Hussulo

I don't think there are any lists of miscellaneous die flaws, infilled dies or other minor varieties for old silver or at least not in general circulation although individuals may keep one. The problem is there are so many minor variations that it probably isn't worth noting. Thanks Rob, kind of what I thought. The reson I asked was while flicking through Spink. I noticed 3435 William and Mary Halfcrown The E in ET broken top error or GVLIELMVS E with broken top error is listed as Extremely rare. So I guess my question is how come those errors are recognised where as other minor variations arent?

Hi, I was looking at a coin that I have in closer detail. It is a 1758/7 George II sixpence, but on closer inspection the O in GEORGEOUS has an open top which makes it look like a V. Is this a common error or listed error?

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No problem. Great book. This is my first issue, but I shall be buying again!

Hi Chris I think I'v spotted a typo. On the 1848 sixpence. 1693A 8 is altered 6 the price is quoted as £1000 instead of £100.

Her dad collects coins as well. So now we know how you caught the bug. Well he did relight the fire so to speak. I think I first became interested in coins when I was a child living in Cyprus and my gran gave me some silver crusader coins along with some roman coins.

Thats a shame, I don't belive it to be fake it is 22mm wide and only slightly under weight compared with a farthing of that era (according to my father in laws scales) at 4.3 grams. Can you tell me anymore about it Chris?

Her dad collects coins as well.

Why? is it a fake?

Didn't buy any coins out there, and I think my bride scrubbed up well. Here's a link to some of my wedding photos. http://s75.photobucket.com/albums/i317/hus...true&interval=5

Hi all I purchased this GB Victoria Incuse Obverse Die Trial for Farthing 1838. Almost full lustre and GEF for the incuse trial side, other side more or less rough metal with ghost impression of obv in relief and inked number 223. Can anyone give me any information on such peices? I don't have any relevant documentation on these. I contacted the Britih Museum and they said: "Thank you for your enquiry. It is possible this got made during the die-production process, since dies are checked at every stage by producing test impressions. The best place to go for information on your coin is the Royal Mint: museum@royalmint.gov.uk" I have since contacted the Royal Mint but yet to hear back from them.

Sorry typo but good point.

Hi all just back from my wedding and honeymoon in the wonderfull country of Austria. My wife, Lorraine and I got married in Zell Am See spent a week there and then a week in Salzburg. The weather was great, country lovely and I know it's sad but I even had time to go to a money fair whilst in Salzburg. It wasn't planned but whilst I was flicking through Money Trend magazine I noticed an advert for the 2006 Salzburg Money Fair. Anyway to cut a long story short it wasn't as great as I expected. It was done along with an Antiques fair. There were only about seven dealers there which of only about three had Briitish coins. None of which were very exciting. Anyway just wanted to say ball and chain officially know attached.

Toning a coin to sell is no different than cleaning a coin to sell. It's an altered coin and thus of no interest to collectors. (Except Americans) Now correct me if I am wrong but, there are a lot of people that collect hammered coins, and a lot of these coins have been clipped (altered or damaged) however people still collect them. Also what about Victorian Crowns, Shillings etc that have had chop marks put on them are these coins not damaged or altered yet there are collectors of these types of coins. You could argue that these coins that have been toned have been done so to make the seller extra money, but this is no different to the person in the middle ages clipping a coin to make money and then (passing) selling it on at face value. Now I'm not pro toning coins in anyway far from it however. I always like to look at both sides of a debate. There is the saying that “Beauty is in the eye of the beholderâ€. I say if people like collecting altered coins let them. Each to themselves.

It bothers me on some US forums how dipping coins is taken so lightly. The Oh-I'll-just-dip-X-Y-Z-to-bump-it-up-a-point-or-two syndrome. Quite agree. Toning or cleaning a coin is dameging the coin. However nature also does this and over time no coin will stay in mint state or colour. I do agree with you both though, dameging a coin intensionally is not a good idea.

This auction is NON REFUNDABLE... Afterall , it is a mystery... http://cgi.ebay.com/Cable-Man-Finds-MYSTER...1QQcmdZViewItem

I agree it is sacrilege to tone that pattern farthing. I recently bought a toned halfpenny because it was going cheap and thought it would be interesting in my collection, but I think that coins with any great value or rarity should not be toned. Now everyone will probably say I was wrong to buy such a coin and you are probably right, but coins and metals do react to chemicals and change colour i.e. old shillings will acquire a dark tone over time etc. and some coins in the past in private collections have toned colourfully (inevitably) depending on how and where they were stored. Sellers who like the colours produced by this chemical reaction apply this chemistry to coins to attract certain buyers. I suppose it is like buying a car but you chouse to buy one with fancy metallic paint work. It is a bit of fun on newer less valuable coins but older coins and rarer coins in my opinion shouldn't be toned!

NEVER CLEAN COINS! No mater how you do it or what you use you will always damage the coin to some extent! Most collectors like there coins with the aged look this is called toning in the coin collecting world. If you found a rare coin which does need cleaning then I am pretty sure a museum would do this for you. Be aware experts can tell a cleaned coin a mile off, and this will dramatically reduce its value and some collectors wouldn't buy a cleaned coin.

Thank you once again I feel more enlightened.

Hi I find the best way to get pictures is to scan the coins, but you have to take care whilst handling them some people use cotton gloves because this prevents acids and greases from your fingers damaging the coin. If you have the 1887 Maundy coins (4 coins) 1,2,3,4p in Ef they are worth about 100 pounds and in Unc about 160 pounds. If you have the set which consists of the Crown down to 3p set (7 coins) then in FDC (fleur de coin) i.e. top condition they are worth about 1250 pounds. As you rightly pointed out though condition is key to value (as is rarity). If your local dealer is no help you should ask another dealer or auction house they may help you in assessing their grade. If you get into this great hobby you will soon get quite good at assessing grades yourself. P.S. You should consider joining this forum as everyone is so helpful, and if you are interested in buying a book on coins follow this link http://www.rotographic.com/ it is written by the person in charge of this site and is priced very reasonably.

Hi does anyone know if there where any tin farthings minted for George II and in which years please? Also why on banknotes does it say I promise to pay the bearer on demand 10 pounds etc. If I go to the Bank Of England HQ with a 10 pound note and demand my 10 pounds what will I get?

That is why I love this website, so many knowledgeable collectors. Thank you

Looks like a great book Chris congrats. I shall be buying one. The only thing I didn't understand is in the statement it says "The popular coin collectors handbook since 1973" but you are quite young?

Thanks Rob. Great information. It was puzzling me for some time.

Hi can anyone help me with this token or replica? It appears to be gold and 20mm diameter. I can also make out hallmarks below the ship but they are small.