1949threepence

Thanks for the heads up Martin. That looks the real deal.

A colleague had very similar symptoms to you Richard (high temperature and felt lousy, also tested negative). Her test was at the Coventry test centre (near the Ricoh arena where WASPS rugby club play their home matches). Apparently the place was deserted, apart from a few testers. Nobody else was there, and I've heard similar reports about the place.

Sounds interesting.

Much better.

Got one - PT though, so not technically a Bramah 23a.

Take a look at this link The impression given is that the swabs are retained for DNA purposes. Doing the rounds on facebook as a conspiracy theory. But it's not true - further link - although I think they've been a bit careless with the wording.

Pics are blurry. Difficult to confirm detail. So to confirm, definitely no L C WYON clearly visible under bust?

Indeed Chris. For all the world it looks as though someone has been at it with a (mini) blowtorch.

The centre of the obverse of the proof penny above looks a bit strange. Or is it the photo?

All the best Richard. Fingers crossed it comes back negative.

Not a loss or theft, but a report of bad practice by Royal Mail - and this time I was in, ready and waiting for an 1843 no colon after reg penny due to arrive by next day tracked delivery by 1pm today. At about 12:34 I heard the letter box, rushed out, and there it was. NO KNOCK ON THE DOOR. I opened the front door to ask the guy why he hadn't knocked, but he'd already disappeared back into his van and was driving off, evidently not doing his round on foot. God knows how he managed to be that quick getting away. Just a heads up to be aware.

Received my amendments earlier today, and have duly installed them in the book. Superbly packed. Secure, without being like Fort Knox to get into.

You're close to Bletchley Park. Do you ever visit there? I went in 2012 - fascinating place.

You're lucky living there, right at the main hub of the Severn Valley Railway. OK, activities will have been curtailed this year, but what a place, and what a station.

As opposed to Gobby's The American Bronze face........(sorry, sorry)

What, you mean you've got a separate folder for you, called "me"?

Jerry I don't know why e mail providers even bother with a junk folder. So much legit stuff gets dropped into them, and so much actual junk into the main folder.

Pleased to say I've just received my e mail (as no doubt has everybody else who expressed an interest) from Michael letting me know that the amendments and additions are now ready for postage. Just paid £13.50 into his account. Very much looking forward to receiving them. Considering the amount of change, £13.50 seems a small price to pay. Thanks very much indeed, Michael. Also many thanks to Richard for the proof reading.

Speaking personally, I suppose I'd probably go for the fine 1843 if it was no colon after reg. Undoubtedly scarcer than the REG: but judging by your figures, Ian, not "vastly the rarer of the two 1843 varieties", as exaggeratedly described by one dealer. Oddly enough I had no difficulty getting a slender seven 1857, and have seen several for sale, but mostly lowish grade. The one I have is about EF, but the term "sometime cleaned, now retoning" could reasonably be applied to it.

You never know what you might find in them.......

What's it want this time?

Agree with all the above. Given that Bramah's book was written over 90 years ago, and Peck's great work was over 60 years ago, we could certainly do with a new updated 21st century book for pre 1860 copper coinage. So many new varieties discovered since then.