Accumulator

Just left... Did pick up a couple of pennies. Glad I went to view the coins, though, as often the photos just aren't good enough to see minor issues. Progress was very slow due to Internet lag.

I see it! I get "£1"

I just WISH I could still use a camera in the fiddly way required to photograph coins. Unfortunately, the picture above is an original scan (modest size), brightened and then enlarged greatly in Photoshop. Not a recipe for a 'phwoar'!! I just wish you could see the coin as it really is I'm sure it's a great coin... but it's a twopence? Yes - you mean the OP coin isn't? I can usually tell, but that one's a bit worn! The OP coin is a penny with 10 leaves (Peck 1132). I look at the hair tie, which is different on the twopence.

Great stuff, Martin. My last overseas coin came via Parcel Force. Fortunately HMRC applied the correct 5% rate. In that case they ignored the declaration on the outside, that the coin was of nominal value and opened the parcel to discover the invoice with the proper value detailed. They didn't open the packaging around the actual coin though.

I just WISH I could still use a camera in the fiddly way required to photograph coins. Unfortunately, the picture above is an original scan (modest size), brightened and then enlarged greatly in Photoshop. Not a recipe for a 'phwoar'!! I just wish you could see the coin as it really is I'm sure it's a great coin... but it's a twopence?

Just for reference, a high grade example looks like this: I think you're leading him astray with your twopence, Peck A penny looks like this:

You're quite right. I've just been reminded of this similar thread

Thanks John. Based on the lower right image in your montage of photos, mine isn't a P1503, but a P1500 type coin, as you say. It would appear to be a proof, as stated by London Coins, and presumably in copper with an upright reverse. This would make it a P1502 then, I assume? Not as advertised by London Coins, but probably not worth making a fuss over. I wonder who catalogues their pennies though as I've found several mistakes over the past couple of years?

Or old dogs and new tricks. Not meaning to sound rude!

Those who hate micro-varieties, look away now! At last weekend's London Coins auction I picked up an 1853 penny described as: "Penny 1853 Copper Proof Peck 1503 Reverse upright nFDC with traces of lustre". There were several other bidders. Having examined the penny closely I have a number of questions. Peck lists the following varieties of 1853 ornamental trident: Peck 1500 DEF_: Peck 1501 DEF_: Bronzed proof, rev inverted Peck 1502 DEF:_ Copper proof Peck 1503 DEF_: Last colon slightly nearer F In my copy of Peck is a handwritten note titled "1853 Penny", stating the following: "The difference between the normal issue with ornamental trident, P1500 and the colon variety P1503 is slight and needs keen sight, even with the aid of a lens, to detect. In both versions the distance between the colon following DEF and Britannia's toe is approximately 3.7mm and in both cases the centre of each dot forming the colon is nearly halfway between the F and the toe, being about 1.8mm from the F in the normal issue P1500 and 1.7mm in P1503. In the only specimen examined the lower dot of the colon in P1500 was slightly to the right of the upper, whereas in P1503 the dots of the colon are one above the other. Consequently the lines joining the two dots form a slightly different angle with the circumference of the coin in each case." Based on the above, I do indeed have a P1503 as the lower colon dot is definitely at a different angle to the upper. I established this using Adobe photoshop and overlaying the images. However, Peck doesn't say that P1503 is in copper or a proof, as described by London Coins. To further confuse, Bramah, who doesn't mention proofs, copper or bronze lists two versions of the 1853 "Ornamented Trident", described as follows: No. 14 O - As type R - As type. The trident is ornamented with a little scroll work below the head. The last colon is approximately midway between the F and Britannia's foot. No. 15 O - As type. R - As the reverse of no.14 but the last colon is 1mm from F and 2 1/4mm from Britannia's foot. So, my question is; how many varieties are there and what exactly do I have? Below is a Peck 1500 (on the left) and my possible Peck 1503 (on the right)

Very interesting Nick! It's not at all obvious until you show that overlay. One less mystery in the penny series.

There's very few 1970s cars that DOESN'T apply to! Datsuns and Italian cars arguably worse than even British. My 2nd car, in 1981, was a 70s Alfasud. The Alfa's and Lancia's of the time were total rust buckets. My 3rd car was an old 1968 Porsche 911, very solid and well rust-proofed. No room in the back, but I didn't have kids then! I currently have an Italian car, but that's mainly aluminium bodied

I would suggest your inability to get an answer from London Coins today (if it was today) would be due to the backlog created by their auction at the weekend. I would forgive them that one. I'm not generally a seller, but from a buyer's perspective I think LC really miss out by not having an internet bidding facility. I've bought from most of the other houses, always through live bidding on-line, and notice how many of the lots are bought this way. As a buyer in the room it does allow you to pick up a few bargains though! St james certainly seem to break records at the top end and DNW appear to offer a good mid-market service in my (buyer's) view. As has been said, there are lots of buyers here so you could always post a list of a few choice items and invite bids. Especially pennies

Did you make a note of any prices? I had bids on a few things, mostly farthings. There were some nice ones in the sale. Only for the pennies, Rob. I have all of those prices. I picked up the 1853 (Peck 1503) & 1806 (Peck 1328) proofs, both in nFDC, together with the 1853 (Peck 1500) circulation strike in UNC Was pleased to see the 1926ME in UNC "best we've seen" go for £3k, as it's not as good as mine The other two expensive pennies were a Freeman 38 for £2.4k (actually quite a reasonable price) and an 1860 with E over P in PENNY (quite a rough coin) for £3k

Sure you weren't bidding on a 1797 gold proof twopence? That would have made more sense! Amazing how clear the dream was at the time and how it fades now.

Back on topic, and a true story..... I had a dream last night (the first I ever remember about coins) where I was in a small auction room with Just 3 people plus the auctioneer. One of them was a regular here, though I've never met him. We were bidding on a 1797 penny in a CGS slab, graded UNC96 (I can't imagine one even exists). It was incredibly slow bidding, between the regular here and another guy, so I jumped in with a much higher bid of £2150 (for some reason!). Just at that moment the auctioneer took a tea break and I had time to reflect. I realised I didn't really want the coin, or to spend that much money, so was really hoping the regular here would come back and outbid me. At that point I woke up, so never found out what happened! Anyway, back in the real world, today I went to London Coins and bought 3 pennies but certainly didn't spend that much!

It got me wondering what sort of merchant banker would stand checking the dates of his change in a nightclub full of totty? I used to be that intent on drink fuelled minge hunts I didn't even check if the pirate serving the drinks had pocketed half of my wad...... It did remind me of the Charles I shilling I have on my website that the King was holding at the time his head was chopped off though. It is totally authentic and I have known it since 2008 or maybe 2007. It is without doubt the one that he was holding because it only has his head on and not his body. I thought about offering it for sale via a London saleroom where it would achieve £50k plus and then I thought "sod it, I'll put it on ebay for a couple of grand to give Joe Bloggs a chance at it" Altogether now, after 3; 1, 2, 3 WHAT A TWAT! Think I'll contact the seller with a, "Wow, didn't know that an ordinary penny was worth so much! I have a few I got from my gran's old money box and one of them say's 1933. Are you interested in making me an offer?"

I'm far from an expert, but I bought a relatively cheap Canon Powershot A3300IS a couple of years ago (so probably not a current model) and mount it on a cheap mini-tripod. I raise the coin to within about 6" of the lens, set the camera to macro, use daylight (place on windowsill), set to 'cloudy day' (even if it's not) and set to 10s shutter delay (to avoid handshake). I use a black foam background behind the coin, though the majority of the shot is of the books I raise the coin on, which are lighter. I import the photos into Adobe Photoshop Elements and crop/resize them - 2 versions, 500 x 500 for web and 1400 x1400 for hi-res. The whole operation takes no more than a few mins and produces something like this (500 x 500 version):

Pictures speak a thousand words! Bring it on Peter.......

Not forgetting the eighteen pence, three shillings, and dollar, not to mention broad, angel, unite, and counterstamped "pieces of 8" Mm, I obviously did not think this one fully through, I was trying to make the poll on what I would consider the standard pre-decimal denominations. Maybe this needs a re-think or a new poll? Ideas anyone? How about, "What is your favourite denomination for collecting purposes?" All of them. Logically, if you have no favourite, you should answer "none of them"

Not something I collect or would usually comment on, but the 15k coin looks easily best value, when compared with the other two examples, and also wins on eye appeal. The abrasion on the expensive coin is off-putting.

Sorry should have been clearer! Yes I mean not just what you still collect but what you have collected, if that makes it clearer? I want to try and be as statistically as accurate as possible, so if your main collection is pennies but you also have other denominations that include more than say 5 of that denomination that I would constitute that as a collection of that denomination. I hope that helps clear the mud! PS Note to myself, proof read your posts twice in future!!!! I would suggest that more than 5 of a denomination wouldn't necessarily denote a collection. I probably have more than 5 of most denominations (including a full run of brass 3d, like Peckris) but definitely don't feel as though I 'collect' them. Not sure what measure I would suggest, though? In my case, if I collect something, I'm always looking for opportunities to extend and improve my holding. The mere fact of owning something doesn't make me a collector of it.

Interesting. I voted pennies as that is the main denomination I collect, however I do have quite a few other coins.

I admire your laudible target and your optimism, but unless you are prepared to dig deep suspect the wheels will come off the bus. You will struggle finding a Harthacnut, Harold II or a William II for under a thousand, not to mention the minor inconvenience of an Edward the Martyr - One type, always popular, portrait coin, always expensive. And the major inconvenience of an Edward VIII which I recommend you start saving for now. At the moment 1797-1970 takes all my time (and cash), but I like the idea of extending the collection in the way you suggest. The only disappointment for me is that earlier pennies are just too physically small to excite (apologies to the farthing collectors!). I'm beginning to like crowns

Welcome to the forum!