Paulus

Half Crown

It arrived the other day thanks John, will test soon

Gonna have to acquire some cheap gunky copper to try it out, as I don't have any coins that would benefit from this treatment at the moment ...

More fabulous eye candy BRG

Hi Frank, yes I am keen to see higher res pics, but Flickr appears to be down (from your link) at the moment

Thanks Chris, it would be nice to get the signatures back too, did you say the other day that that was being attended to?

The British Museum?

I agree with this too Matt and Frank. It may be off-putting for bargain hunters to see several bids on their hoped-for steal, or to find that their incremental bid is not enough to take the lead. One word of warning though, sellers that engage in 'shilling' may notice that you have left extra maximum bids above the current price and get their mates (or use another account) to bid you up!

Hi Frank Some info and observations: The key to whether you bought cheaply, about right, or a little over the odds will be the grades of these coins. The seller’s pics, taken through the plastic wallets, are not good enough to determine whether they are around EF (probably) or (significantly) GEF or better. The ‘floor’ value for these pre 1947 silver coins (in any condition) is their bullion value (BV). This is based on the silver content of the coins (they are 50% silver). The spot price of silver is very low at the moment (compared to say 5 years ago), and at today’s prices the total silver value of your batch of coins is about £6. Here’s a ‘ready-reckoner’ (at today’s silver price): Denomination Weight (g) Weight (Toz) Bullion Value (<1920) Bullion Value (1920-1946) Sixpence 2.8 0.090 £0.78 £0.42 Shilling 5.7 0.183 £1.59 £0.86 Florin 11.3 0.363 £3.16 £1.71 Half Crown 14.1 0.453 £3.94 £2.13 Crown 28.3 0.910 £7.90 £4.27 You have paid £12 delivered (always factor in the postage). I notice that you were the only bidder, and increased your maximum bid 3 times – may I ask what your maximum bid was? These coins were minted in their millions (literally), and when news came that in 1947 they would no longer contain any silver at all, people started squirrelling them away, so they are very easy to find in high grades. In 1946 alone there were over 43 million sixpences minted, the other denominations were 1946E > 18m, 1946S > 16m, florin and half-crown both > 22m. This might be an opportunity to try grading these coins yourself when you have them in hand. Did you say you had ordered the grading book I mentioned in an earlier post?

I was after a Charles I milled Briot for ages, lovely coins, prefer milled 2nd issue eye appeal wise I think. I'll be trying to get some decent Charles II silver (I've struggled to find decent grade half-crowns and crowns that don't break the bank, and one day I will nab elephants and plumes!), and extending my hammered a little. All the very best!

Another copper ha'penny I've had for ages and only just gotten round to photographing

Is this an 8 over 6? What do people think?

From me also

Here's what it looks like

You might also find it useful to browse on-line auction results and collections to get an idea of what's out there and prices realised. Here's a link to my own collection (under construction), which includes many halfcrowns and crowns you may be wanting to collect: https://pwcoins.wordpress.com/

Slow down Frank, yes it's the same Rob who posted on this thread ... he helped get me on the straight and narrow about 7 years ago (when I was a newbie) and I have no hesitation in recommending him! He attends the Midland Coin Fair most months I think. Send him a PM

Most dealers have an on-line presence (but still not all). It's always good to see a coin in hand before committing to buy. Rob Pearce (Rob on here) is a dealer I can thoroughly recommend in the Manchester area http://www.rpcoins.co.uk/ You will soon realise that eBay does not offer the high grade problem-free coins you will be after, except very occasionally ... and when it does they will not go for bargain prices! Worth a trawl if you can spare the time, and I still sell on there. Dealers, proper auctions and coin fairs for decent coin purchases.

Fine+ seems about right Frank, I don't think you were far off at all! This is an example where if you spent a little more you would get a much nicer coin, as they are common in high grade. You will not find it so easy with the young head Viccy halfcrowns! This is my old head example, which didn't break the bank (of course a lot depends on each individual's budget).Not the very best, and there are proofs too, but this is what I try and aim for, or better

RLC35 (Bob) is right, another indicator is that with the High Tide variety the upright of the P in Penny points to a gap in the teeth. American cents are pennies and English pennies are cents! Love it! And welcome to the forum

Hi Frank the Manc, a very warm welcome to the forum! A few comments from me We do like a laugh on here, but you will not be laughed at or sniggered at for making the odd, inevitable, dodgy newbie purchase! Congratulations on choosing pre-decimal, both the Forum and the coins! So you are thinking of concentrating on half crowns and crowns, will that be date runs (will be very expensive) or just different designs (I collect all the different designs (or 'types') for all silver denominations from Tudor to 1946)? How far back are you thinking of going? Just English coins? Knowledge is the key, gained from experience, forums like this, and books. You will want an up-to-date price guide such as COLLECTORS' COINS GB 2015 (available http://www.predecimal.com/collectors-coins-2015-p-21018.html ), or Spink's Coins of England, and a book on grading, such as The Standard Guide to Grading British Coins: Pre-decimal Issues (1797 to 1970) just to start with. There are many other specialised books for when you get more into things. It is always best to put pics up of both sides of the coin. From the reverse pic, your new purchase appears to be around Good Fine perhaps, and if the obverse is about the same then £16 is an ok price for it. Try and buy the best example you can afford, you will not regret it in the long run I'm sure there will be much more advice coming your way!

Blimey, wonder how long the recipient of that thing would have remained healthy!

I wonder if the weight for earlier (pre-1816) sixpences (3.01g) has simply been given in error for Victoria? The correct weights are stated for George III to William IV sixpences ... I believe the correct weight for Victoria sixpences should be 2.83g

You seem to have one heck of a success rate with your detectoring G3!

Rated R5 in the old ESC (I don't know if this has changed in the new one) - this is supposed to mean 5 to 10 examples known, which I suspect is where London Coins are getting this from. However, 'only' valued at £375 in Fine in Spink 2015, possibly not as rare as that?

I will not be alone in thinking you add value to what is out there, so thanks Rob The quoting function is behaving weirdly for me, hence the double "quote" Have to agree with Stu, and I think you are very well placed to 'take things forward' in your many areas of expertise It's "supersede" by the way Stu (which surprises many) I am always adding to my book library, but there are always gaps as well! I haven't yet acquired all the reference material I will need for Tudor hammered, or other areas I am delving into in more detail, such as Charles I, but getting there