Paddy

That one is more worn, but doesn't look the same. On the one I posted before the trench is more noticeable down the left side and around the lobe.

For me it is the "trench" around the ear that struck me. The actual design of the ear is unchanged, but as the name suggests, it is recessed into a hollow. I am very poor at identifying all these varieties. Even "colon to gap" and "colon to tooth" often leaves me puzzling which I am looking at!

I agree - I find these very difficult to sport generally. I was fortunate this time that the next image was a 1916 in similar condition and the difference in the ears stood out, even to me! Here is the 1916:

This 1915 Penny looks very much to be a recessed ear variety, but seems to lack the broken tooth. Any thoughts? (Screenshot from online so no sharper image possible.)

Welcome @Jackbillfred! Not really an error - restruck date numerals I suspect. T prolong l=the life of the dies some details were re-punched as they became worn down. As discussed elsewhere, this was very common in the Victorian pennies. Probably of passing interest to a collector but not a "variety" as such.

I think it has always been accepted that the Double Florin was a further step in the attempt to decimalise the currency, so it seems even more crazy that they started re-issuing Crowns at the same time as the DF. I suspect we will never know the reasoning.

Not only did the Double Florin prove unpopular at the time, it still seems unpopular now. Whereas a Victoria crown in reasonable condition will make much more than melt, a similar double florin can still be picked up at scrap or even less here in the UK. Anyone looking to make a long term investment in silver would do well to keep an eye out for cheap DFs at the moment.

Welcome @Avocet! I too like nothing better than sorting through a big box full of old coins, both British and foreign, finding the few gems and identifying them in the appropriate books. Sadly these days the bulk lots in the auctions go for quite a lot of money, so more difficult to get them at an affordable price. Good luck with your future hunting.

It might be worth checking out UK auction houses that do still ship to the US. This one doesn't preclude US and has a few shillings in the current auction: https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/60e4343a274a32c193156da1ff265135/0af8d24542e81eb9357e7ef448a6646f/general-auction-silver-gold-coins-sets-numismatics-meda/

I am a bit out of date buying this sort of thing on Ebay, so both those prices seem high to me. If I was going to splash out that sort of cash, I would go for the second one as it is appreciably better. Is either sale open to best offer? I tend to do my buying through auction houses these days. At least you can be sure the price is "current market value" or close to it. Bear in mind most of the Ebay sellers are buying at auction and flipping to Ebay for a profit.

Welcome to the forum @Marcin. I can see the defect you mention. I am not much into note collecting, so I don't know if this is a known issue. My first concern would be to check if they are genuine as there are a lot of fake notes around at the moment. Find a local friendly shop and get them to check one on their detector.

The 1834 is definitely Maundy as by that time the small silvers (1 and 2 pence) were not in general circulation. The 1710 twopence was both included in Maundy sets but also in general circulation. I found the smaller silvers easy to pick up quite cheaply throughout the 17th and 18th centuries (with only a few really scarce dates).

Welcome to the forum @Sam5. I would say the H on that one is as clear as you would expect with that level of wear.

Very difficult to tell what the black stuff is. In some ways it looks like excessive patina, but the stuff by Britannia's bicep looks thicker. I would go through the same sequence, starting with warm soapy water, and if that doesn't shift it, on to Acetone. This may reveal underlying Verdigris, in which case you are onto the Sodium Sesquicarbonate or Verdicare options. I suspect nothing will shift it without taking off all the rest of the patina, turning the coin pink. If you do get to that stage, there is a way of restoring some of the patina: if you apply a thin coat of vegetable oil and then leave the coin on a sunny windowledge the dark patina will slowly return. Don't hold me responsible if none of this works!

Looks good! There are ways of shrinking images to the 500Kb limit - depends on you operating system. I think there are tips in the technical section. (I know what to do in Windows but I am hopeless with anything else!)

I am glad it worked so easily. It looks like a nice coin - any chance of pics of the whole?

I have no doubt it is genuine, but I am not sure anyone is chasing down new die numbers that seriously anymore. As @Rob intimated, newly identified ones turn up quite regularly - another reason not to go down that rabbit hole! 😄

Bull doesn't include 91 in the list of die numbers for 1873, but I am told this list has now been outdated. This list of die numbers: http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk/dieno.html also does not include 91. I am sure there was discussion on here a few months (years?) back and someone had a link to a more up to date list, but I haven't found it yet.

Welcome to the forum @ggx51! It is difficult to see exactly what you have there - the picture appears black and white - is there any colour? That might indicate verdigris or some attached organic material. I take the coin is a Victoria Sixpence? The usual approach is to try things in increasing strength. Start with warm water and soap. If the material is organic a soak in Acetone would probably shift it. All these arevery unlikely to damage the underlying coin. Obviously don't scrub with anything abrasive! Thereafter you are into chemicals, which is more risky. The recent trials of Sodium Sesquicarbonate solutions have been successful on Bronze and Copper coins, but I have no idea whether it would work on silver. It is very gentle and slow, so should do little other damage. (Buy it as Borax substitute on Amazon.) Mild Ammonia solution is the next level up, but that will remove all the patina. So if you are unwilling to do that, best left as it is. Verdicare is a commercial product that might help, but it is difficult to get in the UK. I hope that helps.

This is my 1915 recessed ear. Not perfect but a reasonable example. I have no idea where and when I acquired it!

I believe it was still a capital offence in the UK, where most of the contemporary counterfeits were produced, although the punishment was usually commuted to transportation. The USA was responsible for more of the Evasions, and after independence the laws all changed.

Yes, looks to be a contemporary counterfeit. Weight should be more 9 to 11g. Having said that, it is one of the better made counterfeits. Most are much cruder and often produced ready worn. Note you are correct to say contemporary counterfeit rather than Evasion. The latter are deliberately varied from the original so as not to be classed as an illegal forgery. (Production of counterfeits was a capital offence!) Here is my regal issue 1772 for comparison. I have lots of 1775, all contemporary counterfeits!

Already in progress!

Interesting you mention A R Alexander. I don't believe he published any books and we worked out a while ago that he was "Father Andrew Alexander" - a priest at the school I was at! I knew when I was there that he collected coins and his interest and advice on my measly collection helped me get started. I had no idea he was such an authority on pennies at the time. He passed away only a few years ago at the school. I have no idea what happened to his collection - it may have passed to relatives or still be in possession of the school.

Well done! Will we see pictures? By the way, you have resurrected a very old thread and the last poster, back in January 2019, @1949threepence, has since passed away and is a much missed member of the forum.