Descartes

That's a great idea

I came a cropper on the African shilling. I got this one wrong too :/ I thought they used dollars in Somalia. Hmmm

The pound coins produced at Oxford during the civil war are 120g, twice the weight of a cartwheel twopence and in diameter go up to 52mm. http://www.petitioncrown.com/CHARLES_I_OXFORD_MINT.html While it might be nice to have one, it wouldn't be very handy for day to day use! Hi Tom, Oh my! This is one beautiful and gigantic coin. Extraordinary!

Does anybody know what the world's largest coin ever in circulation was? Somebody told me it was the fifty-CFP Franc at 32.9 mm? I wonder if there has been anything to rival our fabulous Cartwheel Twopence in weight? Descartes

I've never found a definitive answer as to what they were used for, but there is an interesting paragraph in the 1869 book by George Frederick Ansell, published in 1870, who worked in The Royal Mint at that time. He says: "For the past four of five years the reverse die has been made to carry, in addition to its recognised device, a small number, with a view to determine at which coining press, and on what particular day, the numbered die was used, that bad work might be traced to an individual. It need hardly be said that accidents encountered in daily work entirely overcome the object being sought, for a die may last either minutes or days in wear owing to the irregularities of the steel from which it is made, and besides, the boys who work the presses are of necessity changed at irregular intervals." Hi Nick, Thanks for the interesting information. So the Royal Mint were possibly looking at ways to keep tabs on their staff and equipment - a sort of quality control on their coins. I shall certainly have fun attempting to collect all the variations now. :-) D

Hi forum, I was wondering if there were any interesting articles on victorian sixpence 'die numbers' that somebody could point me to? I don't really understand what's what with die numbers and what they really mean and since I've just started to add Victorian sixpences to my collection, I thought I'd get swatting. Many thanks, Descartes

Hi Peter, Yes, I've heard that William III sixpences are a minefield. I read somewhere that there are over 70 different variations. Would make an amazing collection! Although I do like to pick up a good sixpence from any reign and date, I am beginning to specialise and collect sixpences from the four Georges (I-IV). Regards, D

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. It looks like I'll be sending the coin back in the morning post then as I only collect sixpences ... I've weighed and measured following your advice and it's most definitely a shilling! Thanks again! Descartes

Greetings, I'm new to collecting sixpences so sorry if this seems like a silly question. I've recently purchased the attached coin and have noticed that it is larger that the other sixpences in my collection. It measures at 23mm and the reverse is upside down! Is this a George IV sixpence or a different coin? Regards, Descartes