royal Mint around 1981/2 (when such tours were still fairly commonplace as I understand it) and I remember seeing large hoppers full of old coins which were just sitting there presumably awaiting meltdown. Perhaps one of these "found" its way into the presses to start a new life as a decimal coin...?? Just my 2 penny-worth (over-struck on an old ship halfpenny of course!!) That does sort of explain how it might have happened. A similar thought went through my head when I first read it, but I dismissed the idea as I thought that all the available old currency would have been melted down several years before.

It sounds incredible. Why would a 1953 sixpence be in the mix when 1981 1p's were being struck ? I can't quite get my head round it

I'm getting the old "page cannot be displayed" message as well. Hope it comes back as I was thinking of ordering a virtually unc 1903 shilling from Cambridge Coins. Seems a bit odd, really. The site previously gave no hint that anything was up.

Pennies seem to be turning up fairly regularly, but I've not seen any other 2009 denominations. But I did get a 1986 Commonwealth Games £2 in change today, showed very little wear and had green smears both sides, these came off with quick dip in acetone. Cant remember the last time I saw a nickel brass as opposed to the bimetallics in circulation. You occasionally used to get a 1986 Commonwealth Games £2, up to about the early to mid 90's. I think the last time I was handed one in my change, was about Summer 1994. You were lucky to get one now. I never received a 1989 £2, but I have received one of the low mintage 2002 Commonwealth games £2 ~ and only one in 6 to 7 years.

You may also be interested in this link, especially the entry for 1974 !!! That is an advert in a newspaper by a retailer, so doesn't necessarily reflect the date of issue. It is the first time the advertiser had offered the product. Fair point, Rob. But I'm simply following up possible clues. This was not the easiest question to find a definitive answer to.

Since a sobering experience with a virtually UNC but dirty 1881H halfpenny (which I may have mentioned in another thread), I have never ever cleaned another coin. Nor would I buy one that I thought had been cleaned. I can nearly always tell when they have been cleaned as well, and it is very easy to distinguish cleaning from lustre, even on a photo. I'd rather have a coin with a few dirty marks or a stain, than a cleaned and consequently, slightly unnatural looking coin.

Well I wouldn't trust anything that had its origins in China

You may also be interested in this link, especially the entry for 1974 !!! I like investigating hard to uncover facts, and this is really piecing together a difficult and obscure timeline, of events from the pre-internet era, some decades ago, which would not have attracted much attention at the time, and hence tend to get subsequently buried.

Try this Enough research. I'll shut up now

I have found some vague information about the 1970 set. It is on Tony Clayton's site I suspect that precise information is going to be difficult to come by. You could e mail the Royal Mint, but don't hold your breath waiting for a reply. They still haven't contacted me about that enquiry regarding 2008 baby sets, that I made about 6 weeks ago.

Ignore previous post ~ you'd already sussed that out, and I hadn't read yours properly.

I had an idea and decided to look at the leaflet in my 1970 lsd set. Often such things have a production date on them, like 11/70 or some such. Whilst this brown concertina type leaflet doesn't have any such inscription, it does say that "the threepence was demonetised from 31st August 1971" ~ not will be, but from. Thus implying that the production took place after this date, at the very least. It also says, "like the threepence the penny was demonetised from 31st August 1971".

I'm not sure about the 1970 lsd set, but I'm sure I read somewhere years ago, that 1971 was issued from 1973 onwards, and 1972 to 1976, was issued in 1976 itself. I read this in about 1991. Not sure what it was in now, and my memory may be faulty. But I know that 1976 came into it somewhere.

I think if I bought a really valuable coin for big money over the internet, I'd be inclined to travel to wherever it was, and collect in person. Certainly if the address was in the UK.

The "bird's foot flaw" presumably being the odd partially filled indent below the King's ear on your second example ? I've never seen the trident flaw until now. Does it only occur on KN's maybe due to some die fault at the King's Norton factory ?

Very neat idea. I had heard of them but never took the time to look at their website before. Thanks, Sylvester.

Interesting, but I have my doubts that it will be worth very much more than face value, except as a curiosity. It's not an error as such ~ simply an accident with the metal. For reference I have a 2006 2p with a bubble on it.

OK, thanks guys. I've actually made a complaint direct to Royal Mail via their website. None of the pull off tabs have been removed from the main orange sticker, and I have quoted the tracking number. As the sticker should be on the board against which the recipient signs, this will be absolute hard proof that the procedure was not correctly adhered to. Hopefully they will give me some sort of explanation. As sure as eggs are eggs, there is no way they can wriggle out of it.