Peckris

Could be interesting but, as always, close-ups with better images are needed, especially with a coin that's low-grade. Could be a 'T' ?TERITVS or any of a number of possibilities. There appears to be a second leg (?shadow) where the 'T' (as in fourth letter) should be, suggesting other potential rotational variables. You're going to have to start experimenting with the macro settings on your compact. firstly thanks for all input.ive taken another scan and lightened it as much as i can.also scanned it from a different angle.to me it now looks like an I over T I see the underlying right hand leg of a V to the right of the I?

Hmm, not sure. There is some damage to the edge of the coin at that point, but superficially it does look like 'L' upside down. There is an I over V variety, and it could be that what looks like the horizontal stroke of the L could be an extended serif of the top of a V joining the serif on the I. Do be aware that there are many lettering errors on William coins due to the scale of the Great Recoinage going on, and the low priority afforded to copper.

Yes, they are all webmail. And no, we never bothered with ISP mail as we've changed providers several times and hotmail offers us everything we needed. It seems daft they don't like web-based mail as it's so commonplace. Unfortunately there's no contact details so I can't even mail them to ask! I just wanted to see a recent find someone had posted about (and maybe offer some IDing expertise) so it's no real loss to me, just strange. Funnily enough, I'm still using my original (diallup) ISP email addresses from 15 years ago. When I got broadband with another supplier, I never cancelled my old diallup service, though as I don't use it anymore - except for those email addresses - it doesn't cost me a penny. In your case, you wouldn't lose from taking up one of your current ISP's email addresses and using it ONLY for registration at silly sites that insist on them. If you change your supplier again, you will already have registered for the site so it won't matter if you lose that address (don't ever lose or forget your password though!).

From Wikipedia (with the usual caveats although the article seems fairly sensible. Hope this helps. "In 1920, the silver content of all British coins was reduced from 92.5% to 50%, with a portion of the remainder consisting of manganese, which caused the coins to tarnish to a very dark colour after they had been in circulation for a significant period. Silver was eliminated altogether in 1947, except for Maundy coinage, which returned to the pre-1920 92.5% silver composition." That's not wrong, but the real story is a lot more involved - the first attempt at the post-1920 alloy resulted in coins that were too yellow, which is readily seen on 1920, 1921 and some 1922 silver. Then they tinkered with the precise composition of the alloy more than once - the next attempt resulted in coins that wore very brown (think your average 1925 halfcrown!). Ultimately, they came up with a process that caused a layer of pure silver to coat the blank making the UNC coins very attractive, though in wear the coins could form rather ugly grey patches, commonly seen on worn last issue George V and George VI pre-1947 coins. The early cupro-nickel coins caused as many problems, with a distinctive red streakiness apparent even on some UNC 1947 - 1951 coins.

That's very weird. Who on earth PAYS for an email address these days? I think they must mean "hotmail-type" email addresses (MS Live, Gmail, etc), but it would help if they said so. Is Yahoo! the same type as Gmail? Do you not have any email addresses as offered by your ISP? If not, I would take up one of them and use it for registration at sites like that.

Or even a copy in lead, judging from the colour.

Actually, there are / were more than one dealer who - once you got to know them and were shown the better items from the "inner sanctum" - were charm and helpfulness personified. I would place Gary and his partner at Format Coins in Birmingham in that "old school" category. Their current struggles vis à via UK coins are nothing to do with eBay, but with the proliferation of Chinese forgeries. And that is the tragedy and the shame of where our hobby is headed. I hope all our cherished memories regarding these wonderful dealers don't become only nostalgia, but I do worry...

To right!

Can't help wondering if this is part of that strange phenomemon associated with the internet where people seem to get overly aggressive and abusive at a distance, yet are mild mannered face to face. Forums are littered with such examples. On the PCGS forum the world coins section is always praised for being a haven of civility, whereas the US section is usually mentioned for being its antithesis. I think you're spot on, Rob. Trolls only have the courage of their own existence while hiding anonymously on the internet. But as you say, the UK coins world - this forum being a case in point - is a haven of civility. And long may it continue! As for Dave's experience on eBay, I think that's one place where - due to the scary protection of buyers, and the now religiously-regarded feedback system - they almost encourage people to fall out. I loathe the charges incurred at bricks and mortar auction houses, but at least they are places of general politeness and civility compared to the 'Bay.

Nonsense. Mine was English language - and I got top marks. To right you did!!!

I don't think so. She always faced to our left, but then switched to right facing after the Great Recoinage of 1816, and has done ever since I believe.

Italian goalkeeper?

Not such a good way if you can't bear to part with them!

I thought Senokot was four shit?

Yes - inevitable really, when the date uses the entire height of an exergue that, like all exergues, is |) shaped.

I knew that - but the extraordinary similarity of the unusual names made me think John had re-registered for some reason.

Oh I'm a permanent resident there.. but are you saying this isn't the argentum (John) we know and love?

Hi - the reverse is the same as the GB crown though? was there two types of aussie 1937 crown? Looks like a mule. How it would come about though, I'm not sure. OK, feasable, because presumably they are the same size and were struck at the same time by the mint. Oops, no. Apparently the Aussie coins were struck in Melborne. I wonder if someone has concocted it? What does it weigh argentum? Hi, the coin weighs 17.3g I've just noticed you only have 3 posts John! Have you re-registered with a new name? By the way, the true weight should be 28.2g

Sandwiches?? Who has teeth to eat a sandwich these days? I do - they came off a 1967 penny :D

True that they look different from our current coins. That's largely the difference between hand made and machine made coins. Wobbly edges. Parts of the design unclear due to wear or poor manufacture. But I think one of the nice things about coins is the link to the past. Here for example is a vary similar shield design. The first is a shilling of James I from 1624, the second is a pound coin from 2010. Apart from the lis of France being dropped from the design in the 1800s they are pretty similar I reckon. Why, in the upper right quadrant of the hammered coin, is there an image of a backpacker dancing to her iPod?

Superb Richard! Methinks you are loving your coins at the moment! Though I have to say that I LOVE that Geo III engraving of Britannia!

Most of my ladies have been happy with a bit of Suffolk purple vein. That's a kind of cheese, right? Actually a fruit. Well it is a peach (Best enjoyed with a piece of cheese, though :D )

I have emailed him twice. The first time telling him it was a pewter replica. The 2nd time asking him why he hadn't added this to the listing. Reported to ebay who do diddly. I reported it this morning too! He's a 'top' seller with a lot of feedback, bet they ignore it! What really annoyed me about this one was the blatant 'what is it'? You mean he couldn't actually read ELIZABETH on the edge of the coin and, putting two and two together (ie the date), realise it probably isn't Elizabeth II? And another! 170906386505 please do add link please! Link is here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170906386505?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3D170906386505%26_rdc%3D1 Also reported by me. I cannot believe the earlier one went for £84 and this one is at £30+!!!! WTF are people who clearly know nothing doing bidding on replicas? There should be the equivalent of a driving test or you need to have your IQ checked before joining ebay. Seriously, I don't know whether I feel more annoyed at the sellers ripping people off or that these numpties deserve to get their fingers burned for being taken in. OK, because I'm nice it's obviously the former, but people need to learn before they spend. If I had a couple of ebay accounts to burn I'd relist using the seller's photos and a blistering description showing these things aren't worth more than the couple of ££ they cost at most museums and stately homes. It's now been removed.

It's a difficult one. What you have to remember when grading, is that there is a great difference between a new die and one that is near the end of its life. An EF from a new die will show as much detail (perhaps even more) as an UNC from a wearing die. I personally would grade that one as EF from minor flattening on the obverse, but it's not an easy one, for sure. As advised, that particular coin - along with the sixpence - is without question the commonest silver coin before 1936. You should go for a really good specimen.