Peckris

This sounds a fantastic idea, and though I'm too feeble these days to offer practical help, I'm all in favour. Personally I like the denomination idea (i.e. much like CCGB and Colin Cooke and Freeman and ESC), then probably going back in time, like CC does. One slight problem - I'm too disabled now to operate a setup to take photos of coins, and my scanner - like all scanners - is great for detail but lousy for tone, lustre, etc. For example, my scan of a virtually "As struck" Queen Anne shilling looks dreadfully ordinary, nothing like what it does in hand. That would put all my best coins at a disadvantage I'm afraid, as the scans would look pretty nondescript. It would also put anyone else in a similar position, or those who simply cannot take decent photos of coins, at the same disadvantage.

Well it IS a scarce variety in a high grade. I'm not surprised. That may well set a benchmark for 'price guides' though I suspect they give eBay a wide berth.

Nice You've got a plethora of reverse indicators - the downstrokes of the R T I or N can all be used as pointings

BU value is between £20 and £30 - if it becomes more popular, that could go up a fair way (undervalued IMO).

Yeah. Never mind buying coins to slab and sell in the US ... we should be building a time machine, going back and buying up everything at 1960's prices! But nothing post-1936

There used to be an application (in the 80s and 90s) called HyperCard - using it you could build the equivalent of a website, i.e. something with pictures and links to other pages, in a pretty short time whether you had IT experience or not. HTML is just the same really, and evolved from HyperCard which itself was based on HyperText which is as old as the hills. It sounds much more complicated than it is.

Ask our friend Accumulator, who has done such a sterling job on his pennies. Whether it was a simple job though.. now you're asking.

You knew it was 1927 all the time, didn't you Stuart ? Just joshing with us to see who was on the ball........ I have to confess I was on the ayePhone again, and couldn't actually make out the numerals! I did go to the trouble of opening up Freeman & Peck with beating heart, wondering whether I'd missed some massive mint error or something! Whoops! Reminds me of the time my blood pressure rose to feverish heights when a seller on eBay had a 1928 penny with the larger portrait of 1927. I was all poised to bid a silly price when I just happened to notice he also had a 1927 penny with the smaller portrait. Blood pressure dip, loud sigh, finger off the trigger...

Just to extend thanks to Rob for a very kind offer, which I've accepted, of some old Coin Monthly mags at a very reasonable price. Thanks Rob They arrived today and I've been reading one or two from 1969 (only two months so far). First impression are of a pre-occupation with 1951 pennies back then. They were almost the holy grail. One dealer wanted more for a BU specimen, than for an uncirculated 1881. I'm intrigued by some of the prices being charged back then, and might well do some comparative experiments with inflation and today's prices. They really are an intersting read. Once again thanks to Rob. Snap - I filled in some gaps from Rob's "stash", and you're right, they make very interesting reading. In one 1969 advert, there's a grid of UNC coins in all denominations from 1937 to 1967 - they are asking £35 for a 1959 halfcrown. Turn the page, and Lincoln Coins are asking £22 for an EF 1689 halfcrown, and £33 for a "Vir. BU" 1836 halfcrown. What absolute madness those times were.

That's complete and utter bo***cks. Virtually flat or better would be more appropriate. I assume Virtually Flat was deliberate Rob?

The seller's obviously had "2 or 3"

Good spot - that definitely looks like BRTTANNIA

Hmm. Looks a bit dodgy. Couldn't be... possibly... ...could it?

Message sent... Yes that's ridiculous, GF/NVF? I think you've rather underestimated it. I'd say minimum VF (the reverse a bit better). But yes, still overgraded.

I'm afraid it's been a long-standing issue. But the returns policy has always been 'no quibble' so I think it's fair enough, except where newbies are bamboozled into thinking they've got something better than it really is. On the other hand a newbie isn't going to shell out for a high grade 1905 halfcrown..

I think this lends credence to the theory that the Mint was so preoccupied with alterations in 1882, that a lot of its work - particularly low value denominations - was farmed out to Heatons. Yes - the particular obverse / reverse die combination for London 1882s does not occur on any of the Heaton pennies, so is a sure-fire indicator.

You can also apportion it - bank/home in whatever split you think best. That gives the opportunity to do research on a section of the collection whilst leaving the majority in the bank. Then rotate according to what you want to study as few collections would require the whole spread of material. It's not just research Rob - it's the simple enjoyment of taking out your favourite coins when you want to, examining them under a light, or just admiring the reasons why you bought them in the first place. divemaster - two points: 1. the greatest security is not to talk about your hobby to others, so no-one actually outside your family knows you have the collection. And if you have locked cabinets, even better. 2. as for insurance, I've interrogated my contents provider about coins, and asked whether the collection - either as a whole or as individual coins - would be covered under "valuables", and then increased the valuables cover to the max. However, given the value of some members' collections here, I can see that wouldn't be near enough, in which case £500 a year is NOT a high price to pay (IMO) for a collection worth somewhere either side of £100,000.

Just seen it in my catalogue. Absolutely stunning. Unfortunately, Neil doesn't put the new stock on his website for a few days, so we'll have to wait a few days to see a really good pic of it. edit: that's if it's not already sold by then !!! The coin in question is now on their web site, and described as 'Choice EF+/GEF pleasing and problem free.' Hmm. That obverse is barely EF (I'd even say 'not quite'). Not like CC to overgrade

Have you got a theory ? The only thing I can come up with, is that the reason for farming the mintage out to Heaton was the extensive work being done at the Mint (electrification?). Maybe the London pennies mintage was simply to test new machinery, and either was supposed to be melted down or, being kosher pennies, were released into circulation on the grounds that no-one would notice.

Don't rush - whenever you have the time and energy. I've just had that bl00dy virus, it's not nice. Ah, no. It was Coin Monthly from 1966 (which is when it started)- The Numismatic Publishing Company of Essex. The Coin and Medal thing was the Link House magazine I think? Which eventually turned into the annual Coins & Market Values, still produced by Link House.

That's interesting to know as my collection is largely complete and I was thinking of banking it rather than spend £500 on insurance, you can buy a couple of good coins for that. Can you explain that a little more please! I'm just upgrading really now, all the major obtainable holes are filled. Really just things like the 1935 gold crown, the old 1920's cupro nickel bits, unconfirmed varieties ect which I don't expect to find for prices I can afford. I intend to sell my collection in about 7 years time and paying £500 a year for the next 7 year so that it can stand in the corner of my living room. I can think of better things to spend my money on. The whole point of having a valuable collection in the bank and having it insured is so that its not sat in your front room waiting for burglars!! The whole point of having a valuable collection in the bank is that you can't enjoy it!!!!

I think it's perfectly good, a very nice example. Up to over £40 so good luck with staying up to win it

Well that didn't work how I expected. You will have to scroll down to my post where I attacked the picture. I wouldn't attack that picture Gary - it's very good, and so is the coin

I'd be very interested in a scanned upload (PDF?) of that Dave. I'd also be interested in something similar for the first issue of the regular magazine (but I realise that would be a major task so I'll keep looking for a copy of it).

Having worked for them in the 70s, I can truly and heartfelt agree with you Agreed Yet the dies are different...?