SionGilbey

Kris, if your lamp caused an EMP you'd be in big trouble. They usually only come from the detonation of a Nuclear bomb... It sounds like you're plugging too many things into one socket.

Using the advice in this thread, I've set up my little coin-photo-thing. Unlike declan I only have one camera so I can't take a picture of my camera actually on the tripod, but it's lens is pointing down. There's a little glare from the light and the CD-case backdrop is entirely copied from Declan.

I see you use a black background... is this better than white? Or any other colour?

Hahahaha, brilliant HARDER MINT, you learn something new everyday. His ME page describes himself "With numismatic passion in our blood" seriously? Maybe you should locate the harder mint then mate In mythology, Azazel is a demon who introduced women to cosmetics. Just a useless fact. Sion

Would normally agree, but there's a lot of kids buy coins on e-bay and frankly I'd prefer they weren't ripped off... I've seen the picture... a five year old could tell it was a crap coin! If they're responsible enough to own an eBay account and bid, they're responsible enough to deal with the consequences. Over-graded coins are NOT a rarity on eBay. By all means, send the seller a message complaining about the over-grading but if you browse through the "Coins" category on eBay you will see Mr. Adamcoinsgb is not alone in over-grading coins. I'm not sticking up for him, I despise the sellers who trick their customers into buying rubbish, and the last thing I'd advocate is discouraging young collectors but, sadly, he is not the first to sell crappy coins and is not the last. There is zilch we can do about it, people will always try to make out that their products are better than they are; there are numerous examples of this in this thread.

The guy with the feedback of 160 was pushing the boat out a bit with a bid of £2.50 + postage The others were probably shills. Nobody is going to be that desperate to get a worn OH penny. He is probably also an immigrant. Read the English and the items he sells. Everything is EF. He does indeed list almost all his coins as EF. He does not write in perfect English but this does not mean he is an immigrant - I've seen people who are native to this country speak in appalling English whilst I know some German, Polish and Indian immigrants whose English is better than mine. As for his coins: Caveat emptor. His photos are quite good so it is quite easy to grade from the photo. If one decided to pick out anyone who sold an over-graded coin on eBay one would be left with as many sellers as one could count on one's fingers.

I'll keep that in mind I'm going to follow a lot of your advice but maybe adapt it a little for space reasons. Digital zoom is no good as it looks grainy, I just crop, it's worth the small amount of lost resolution to get rid of that horrible graininess.

Giving the seller the benefit of the doubt, I would call it Fine (and polished) but that still puts it 2 grades out - and this from someone with 'coins' in their handle!. Actual value = zip. Shall we tell him? Are we vigilantes in the world of overgraded coins on eBay? If the buyers can't see that the dolt has overgraded it from the crappy coin in the picture, that's their look out. If all his coins are likewise overgraded, maybe we should provide the seller with a link to The Standard Guide to Grading British Coins.

Yes. But the question has to be asked why you would have a lot of pennies that were only issued in proof sets? And there's a bit of a premium on 1p... worth up to a fiver in UNC. Did you mean 1971?

Thought I should acquaint myself with Google's Maps function, so I made a map of Britain with each coin club pinpointed and described. If I've missed any major clubs please let me know. I also want to know where the auction houses dealing with coins in Britain are so I'll add them too in a different colour when I have the time along with a couple of coin dealers. http://tinyurl.com/coincollectorsmapGB It seems I am in the most coin-club derelict place in the whole of mainland Britain.

Sorted out a few colourcode bugs and added DNW.

I'd be honoured

Very useful link, Sion. Thanks for your time and effort. Sorry to hear there's not a lot in your neck of the woods. Although there's supposedly one where I now live (Nuneaton), I suspect it may be defunct as I've never heard of it before, and the telephone code is the old pre 1999 one. There's a decent one where I used to live, in Chelmsford. I've got Chelmsford down already. I've removed the Corbitts that's no longer operating as well as the Edinburgh Club. I've added Coinote and Intercoin. I'll have a look into Nuneaton.

I have illegible handwriting myself, so I can sympathise with the Revs ticketing (I do all mine printed out or in block capitals) From what I can read on my tiny iPod screen: Top left - Dot edge. Top right - 5 berries in wreath. Bottom left - Beaded edge. Bottom centre - serrated edge 5 berries in wreath. Bottom right - serrated edge 5 berries

I use something similar (a little better) to http://www.predecimal.com/large-dealers-album-with-pages-p-47.html?osCsid=40de63acc276cc4b95b22759456ea469 with 30 pages for my best coins and some date runs. I use a massive Arrowfile affair for the bulk of my collection.

Well, see how it looks against another 20p and also a 1p to see how it is... then tell us.

Yes, when I have time I'll start putting in some major coin shops. I pinpointed most of them on the map using the sattelite and street view but some I couldn't quite find. I did Tyneside by the postcode on the site, and it pinpointed a certain house. I selected the option to go into street view on the postcode but couldn't find a RAFA club and checked the street to the north, which was just houses. So I called the club by it's postcode and didn't pinpoint it. However I've now tried the other street and after finding google maps isn't quite synchronised with Street View, tagged the building with the windowless roof which is the RAFA club. However, it's only a rough guide and I suggest if one wants to visit one of the clubs they should visit the website or phone the secretary before following the map. In most cases the directions are exact. I hope you didn’t take my comments as a criticism, it was not intended that way. You’re spot on target now, the only way you could be more accurate is if you moved the arrow to hover over the bay window on the left which happens to be the room we use. When you think about it, It’s actually quite useful that big brother is watching. Do you want people to let you know of dealers in their area? & if so what is the best way so you can pinpoint them? I've now added some dealers on as well. If you know any decent (have any coins that aren't junk...) dealers please say either their website or roughly where they are (Street, town, what the shop looks like, postcode if you can) Thanks sion

Finaly got a photo that may help, the edge would appear to have a thicker edge half way through. Looks to be within normal mint tolerences to me. Does it roll? Looks like the off-strike causes it to look rounder than it is.

Yes, when I have time I'll start putting in some major coin shops. I pinpointed most of them on the map using the sattelite and street view but some I couldn't quite find. I did Tyneside by the postcode on the site, and it pinpointed a certain house. I selected the option to go into street view on the postcode but couldn't find a RAFA club and checked the street to the north, which was just houses. So I called the club by it's postcode and didn't pinpoint it. However I've now tried the other street and after finding google maps isn't quite synchronised with Street View, tagged the building with the windowless roof which is the RAFA club. However, it's only a rough guide and I suggest if one wants to visit one of the clubs they should visit the website or phone the secretary before following the map. In most cases the directions are exact.

I think it's probably the wrong plachet that somehow got mixed in with the 20ps, or just one that hasn't been cut properly. If you don't have a picture is it the same size as a 10p? A 5p? a 2 or 1p? How large is the diameter? Are there any other errors? What does the edge look like?

Thats cos you're in Wales boyo, although i did stay in the Rhondda valley for a while, near Tonypandy At least you'd have been able to go to... consults map... South Wales and Monmouthshire NS with relative ease!

Can't really make it out. Could you scan both sides please?

There's a club in Mansfield I believe. And of couse one in Nottingham itself, Nottinghamshire Numismatic Society. I can pass details onto you if you're interested.

the 1 1/2 silver coin: That's a threehalfpence. They're quite collectable. Your pennies are of little value but check the 1918 for a mintmark on the left of the date. Should be a H or a KN. The rest of your coins, I'm afraid are not worth very much apart from the £2, which is worth £2. Sorry, Sion A scan of the 3 halfpence would be good though, I could give you a valuation on it.

I didn't find any part of it rude, but when you demand information with the force of the law behind you as opposed to simply asking them for a bit of help with your research the latter seems more polite.