Mr T

Oh excellent - thanks.

Is there an easy way to tell obverse 1 from obverse 2? I'm guessing the denticle count is the same and otherwise that's what would books would say. It seems like the flatness or dip of the forehead might be the easiest distinguishing feature but I'm not sure. I can't quite make sense of the eye-brow difference. Based on the dip in the forehead I guess https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/52386 and https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/73888 are both obverse 1?

I was having a look over Ian Dracott's halfpenny articles again recently and I saw in part III that he listed a 12+H# halfpenny for 1875. I suspect this is an error as there is no H# reverse listed in his previous articles. Does anyone know what it should be for sure? I suspect it should be J# but have nothing other than gut feeling to back that up.

I think Sylvester is right - dies didn't last forever and certainly not for more than a year. It's possible that at the end of a year a die may have been used again next year (if it was still good) but I doubt there would have been much overlap. I think half sovereigns are probably one of the less popular denominations so probably no one has reported newer die numbers.

There's one on gold patterns etc (by Wilson and Rasmussen I think) but I think it's something of a niche area so Freeman is still probably the most up-to-date for bronze. Latest English Silver Coins might have improved on older editions but I don't know.

Hm, four issues per year. Were the articles decent? Any familiar names among the writers?

Nice - Maundy is it?

Used to collect and still have some stamps. I still put aside any that I get in the mail - not uncommon to see 30 year old stamps that get used for postage these days (which seems a bit short-sighted to me but old mint stamps are cheaper than current new stamps). I've seen New Zealand and British stamps used in Australia too (these days the post office workers don't pay too much attention apparently) and the other day I got mail from Italy with lira-denominated stamps.

I'll correct myself - in my attempts to not do any further damage to my somewhat tattered copy I overlooked a couple of thin first pages that do state the year and edition.

I think if it's a circulating coin (or at least a circulating denomination) that helps but beyond that I don't know. An initial shortage might push up the price of some things.

What type is it?

Interesting - seems like there were at least three die letter A dies then.

Please do.l

I didn't think there were any 1911 crowns - or any between 1902 and 1927 for that matter.

I remember having a problem with something similar a little while ago - I can't remember what exactly but doing something slightly differently worked in the end.

Many thanks Bernie - reverse F is there on page 14. Not sure why the year isn't anyway in the book at all...

Thanks - I'll see what I've got.

I would have guessed something like a new die finish - I guess that's what craigy is getting at.

I've got some questions about the books written by Michael Freeman: I only just found out that his original book (The Victorian Bronze Penny) had two editions - one in 1964 and one in 1966. I had a quick look at my copy and I don't see an edition or year so I'm not sure which one I have. Are there any major differences? Is the only change between the 1985 and 2006 the prices? I can see in the 2006 various things have been revised (there's no 1* farthing obverse, various proofs and other coins are noted as non-existent) so were these revisions actually between the 1970 and 1985 editions? Thanks for any help - just trying to hunt down any gaps in information.

When it's rotated like that it's called an upset. They're not common in this day and age but they happen from time to time. I can't say for sure if it's real but it looks okay to me (the E would just be from a grease-filled die or the like).

Are modern coins still made with hubbing?

Oh thanks - I actually did try searching some auction sites - I was looking for a Freeman 768 I think - 1*+A farthing anyway - but couldn't find any sales or images.

Is there anywhere to get better images of the coins in the plates in Freeman? Does Peck have better images?

I have a .pdf of the auction of the Remick Collection from Spink (their site is a disgrace but notionally you should be able to view the lots on their website). Lot 1102 (in part III, auctioned January 2007) is a proof 1882 Jamaica penny with the note that 'This date and mint-mark was only struck as a proof. With note by Remick "V.Rare"'. If anyone has a .pdf with high-resolution images or knows how to get the Spink site to work I'd be very interested either way.

Thanks - re the Robinson books I was wondering if there was anything in-depth about the coins in them - I guess not, so all good.