Paddy

I have been contacted by email with someone trying to get a correct ID for this coin. Can someone help? I believe it is an Edward III Quarter Noble and I tend towards S1511 because of the annulet before Edward, but I can't make the symbol in the centre of the cross look like a "Lis". Nor an L, which might make it the much scarcer S1480. It doesn't look like an E either - anyone able to tell me? I know the pictures are not great - the best the owner can achieve. I may get to see it in hand next week, but until then any help appreciated.

... Reverse:

I picked this up at market today amongst a lot of other coins. I am struggling to get a complete ID on it. Measures about 44mm across (1.75 inches) and is in white metal - probably pewter. I have found one described in the V&A: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O176361/medal-kempson/ but this gives no BHM reference. It is also here: https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1986-04-14-1 but again without a reference. I know a dealer who is keen to buy it off me, but I would like to get a BHM reference first and some idea of value? I have found similar designs used on medals and token boxes at several auctions (DNW and London Coins included) but not as a straight medal.

I thought it was Axminster carpets?

I can't see anything with that date in the Withers list, which is all I have to go on.

Last time I scrapped in a bunch or old pennies and halfpennies I got £3.30 per kilo. If my calculations are right, that means £1's worth or old pennies would get about £7.50 scrap - just over 3p per penny. (Time has passed, so the rate may have gone up by now.) Even though the coins are bronze, not pure copper, I have found most scrap dealers will give the same price as copper.

I agree websites are probably the best way forward and I am glad you have taken precautions to ensure yours carry on in the event of a disaster. It would be great if someone could recover and rejuvenate the Farthings site for posterity. Maybe a small consortium of serious collectors from this forum could form and fund a joint venture to ensure the long term future of these sites? With that security, we might be able to expand to include other/all GB denominations?

I can't say I visit your site, or any other dealer site, regularly as I mostly buy through auctions or when people bring me coins at market. I have just had a trip round your site - I can see no problems. It loaded quickly and without issue. I navigated around it with ease and there were no long pauses to load pages or pictures. The design is fairly simple - but I prefer that. (Too many bells and whistles can make some sites difficult to comprehend as well as slow.) Not having a website of my own I do not know what all the statistics mean, or whether they actually have any affect on the usability or findability of your site. I would suspect Google is just trying to persuade you to spend money with them.

These stink to me: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1951-King-George-V1-Penny-1950-Penny-1949-Brass-3-Pen-All-to-be-Sold-Together/333721667783?hash=item4db35c88c7:g:q7sAAOSwpQdfVn8T

That's exactly how I read it, and it is born out by experience. Around here there has been a glut of the 2016 Shakepeare History coin - all brand new and uncirculated. Unfortunately I suspect the ones they produced for packet-only were in much smaller numbers and went straight into wrappers, so I don't foresee them coming into general circulation any time soon.

Interesting article o the minting of £2 and 2p coins from the Royal mit, as well as a discussion on the future of cash versus digital currency: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54196300 It seems the Royal Mint has huge stockpiles of coins ready for issue - which explains why no new £2 designs have made it into circulation in the last few years and why we occasionally get a glut of older issues in brand new condition.

I used to use my HP 4500 (Envy) for scanning and the results were "ok" for unimportant coin pictures. The scanner can be set at up to 1200dpi, but at the higher rates gets slower and slower. I gave up using the scanner when I got a decent digital SLR and I use that on a tripod with magnifying rings, small aperture and long exposures to get the best I can. Bear in mind with scanners that you never get any depth of focus - the parts of the coin in contact with the glass can be sharp but any depth of detail will be progressively more mushy.

After my eventual success with the threehalfpence, it has been suggested I list the few threepence dates I still need. Any readable condition considered as long as the price is commensurate with the condition! 1853, 1852, 1849, 1848, 1847, 1842, 1839 I am ashamed to admit I have all but given up searching on Ebay - either no hits at all or ridiculously high prices for the condition, or mis-identified groats. (The 1839 at auction on Ebay at the moment I am already watching.)

Finally succeeded in getting my 1837 threehalfpence - picture posted in acquisitions. Thanks for all the assistance!

Thanks for that - clears it up for me.

That is brilliant! So it looks to be DH76, which is good enough for me. The comment about these being for general circulation suggest that the "Current Everywhere" edge is appropriate.

Aha - thanks! Is it 231 then? Does it mention anywhere any varieties of edge lettering?

This was the other interesting item from today's auction - a little medallion (24mm diameter) celebrating the peace in 1814 and the role of Britain and the Emperor Alexander of Russia in achieving it. I believe the BHM reference is 810, but that is quoting from someone else's Ebay listing - can anyone confirm? Also, all the other examples I can find are holed - were they issued unholed or is this a later copy?

I picked this up at a local auction today. Obviously not in great condition but appears to be a mule of the John of Gaunt halfpenny with an Ireland halfpenny. I can't find it in Withers as a recognised mule - anyone know any better? The edge reads "Current Everywhere".

Not convinced that is just a spot of dirt!

... and promptly re-listed. Serial fraudster - needs to be locked up.

I didn't think you were allowed to sell wives on Ebay: "RS Job Lot , Flat Nose , Snipe Nose , Cutter , Screwdriver , Wench ,. Some as new not used , Wench has been used , see photos, Dispatched with Royal Mail 2nd Class." How "used" is the Wench?

Not scarce originally, but as they have been out of circulation for years and many have been handed in to the banks for re-cycling, they do fetch a reasonable premium. I can usually sell them at market for £4 or £5 depending on condition. Again it is the avid 50p collector that needs them to complete the type set.

I don't think all the 1992 50ps were all proof - the 109000 figure is for the circulation issue. I have seen them loose and in BU blister packs. They are very sought after by the 50p collectors as there are just 5 different styles for the large 50ps, and this is far and away the scarcest.

The little earwig was a keen footballer almost from the day he hatched. Despite his disadvantages and bullying he worked his way up to the school first team, where he was head-hunted to join his local professional team. The manager struggled to find kit to fit him and had to have a special shirt made for him. Due to an error at the manufacturers, it had the number "0" on the back instead of the intended "20". At his first match he was on the subs bench for the first half, but sent on early in the second with his team 2-0 down. Quickly his amazing ability to weave through the opposition defence proved decisive and he kept scoring! Soon the home fans were rejuvenated and as he slipped in his third to take the lead, you could hear them chanting: "Earwig Oh! Earwig Oh! Earwig Oh!"