Coinery

1919 or 1918 or 1919 over 8 silver 3d. There was one on ebay a few months ago and I was not £75 convinced. It then appeared in a CGS slab in a recent London Coins auction so CGS must have been convinced. Looking at it again in the slab my money was still on a damaged 18. This one then turned up on ebay, UNC if is wasn't for the drilled in to it according to the seller. I thought it worth a couple of dollars to have a closer look. I've just looked at around 15 9's and 8's on these 3d's and it had me thinking I'd be happy to have bought that as a 1919/1918 3D. For me, even though the image is pixelating a little, the back curve of the 9 is not sloping inwards nearly as much as the other 9's I saw, suggesting the bottom right-hand edge of an 8 is hinting. Adding to that the slight bump in the same back line, it provides further evidence for me that there is an underlying digit. Also, and more obviously, of course, the left hand mid-section is also suggestive of an 8 IMO. What's interesting however is the example in Dave G's book, which looks to me more like a straight 9 than a 9 does - I can't see the overdate in that image at all!

I think if you could sort out the bend then it would be quite a nice coin. The detail is good (VF or so, apart from maybe a few scratches). The problem being that it can be quite tricky straightening the things without leaving an obvious crease. But maybe someone feels confident? Looks possible when viewed from the reverse, but I think that's deceptive! When viewing from the obverse that crease is so acute that even with heat it would probably leave an ugly big stress line! It also looks to me to have been struck across the bust (where's Peter?) a couple of times with an iron, it looks stepped, and deformed generally! And what does the rest of that crown look like? £85 last time I looked! Wow! I've love to see the coin post treatment!

Another one that mystifies me! I can't see anything special about it, unless I'm missing something? 360490069416 (link appreciated)

damn good point!

My money's on a 9/8!

I was going to pop this in the 'coin aquisition of the week' thread, but it's looking like that's going to be busy for a while! I do have the knack for putting coins on there, generally about two minutes before a new debate, or an influx of other purchases! Anyway, and I hope Rob doesn't mind the abuse of copyright, I proudly present the opening 'mascot' coin to my 'English Hammered Copper' series. That's it now, I'm sorted, all collection dilemas over for a long, long, while! I have: 1). Elizabeth I (all denominations, and in all metals when finances permit). 2). English Hammered Copper 3). Edward VII (just to keep my eye in on the 'modern' stuff). This nearly strayed into G5, but Elizabeth I and the die-project is going to get pricey, so I had to reign it in, E7 may also fall aside too, but I hope not! 4). And anything pretty (which I must quickly remove from this list [just as soon as I can get tablets for it] if the other 3 aren't to suffer) First time I've felt focused and relaxed about coins EVER! I've been a coin whore for around 10-15 years now, at last I've become a monk!

No, they are two separate sellers, the first one allegedly in Paris, the second in Ireland. It's the unexpected abundance on ebay of coins that book above £2K in VF that made me sit up and look harder. For a smaller denomination, that is a large number. Without following the thread back, just I case there's any link, the Paris groat was bought from an Irish seller? Is "Rob" any relation to our own esteemed Rob? There are no commas Peck!

No, they are two separate sellers, the first one allegedly in Paris, the second in Ireland. It's the unexpected abundance on ebay of coins that book above £2K in VF that made me sit up and look harder. For a smaller denomination, that is a large number. Without following the thread back, just I case there's any link, the Paris groat was bought from an Irish seller?

Yes, but opening in which direction?

thanks for the info. Peter And this is precisely what appeals to me! For such a pretty little coin it really surprises me that they are not greater prized. It's a pretty big series, that I think will keep my copper lusts satisfied AND within budget! Winner all round for me, especially if I can get a nice bit of provenance top-up along the way! Exactly how I see them, Peck was the first attempt and Colin Cooke also did a lot of work in the series, but Tim has taken it to another level and the detail in the catalogue is much more robust and consistent. Another series where additions keep coming to light. Sounds fun! To kick-start the little project I've just ordered 3 from a well-respected dealer! Excellent choice, particularly the Lennox. Many thanks.

thanks for the info. Peter And this is precisely what appeals to me! For such a pretty little coin it really surprises me that they are not greater prized. It's a pretty big series, that I think will keep my copper lusts satisfied AND within budget! Winner all round for me, especially if I can get a nice bit of provenance top-up along the way! Exactly how I see them, Peck was the first attempt and Colin Cooke also did a lot of work in the series, but Tim has taken it to another level and the detail in the catalogue is much more robust and consistent. Another series where additions keep coming to light. Sounds fun! To kick-start the little project I've just ordered 3 from a well-respected dealer!

thanks for the info. Peter And this is precisely what appeals to me! For such a pretty little coin it really surprises me that they are not greater prized. It's a pretty big series, that I think will keep my copper lusts satisfied AND within budget! Winner all round for me, especially if I can get a nice bit of provenance top-up along the way!

Due to their size/thickness they don't do very well below ground, so they do not tend to hold up well as detecting finds. Whereas in the river they seem to do really well as do many other base metal coins including tin. I understand that it was for a period of time a "farthing" to cross the river (Thames) and therefore there are quite a few to be found around this area for that reason. Whether that is fact or fiction I am not sure, but a high number of those out there are Thames finds Thanks, Colin, makes good sense! Would you say Everson is the best work out there for these coin's? Other than Peck are there any other good reads on the subject you are aware of? I took a look at Rob's farthings earlier, I'll revisit them again tomorrow, a couple of nice bits and, as you said, provenance a plenty! I was momentarily excited to find an ex Everson coin there, but it's not quite pretty enough for me, though I guess you've just got to have one in there!

Sounds like a good start indeed! I've often wondered why certain coin types are common river finds, is there a reason why?

I've just got hold of a copy of the Everson book, can anyone suggest any extra reading to supplement this book and series? Apart from sniping the 'bay, where else would you look for these coins? I realise that for the most part they are too low in value to get single-lot recognition at the major auctions, so maybe coin fairs? Any thoughts?

Baldwin77 thanks to Google Thanks! Can you trust the local dealer - sure he's not putting you off on his own account? First thought that entered MY mind! God, we're all SO suspicious!

Lot 2619 for the farthing gentlemen! http://www.sixbid.com/nav.php?p=viewlot&sid=679&lot=2619 Now you'd want that, wouldn't you! What a beautiful coin!

Would I be right in thinking there's no 'extra' fee for using sixbid, just the auction house buyers' premium? Also, does anyone here have plans to be on the floor at StJames?

Many thanks!

I can't seem to find the StJames catalogue for Oct 1st, have you got a link?

That photography absolutely cracked me up! The rarer arch-topped 'A' too!

C'mon, Richard, you're not losing faith in the TPGC's are you? What they mean is: 'well struck-up SOMEWHERE, but I don't know enough to tell you which bit!'

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230851407246;jsessionid=95EE3002326CC123EC61EED1247566A3?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D230851407246%26_rdc%3D1 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230853992857?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3D230853992857%26_rdc%3D1 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230851424836?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3D230851424836%26_rdc%3D1 God, they're slabbing some shite! If I saw that H8 coin unslabbed on eBay I'd run a mile! Thank goodness it's 'authenticated'!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230851407246;jsessionid=95EE3002326CC123EC61EED1247566A3?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D230851407246%26_rdc%3D1 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230853992857?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3D230853992857%26_rdc%3D1 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230851424836?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3D230851424836%26_rdc%3D1

Very little Elizabeth hammered, though a nice crown however. The two 6d's (2705 and 2706) I just can't fathom the pricing, 1568 being just about the most common of dates, and it's hardly drop-dead (other than it's estimate). The other is also nothing special.