Paddy

Ah, but even if you don't use the handles as such, the fact that your fingers are tucked through it gives you extra security against dropping it as your coordination falters later in the evening...

I don't drink much beer these days, but when I do I still favour the traditional Dimpled Mug. The first of the two Mugs looks OK too. It is many years since I tried a Yard!

Ah, that is one of my favourites! I would love to get hold of one. The other one I watch out for is the evasion halfpenny with Britannia bare-breasted.

Just this one in - I find these engraved portrait coins interesting, though it seems a shame that a rather nice 1882H Penny got adulterated in the process!

I can see that being on private land, or indeed any land without permission to metal detect with a metal detector might be seen as "going equipped for theft". I wonder if the prosecution can prove it? Hopefully there will be more news after the case comes to court.

This one in the BBC news today - hoard of Iron Age gold staters found in Chelmsford and not declared to the coroner. Two in court... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-56555343

The loft maybe good for thwarting thieves, but it is generally a lousy place to keep coins (or most other valuables). Too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter. Other places to avoid include the sock drawer and the fridge - both places the thieves will go to first. I won't suggest the good places to store your valuables in case I give away any secrets!

Definition of an expert: An "ex" is a has-been and a "spurt" is a drip under pressure.

The only problem I find with that style of folder is that you have to keep it upright or all the coins start sliding out. I use the Magpie brand albums, which you can get from WH Smiths - they have a double sliding action so the coins can't escape. Last time I looked they had a 2 for 1 offer for online orders.

I got caught out when working at IBM when someone persuaded me to put out a call for Hugh Janus over the tannoy...

Not working as a link but if you cut and paste into the address bar the item comes up fine - still there at auction with a starting price of £5k!

I am not the greatest grader - I tend to work more on a similar basis to @Rob : "Do I like it or do I not?" My opinion, for what it's worth, is that you are doing the same as most new collectors and being a little optimistic. The first three I would say are half to one grade lower than your assessments. The 1817 and 1745 I would put at F+ to aVF. The 1787 at VF+ to aEF - but others are bound to disagree! By the way, I have been collecting for 20 years and am still in the "date run" mode as I find that more exciting and it allows me to keep many more coins. Shillings are a great starting point - big enough to be clearly visible and identifiable without being so big that the trophy hunters want them.

I am not knowledgeable on the specific identifiers, but I would agree a fake. To me the beard and hair look unnaturally strong.

The only "celebrity" I had much knowledge of was Frank Muir, who lived in the same village as my family when I was very young. He was always the perfect gentleman - his only vice was taking snuff, for which he carried an exotically coloured handkerchief at all times.

Probably the latter! As halfpennies, there would be a small market for them as some people still play the game. If they are indeed pennies, then they have virtually no value. (If in doubt, check diameter - halfpenny around 25mm, penny just over 30mm.)

I would definitely say shove ha'penny coins. It was standard to polish off the reverse to get a smooth and regular slide across the board. The fact you have 5 almost confirms the fact as 5 was the number of coins you had in a set to play.

Maybe you could post a link in the For Sale section for those of us who don't know your Ebay handle?

I can't find any discussion on this through Google. The only "error" being discussed is the design of the HG Wells £2 coin, with people pointing out the extra leg on the alien machine. As the Royal Mint has declared this is not an error but the designer's interpretation, I can't see them recalling for that reason.

They are off again - more coloured dinosaur 50p coins from the Royal Mint: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-56182579

Is the alignment right? It should be medal alignment, not coin alignment. There have been some very good forgeries of the 1818 and the only thing they got wrong was the alignment.

Had a look - that's a pretty long stretch to make that look like anything at all! What is he smoking?

I had not noticed that before, but just checked and you are correct. I checked the specification of the pound on the Royal Mint website: https://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/coin-design-and-specifications/one-pound-coin/ The centre is Nickel plated brass alloy. Pure Nickel is magnetic, so I guess this is what is being attracted to the magnets. Copper-Nickel alloys are not magnetic.

I am sure between us we could send them pics of some really notable coins? I thought maybe my Gothic Crown, or one of my early Saxon pennies?

I have posted previous articles spotted on the BBC website, but thought a generic thread would be better so as not to keep starting new ones. Spotted this one today: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56045273 The form at the bottom allows comment and contribution - I thought of pointing out how many fakes of the Kew gardens are around. Also give room for posting pictures of you oldest coins, or info about your collection - anyone fancy it? 🙂

I would think it is more likely that the batch of coins was in a hopper and the hypo solution was tipped in to achieve the toning. Then, as well as the issue of some coins being tightly packed together, and so getting uniface treatment, there is the issue of the hypo becoming used up as it reacts with the coins, resulting in different levels of toning through the batch. It is possible that all coins went through the process, some ending up heavily toned, some partial and some not at all. It may also be that the experts in the past had access to Royal Mint records saying all were toned and were repeating that information, regardless of the evidence of different levels of toning apparent in circulation.