Hussulo

More generally, the gap between the best and the worst coins in the collectable range continues to widen with the better examples outstripping inflation, but the lower grades barely holding their value. In particular, the differential between EF and AU seems to be stretching out. Still a seller's market in my opinion. The differential between EF and AU is probably widening because buyers are relating to the U rather than saying it isn't uncirculated and so it it should be graded extremely fine or variations on this. Uncirculated should be a statement of fact which therefore should not support the A prefix and thus AU should be graded good EF but that can turn potential buyers off because at this grade everyone wants an uncirculated coin. The number of collectors appears to have dramatically increased in recent years which has exacerbated this effect because many appear to have learned their grading from others' descriptions on ebay and the like. This becomes a monster which feeds off itself and will invariably lead to a hike in prices. The lower grades are kept in check by ebay which has led to a serious oversupply of VF and lower grade coins. Becasue Spink only prices down to fine in most cases, this forms the lowest grade (and hence price). However, many are in grades such that even a scrap metal merchant would ask for a discount. A genuinely UNC coin should almost always be worth top dollar because they are a lot scarcer than people imagine or sellers' descriptions suggest. A choice one is worth a premium. I agree with Rob, AU is obviously more of an American grading scale but people are listing coins as AU instead of EF+ or good EF because novice collectors hear the word Uncirculated mixed into the sentence and bid more. It also seems like almost everyone is over grading coins on eBay. Sellers are probably scared to call their coin VF and put it up against similar coins that are being described as EF.

What you have thre Rich is a doublestruck error. Doublestruck coins take place when after a coin receives its first centred strike it fails to be ejected from the machine and is re-struck again. Coins can be found that have been struck three or four times. Doublestruck coins where the date/s are still visable and the second off-centers strike is at least 10% off-centre are more collectable and valuable. Edited to add: Hand struck coins were struck by hand using the strikers own human force. The coin was stuck onto a flan which was hand cut using a pair of dies and a type of hammer. Each and every one is unique and individual. Milled coins use machine power to strike the coins. The planchets are stamped out of a rolled sheet of metal. The coin planchet is then fed into a collar (a device which surrounds the edge of the planchet as the coin is struck). The collar keeps the coin metal from spreading larger than its intended diameter. The collar die also imprints the edge design, if any, onto the struck coin. The obverse and reverse dies then strike this planchet to produce the desired design of coin.

Grade UNC??? He has a nice 1905 Florin for sale, but how bout this one: 1875 Nice grade Shilling, Die 36 Take a look. Seller calls it "1875 Shilling. High grade example of a Victorian Shilling." IMHO fine if your lucky.

I agree very nice!

Yes, I think you have made valid points guys. Another item I spotted, a silk hat must have also been a luxury.

I couldn't have put it better myself! <gggggg>. Bob C. I have the same problem with my camera. Nice coin Bob. Look forwrd to seeing the reverse when you get time.

I in my opinion it wasn't made during minting. It is definitely not an error. Some coins do have die numbers on them but they aren't punched onto the coins themselves. The numbers or in some instances letters i.e. A, B, C below lighthouses are on the dies. When these dies are used to produce the coins the die numbers or letters are always raised (like the lettering) and are not incuse. I am also positive mint wouldn't punch a number at that angle over a N. If it was going to punch a number it would choose a better location. I am positive it is post mint but why? Who knows?

Interesting website

Went for £41+postage good deal for someone.

English Copper, Tin and Bronze Coins by C. W Peck. Great book going cheap on eBay at the moment incase anyone needs one. It’s not my auction. I already have one, but they can be hard to come by.Link to eBay sale

Thanks guys I totally agree. British coins will always be my main interest but I am also interested in siege coins and coins minted locally by warring factions. I guess I just have a soft spot for coins which are out of the norm. Hopefully next week I will be buying Cyprus Siege Coin dated 1570 where the Venetians produced these coins in Famagusta while under siege by the Ottoman Turks. It's just a start but it will be an intersting series to build and will have to include British siege coins to, like Newark and Pontefract.

Won these two on eBay tonight. Mexico War of Independence Oaxaca SUD 2 Reales 1812 Mexico War of Independence Oaxaca SUD 8 Reales 1813 "Coins issued by the insurgents Because the miners were in the hands of the royalist authorities, the insurgent faction suffered currency scarcity and depended on forced loans and currency captured from adversaries. For that reason, the insurgents minted their own currency to pay their troops. The insurgent mintings were done with rudimentary methods, and because the insurgents had no silver supply, they minted just a few coins with this metal and most with copper. In October 1810, Miguel Hidalgo commissioned José María Morelos to organize an army in the south of the country. Morelos became the leader of the insurgent movement after the capture of Hidalgo in March 1811. With Morelos, the insurrection was transformed; he managed to unite the ideas of intermediary groups with the demands of the people, and he proclaimed for the first time non-subjection to the Bourbon monarchy. Morelos coins The copper coins ordered by Morelos were equivalent to promises of payment. In other words, they could be exchanged for their face value in gold and silver coins upon the triumph of the revolution. Thus, for the first time fiduciary currency was used in Mexico. The obverse of these roughly manufactured coins bore a Morelos monogram along with the denomination and mint year. On the back, a bow and arrow appears, and underneath them, the word “SUD†(“SOUTHâ€). There were two main variants: A plain one, and another with profuse floral adornment. They were produced in eight, two, one, and half-real coins. Although the Morelos coin type is quite uniform, there are several varieties due to the fact that the mintings took place in different locations (Tecpan, Huautla, Oaxaca, Acapulco, Tlacotepec, Chilpancingo, Cerro de Atijo, and Tehuacán). Despite research on this subject, we can only conjecture on the mint types, and there is no complete registry of the varieties. The key features of the Morelos coin design are the monogram on the front and the bow and arrow on the back. The monogram bears the letters “M O S,†Morelos’ initials. This feature seems to have undergone a transition from the plain letter “M,†to “JM,†to “JMo,†to “SMo.†But it is impossible to confirm that such a transition took place in that order. " Quoted form: The history of Mexican coins

I received the medal today. It is very nice with high reliefs. However it appears made in two parts, you can make out a slight join along the edge. Also were there is slight damage to the nose, right eyebrow and right hand side of the hat, the damaged area is shinny. I don't know what kind of metal it is but doubt it is silver. Maybe white metal. The detail in the beard clothes hat and reverse is superb. In all probability it is a copy of the gold original/s and if so I would say it is an older copy done 100+ years ago. I might try to take clearer pictures.

Sorry to hear about your family problems. Hope all is well soon.

A good selection of free eBooks for numismatic research or might be of some interest. Link to website

Hmmm it seems like they will make coin sets of anything nowadays.

It could be if so it looks like a good copy. I haven't got recived it yet so I can't tell if its a cast or not.

Hi I recently bought this medal from a seller in the US. Described by seller as "medal in silver or white metal, approx 37mm diameter" appart from that not much known. I liked it and bought it. Didn't know much about it, however apon reaserch found these: British Museum link Coin Archives link What are your views of it? Can anyone tell me anymore about it? Regards, Hus

I don't see what the problem is Peter? he says discounts are available. Pm him and he might knock £50 off. Lol

The worlds first "orbital" coin

There you go. In the reply section click on the picture of the tree and insert the link of the said picture, then post.

" the oldest is blank on the other side any idea what it could be?" Not sure but it could be a seal.

Good stuff Oli, Congrats!

"I'm gathering of the 3d and 6d from each country in the world" Wow that will be a hard task Art.

All that he is selling are links to coin websites??? I know loads of good sites including predecimal+forum maybe I should sell links?