davidrj

Wouldn't BWA blanks have the central hole prior to strtiking? Trying to think what blank it could be, Kings Norton didn't do Jamaica pennies (only outsourced to Heatons and Ottawa) George V pennies get more and more interesting

you would need a serial number (like a banknote) for that, a date is meaningless

I suspect the real answer is "tradition"

Yes, really helpful that one!

the font is different - look at the final 8s in my composite above - the variant 8 is neater and symmetrical So, although it may be very hard to spot, and invokes little interest, it is as significant as the open 3 for 1903 whether the change for either year was deliberate, or a busy mint worker accidentally used a numeral punch designed for a different coin, we will never know. the variations of 3 in 1863 pennies may actually be due to where the coin was struck (by the Royal Mint, Watt or Heaton???) interesting question, why are coins dated anyway? or more to the point why are the dies dated, as there is no guarantee as to when a coin was actually struck?

it took a lot of searching for me to find the two wide date varieties, and was totally confused by finding the wide date normal 8 first (not in Gouby) this is a case where a scanner comes in handy, you can image say a dozen coins in one go and blow up areas of interest on screen Impossible (for me) to spot the difference naked eye

Very difficult to spot, took a while to convince myself there was any difference, nothing like an open 3 (1863 or 1903) - so I would think demand to be so minimal as not to attract any premium. some pictures to follow from top - 1898 Aa "normal" 8 over gap, 1898 Ab "normal" 8 over bead, 1898 Bb "variant" 8 over bead

Very difficult to spot, took a while to convince myself there was any difference, nothing like an open 3 (1863 or 1903) - so I would think demand to be so minimal as not to attract any premium. some pictures to follow

Do you still have the link? Did you mean this one?, he's been trying to flog it for some time, NOT an open 3

"HAND POLISHED, BY SPECIAL COIN HANDLERS" link

and another note the triangle shape on the neck, but I of BRITT to a bead is the clincher

Here's a "hollow neck" 1911 Gouby X

I see what you mean link Could be fun to sort through though

I pressed the "like" button on your post and got an error message - "You have reached your quota of positive votes for the day"

New format appears to be working with firefox on my machine

For this read "The Royal Mint is delighted for the exciting opportunity to issue shedloads of overpriced commemorative crap"

I'm back too, great county!

Just off to Norfolk for a week's holiday. Any recommendations for local dealers and museums worth a coiny visit? David

I had the same problem from my laptop (using Firefox) tried later on my desktop machine (also using firefox) got in but wouldn't let me log out - very odd Still getting the same! both machines using Windows 7 and Firefox 22.0 - bu**ered if i know what the difference is, but the site refuses all input on the laptop, but I'm in on the desktop machine

I had the same problem from my laptop (using Firefox) tried later on my desktop machine (also using firefox) got in but wouldn't let me log out - very odd

ditto

Looks like a George V penny, no value in that condition

"Care in the community" has a lot to answer for. Im new here so thanks for introducing me to this bloke got to love this one, ebay No 370831082109. Mint lustre specially created with a piece of Scotchbrite!!! whilst being held with a pair of pliers! But folk are buying this rubbish for silly prices! see this 1870BB 5Fr piece £205 is a reasonable price for EF+ but this coin struggles to make Fine (€22 in TB25) the ribbon is just visible on the neck The minimum criteria to make VF (TTB45) a €30 coin, requires the point of the moustache to be clearly visible But then I'm just using the grading standards from Le Franc Was this a BIN as I can't see any bids on it. I wonder if the 8 page views is accurate. BIN with positive feedback