Paddy

That would be wonderful - thanks. I have put a post on Cointalk but got nothing constructive there so far. I got to something like Surmatent, but I wondered if it made more sense as two words - Sur Matent? Is the first word ECHAP?AUD and does that help?

I didn't think so, but a quick search on Ebay turns up this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-new-William-Shakespeare-souvenir-coin-Album-filler-50p-collector-silver/253951301570?hash=item3b20ad57c2:g:MBAAAOSwxLdb01-x If this is what he had in his collection he was severely deluded!

I picked up this one at the auction on Saturday (mis-identified as possibly Russian would you believe!). I am fairly sure it is a medieval jetton but I have yet to find another to compare it to. One site (finds.org.uk) has something with a similar reverse but a seated king obverse and quotes a Mitchener reference, so I wonder if my one is in that book? Any help much appreciated:

This has just appeared on the BBC local news website down here in Devon: "A large quantity of rare UK sterling coins worth about £4,000 has been stolen from a property in Plymouth. Devon and Cornwall Police said the coins were taken during the summer, from a property in Efford. They said: "The coins were not just a financial loss to the victim but of great sentimental value as they had been collected to pass on to family members". The coins included. A £25 gold & silver coloured coin A large number of £5 coins, A £5 Princess Diana commemorative coin, Five 50p Shakespeare commemorative coins, A £2 Isambard Kingdom Brunel commemorative coin A quantity of 50p London 2012 Olympics commemorative coins complete with packaging." Now I have every sympathy with the victim of this crime BUT - either the reporting is a long way off the truth, or someone is bumping up the value of their coin collection a long, long way! Or maybe the collector genuinely believed his coins were worth that much? In any case, worthy of comment...

I've seen quite a few in the last week - mostly still very nice condition. I have NOT gone looking for the errors, though I am sure there are lots! 🙂

Yes - I have used this for years and I personally find it better than acetone, particularly if you add a little detergent.

... and then this 1932. Shame about the spot on the reverse but the rest looks good:

A couple of Penny upgrades from a local auction yesterday - nothing scarce but nice grades I think. First this 1904:

Well these seem to have started appearing in bulk. Dealer friend at the market today had acquired a whole bag of "W"s which he was selling at 50p each. (He would have done better to disguise how many he had!) 🙂

Very useful - thank you for posting that. I do quite a lot of online bidding and have tended to settle on Easylive as giving the best value when commission bidding is not viable. Your post confirms that. I am also a bit fed up with Saleroom.com - I have clearly registered that I am only interested in coins but get a constant stream of emails for everything else they sell.

Yes - it was back up Monday morning but down most of Sunday - not sure why and it may have been a local issue as it seems others were still posting while I couldn't get it. Useful site anyway, though only really for US and World coins - their following for GB varieties is pretty low.

Anyone else use Cointalk forum in the US and finding it down today? I viewed it happily this morning but since lunchtime I have not been able to raise the site at all...

It is a very lovely thing nevertheless. Pomander looks favourite. It may have been made in India or some other colonial situation where hallmarking was not the norm. I would guess late 18th or early 19th century by design but I am no expert.

Can we keep the politics to the non-coin section of the forum. I came here to avoid thinking about it!

Because just once in a while someone falls for it and they make a fortune for a piece of scrap metal. Or you can take a more charitable view and say they are just pig-ignorant! (Apologies for the insult to pigs, which are actually quite intelligent and likeable creatures.)

I was thinking more of it being affixed to a box or chest or similar. Certainly not for hanging round the neck! As Royal memorabilia is a bit out of fashion at the moment, particularly when it relates to Charles, I suspect its value at the moment is closely linked to the silver content.

I got this one today as an upgrade to my 1719 Farthing with Small lettering. Also lacks the stop on the reverse.

I can't say I "know", but I would call this a medallion or possibly a plaque. The blank reverse suggests it may have been intended to be fixed to something else? Pretty awful portrait of Charles! An idea of scale might help... BTW - welcome to Predecimal coins!

Welcome @Coinosaurus ! The 1986 single colour £2 coin is the commonest of the 7 issued before they went bi-colour. As such it does not command much of a premium although I cannot say how much having it graded would add to the value. I sell them regularly at market, ungraded, for £3 or £4 even in the best condition. Over the single metal £2 coins the one to watch out for is the 1989 "Claim of Rights".

Another pick up from a bag brought to me at market. I think it is a Henry V Half Groat, S 1773 or near there, but I would appreciate confirmation or correction. Main identifiers for me seemed to be the mullet on the breast and the unusual Crown. Weighs 1.56g and measures about 20mm across.

I know this is no great shakes as a coin, but I believe this is another in your vein - 1566 threepence with lion over rose mintmark.

Always welcome Kev - I keep finding 1887 sixpences in hidden stashes and I have never examined them for variations other than the basic 3!

I certainly remember picking up pre-1920 silver during the 60s, but it had pretty much faded out by the 70s. I don't recall ever getting any Vicky silver but I heard a tale of someone in New Zealand getting a William IV halfcrown in change! Best I had, only ten years ago was finding that one of the "pennies" in my pocket after a day at the market was actually a half sovereign. Somebody must have gone home very upset!

Thanks very much for that - I have bookmarked the link for now and will return to read the articles later.