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RobJ

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Posts posted by RobJ

    1887 threepence

    in British Coin Related Discussions & Enquiries

    Posted · Edited by RobJ

    Both are very attractive coins Nick, but neither appears to be a proof. But you can do a check yourself - one of the defining qualities of a proof is a sharp edged rim, all round.

    Thanks Peckris, I think you're right. Having found a decent picture of a proof threepence on the 'net, the rims are much better defined and uniform all the way round than on my example.

    Nick

    Can you not also tell if it is a Proof Issue if the edge is Plain as opposed to Milled?

    Or does that not apply to all Proof Issues?

    How much literature do members have and use?

    in British Coin Related Discussions & Enquiries

    Posted

    Oh I think I picked that one up a few years ago! Does it have nice photographs on a black background? If it's the one I'm thinking of, it makes a few glaring errors, the main one not distinguishing between bronze and copper dated 1860, and mixing up the illustrations for the two types. But as you say, a fascinating read.

    That's the one!

    Yes, I did notice that there were a few mistakes in there as well.

    I think that it is handy little guide as it gives you an idea on the Mintage figures. As they are taken from the 'Coin Yearbook' it will save me having to carry that around with me as it contains the same information.

    I think that is a great little Booklet!

    How much literature do members have and use?

    in British Coin Related Discussions & Enquiries

    Posted · Edited by RobJ

    I purchased a rather interesting little 'Booklet' the other. It is entitled 'Pocket Money Guide' and was published in 1968.

    It is basically a pocket sized Guide on which coins to look out for in your change. The prices and Mintages came from 'The Coin Monthly Year Book' of the same year.

    It covers Farthings to Half Crowns from 1838 to 1967. It also has information on the 'History of Money' 'How money was and is made' Grading, Cleaning Coins and a small section dealing with the 'New' Decimal Coinage that was coming.

    It is a fascinating little read. It is so nice to see what coins were valued at then compared to now, and I think that it's great to see them priced in L/S/D.

    It is all out of date now of course, but it is still a nice little guide.

    It is well worth the £2 that I purchased it for and I will take it with me on my future coin buying expiditions. :D

    How much literature do members have and use?

    in British Coin Related Discussions & Enquiries

    Posted

    It depends what your main interests are in this area. If you mean silver going right back to early milled, then ESC is your start, if you mean say 20th Century only then Gary's book has all the varieties in, plus there is Davies going back to ?1816 which is the main absence from my own library.

    Copper/Bronze, the only single source for these is still Peck, otherwise you're specialising into one (or two) books from the above lists.

    Thanks for the information Peckris. :)

    1854 Half Penny

    in British Coin Related Discussions & Enquiries

    Posted

    Alternatively, the guy who punched the letters in may have had an off day, was thinking about something else? Who knows, but it's great fun to speculate.

    Or perhaps I just come from the romantic wing of numismatics.

    Perhaps the chap who punched the letters had a day off? :P

    I agree that it is certainly fun to speculate on such matters. The 'Whats?' and the 'What ifs?' I find it all fascinating personally.

    There is nothing wrong with being a romantic about coins. I tend to feel the same way. :)

    I often wonder what the story is behind a coin. Where had it been along its journey? Who had used it? What had they purchased with it? How did it get little mark on its Rim?

    For me personally that is an important part of being a Coin Collector. You have a little piece of history in your hands. Admire the coin, have fun and speculate, but most of all, enjoy it!

    1809-2009 charles darwin

    in British Coin Related Discussions & Enquiries

    Posted

    A good start for your son's collection though. I (and probably quite a few others here) started our hobby by picking out nice coins from our change.

    That is exactly how I became interested in Coin Collecting. I obtained a 1986 'Commonwealth Games' £2 Coin in my change one day, and I started checking my change for nice examples of coins from that day on. :)

    1809-2009 charles darwin

    in British Coin Related Discussions & Enquiries

    Posted

    I thought at first it might be quite a rare issue, but it's actually quite common and easy to come by in change. Not sure what the actual mintage is yet, though. I don't think that the 2009 £2 coins (both Darwin and technology types) were actually issued until last year.

    The first ones that I saw in my change were last year. I also think that they are quite common. I have seen quite a lot of them.

    On the other hand, I have still only seen 2 'Robert Burns' £2 Coins so far!

    Penny help.

    in British Coin Related Discussions & Enquiries

    Posted

    First of all hi! Im a long time lurker first time poster.

    I am looking a purchasing a 1903 penny and was hoping for some advice.

    I am fairly new to all this and am strugling to tell the grade of this penny for the photo so was woundering

    if you guys could help.

    Thanks in advance,

    Tom.

    Thanks, Im not sure about price. Was thinking maybe about £20 maybe a bit more. For that price will be very happy if unc and ok it ef+. But I'm new to this so not sure. Do You think this is about right?

    Tom.

    Welcome to the Forum. :)

    From the picture it does look to be a minimum of EF. I would personally be quite happy to pay £20 for the coin.

    Predecimal Denomination.

    in Nothing whatsoever to do with coins area!

    Posted · Edited by RobJ

    Yes, I agree. I suppose the excuse from 1983 was a new 'type' £1 coin each year, but what was the excuse from 1974 to 1981? And anyway, from 1982 they've had BU specimen sets struck to the highest standards, so really the proofs should have been saved for 1) a new portrait (the whole set) and 2) new denominations (just that item in various formats). It's just RM greed for profit.

    Indeed. Perhaps a better idea would have been to produce special Proof Issues for the £1 Coin 'Types' and Commemorative Issues and reserve the full Proof Sets for 1985, 1998 when the Obverse changed and 2008 for the new Designs.

    Annual BU Sets could then have been issued annually to satisfy the demand of the Collector.

    Sadly, we now have Proof and BU Issues not only for the Year Sets, but also for the Commemorative, non Commemorative and single release Issues.

    In Standard, DeLuxe and Executive formats.

    All available in Platinum, Gold, Silver and Base Metal .

    Piedfort and 'Normal.'

    Annual, Christmas, Birthday, Baby and Anniversary Sets.

    I'm personally waiting for the Super DeLuxe Annual Executive Baby First Anniversary of Christmas Piedfort Bronze, Silver and Gold highlighted Platinum Proof Commemorative Collection.

    Suffice to say that the market is over saturated. lol :P

    Test Token?

    in British Coin Related Discussions & Enquiries

    Posted · Edited by RobJ

    I received a response from the Royal Mint today, as follows:

    Thank you for your enquiry of 26 January.

    Your Royal Mint token is an obsolete pass-out check used by the industrial staff at the old mint at Tower Hill in London between 1925 and 1945. The system is explained by the attached Office Notice of 4 July 1925 and as you will see a distinguishing letter was used for each of the rooms or sections of the factory. In the case of your specimen the distinguishing letter is the ‘L’ which relates to what was known as the Inland Revenue Department where postage embossing dies, dating plugs and plates for stamps were made. But we can offer no explanation for the incuse letter ‘W’.

    We do have one of these pass-out checks in the Royal Mint collection. It bears the distinguishing letter ‘A’ to denote the Melting House but there is no incuse letter. If you ever decide to dispose of your specimen, you might like to think of us as we would be interested in obtaining additional examples.

    With respect to the other piece, we are inclined to think from the photographs that this is not a brockage and, indeed, does not emanate from the Royal Mint.

    Yours sincerely

    Joseph Payne

    Assistant Curator

    The Royal Mint

    Page 1 of Office Notice

    Page 2 of Office Notice

    What a fascinating and most interesting piece of history.

    Thanks for sharing that with us. :)

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