loose54

Hi all, I purchased this shilling recently from a Heritage auction. I have been looking for an affordable example for quite some time and ended up acquiring two in the space of a couple of weeks (always the way it goes)! I was therefore preparing to move this one on but after really studying it I have a slight reservation about it. I have never had a problem with anything I have purchased from a Heritage auction previously but this one just makes me question for some reason. The coin is worn and has previously been gilt but this is not the issue. My issue is that the lettering just doesn't seem perfectly correct to me. The serifs just don't look as sharp and 'pointed' as other examples I have seen and this coin has a fully struck 'P' in 'PRO' on the obverse, a characteristic that doesn't appear on even high grade examples as far as I can see. I never really doubted it as a genuine example because I do hold Heritage in quite high regard but I would hate to sell it on without being sure as to its authenticity. If anyone has any pointers I would be most grateful. Thanks as always! P.s the weight is 5.8 grams.

Thank you for the confirmation all. I must admit I do not know if I can make the commitment of collecting the series, it makes my mind boggle. But I find it incredibly interesting nonetheless and it is nice to hear I am learning. I look forward to seeing more wonderful specimens!

Hi all, I am a keen observer of this forum, I do not say much on here but look at the forum daily. Some of the coins I see on here are beautiful and the knowledge that goes with them is incomparable. I have seen many pennies over the past few weeks/months and they have started to interest me but I have found myself to sometimes be following the threads and getting confused with the enormous amount of varieties. So, I recently purchased a copy of Freeman's Bronze Coinage of Great Britain and thought I would see if I could follow any of it! I have quite a large lot of pennies (pieces that have just been put in a junk box really) and thought I would try and attribute a Freeman number to them. I have tried on the 2 1861 pennies attached. Anyway, I was wondering if maybe some of the experts on here could advise me where I am going wrong/right in interpreting the differences in varieties that Freeman lists (some of them seem minor enough that I find myself struggling). I have gone for the first 1861 Penny as Freeman 21 3+D and the slightly better 1861 penny as F25 4+G. I am fully prepared for these attributions to be slightly/very/astonishingly wide of the mark but thought that I would give it a go and if anyone had a spare minute they could advise me where I am going wrong. Hopefully I can get a slightly better grip on this series as I really do find it fascinating. Thanks for all of your help and for continuously posting such lovely coins and useful information.

How very interesting, thank you for all of the information and particularly the photograph. It makes me wonder why the variety has been omitted from a major catalogue like Spink for so long and then all of a sudden gets included (I would understand this if an example had recently sold at auction). I suspect that in the coming years one or two examples may turn up ... hopefully into my hands!

Evening All, I was just wondering if anyone has ever seen an example of the 1860 Bronze Halfpenny TB/BB Mule? I have seen many of the pennies and the farthings but I noticed that the Halfpenny was listed in the 2015 Spink whereas it has not been included in previous years. I would love to see a photo of one if anybody has one?

Thank you for your suggestions guys, I do struggle with some of these hammered pieces, I don't know how some of you can read them so easily!

Good afternoon all, this seems to be the place to come to get some hammered identified! Any help with these two would be greatly appreciated, as ever. Thanks all!

The coin is genuine. One sold last month at LCA in a very very ugly state for £60 hammer (about £72 all in) and one similar to the OP coin sold in Dec 2014 for £110 hammer (probably around £135 all in).

Thanks for your help Prax, I am glad to hear that I have finally grabbed a high tide!

Thanks Prax, I couldn't tell for definite from the sea level in the picture but am I right in thinking the other key indicators are the distance of the shield from the edge and the positioning of the letter P?

Hi all, Not a great picture but would you class this as the rarer high tide penny?

Thanks guys, that was very quick! Would it be possible to ask for the values for the 1903 VF - EF Mule VF Thanks

Hi all, If anyone had a moment would they be able to get me the latest spink prices for the following coins please? I haven't got the new catalogue and was wondering how prices have changed: 1903 Halfcrown 1860 TB/BB Mule Farthing 1918 H Penny 1919 H Penny 1879 Halfcrown Thanks in advance for anyone that can help!

I am totally confused by the reports that the media are spreading. They all mention how rare an issue of just 100 coins makes the £2 and then quickly go on to say that the version 'is also on sale as a commemorative coin' for £10 on the royal mint website. Does this mean that the only 'rare' coins will be the 100 true circulation coins? Looking at ebay completed listings is seems there are hundreds of these sealed commemorative packs. To me it seems as if the Royal Mint has issued 100 circulation quality coins to spread the word as to their scarcity and then in the same breath note how a 'commemorative variety' (I can see no immediate differences) is also available for £10. My worry is that people will assume they can grab a £2 coin with a mintage of just 100 pieces for £10 when in reality the issue for the 'commemorative variety' would be thousands. If this is the case then that is some very dubious marketing by the Royal Mint in my opinion.

Hello all, Have any of you seen the proof sets that are in the January Goldberg sale? You can take your pick from the 1839, 1853, 1887 etc. Alternatively, if you can't afford the entire set then you can just pick up the lone Una & the Lion (estimated $100k). Look at the toning on some of those sets ... stunning!!! http://www.goldbergcoins.com/content/ (Lot 1136 onwards) As a side note, I view the Una & Lion as a coin that appears to have done really rather well in terms of value, it was only 6/7 years ago I am sure they were selling for around the 30k mark and now they are getting up into the 70k's. Jack.

Wow, that is superb. It almost doesn't look real to me, kinda looks like one of the modern fantasy crowns floating about! I think I have just found a new dream coin ...

As always, thanks for your input all. I have contacted Neil to see his thoughts on the coin and will keep you updated on what happens to it.

Hi all, I am looking to sell my 1905 Shilling. It's a fantastic coin and I was just wondering your thoughts on current auction prices of the 1905. I saw an example listed in a London Coins Auction in December 2013 as 'UNC or near so attractively toned with a small striking flaw on the lions tail otherwise choice, extremely rare in this high grade and desirable, one of the best if not the best we have seen'. It appeared to have a few edge nicks that were not mentioned but still a lovely example. It sold for £4,400 plus commission. One in 2011 sold for £2,100 described as GEF with contact marks. I was just wondering if any of you could offer some insight into what you think this example would possibly realise at auction. I am taking it down to London Coins on Monday. Do you think London Coins is the right place or can you think of a better way to sell it? Any opinions always appreciated. Thanks all, Jack.

Evening all, I was going to purchase this 1934 crown for a reasonable price. Looked like a nice coin, nice toning and obviously a rare date. The pictures didn't set any alarm bells off (was obviously going to view in hand before any money was exchanged). Anyway, I came across this website listing repro 1934 crowns as $6.00 for not just one, but a pair. http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/great-britain-1934-wreath-crown-copy-coins/117636_1905360743.html Anyway, the coin I was looking at buying, I noticed there is a small 'mark' (detraction) under the A of GRA. This is the same on the forgery coin. I haven't come across a forged wreath crown before but this has put me off buying the original coin. After seeing the mark, it was as if the romance of getting a 1934 crown wore off and I became ultra critical of it, now I feel like the whole look of the metal colour on the obverse is wrong. The seller assures me it is from an old collection (a tag with every forgery) so I was just wondering whether you guys think it is even worth the journey to view it or do you think it is an out and out forgery. As ever, thanks all.

Some interesting points, thank you all. RLC, it would have been nice to have got a number assigned to your coin and listed in his book eh!

Hi Rob, thanks for the comment, when I think about it it is simple logic that it must be incuse on the die! The dot is definitely not a piece of corrosion, under very high magnification it is a very smooth and well rounded raised dot. Thanks RLC, a very nice coin indeed. May I ask what the coin sold for?

Hi all, just wondering if I could pick your brains for any thoughts on this 1878 penny I recently acquired. It has an unusual raised 'dot' over the first 8 in the date. I have seen similar coins, most obvious the 1897 dot penny, but also a couple of bun head pennies. If I remember correctly there was an 1875 on this forum with a raised dot and didn't Gouby list a 'cannonball' variety'? The bottom leg of E in 'ONE' also appears to be double struck aswell. What causes the raised dot phenomena do you think? Is it dirt in the die or something similar? Any thoughts always appreciated.

Thanks all, to be honest I think I would be slightly dissapointed if I only got 1k for it! I find that with key dates and varieties the book value generally goes out of the window as if someone needs one they may pay higher prices. London Coins sold one for £3,400 which with commission means it cost someone £4k. It was a similar example to my coin just without the scratches. Whatever it fetches, it will hopefully go to a good home and give me some spending money to put back into my collection! Thank you for all of your opinions.

Here is the reverse ...

Hello all, I am looking to sell my 1841 Halfcrown. I am torn between putting it into a London based auction house or putting it for a long stint on ebay (the thinking being that if people don't have to pay commission when buying they would hopefully bid higher). I have looked at the London Coins results for the past 4 ish years and they seem to be making good money. Any suggestions on what you all think this example would realise? I see the Victorian market, particularly halfcrowns doing well at the moment in general. There is a scratch on Viccy's neck and a lighter one to the top of her head but otherwise it is a very nice example.