secret santa

Thanks for the compliments, guys, but it will probably only serve to increase my sad obsession !

Freeman doesn't differentiate between Gouby A and B. The big difference which you can only see on unworn specimens is in the engraving on Victoria's cape. On obverse A the stem of the upper right clover leaf is long and stretches down to the rose on the left. On obverse B, the stems of the two top right clover join below them at the top of the third clover leaf. The clover leaves are smaller on obverse B. Gouby then goes on to note 2 minor variations in obverse A - one where the R & E of REG touch at the bottom and the other where R is rotated slightly so that its toe is a little below the back of the E. Pretty geeky stuff ! But the Ebay coin is clearly an obverse A. If you want to see pictures, take a look at my collection website which I'm putting together (thanks to members who have given me tips) Address is www.englishpennies.wordpress.com Freeman 763 is one of the more common examples of the early beaded patterns but still a rare coin.

The Ebay coin was an A+b (F763)

Did anyone spot the VF specimen of the hugely rare 1861 F27 penny on Ebay last month ? Sadly I missed it.

Nordle, thanks for the tip about the dual images - that works. Now, it seems to take ages to upload JPEG images - any tips on a better format of image ?

Just began the website process. Nordle, how did you get two images side by side ? I've just wasted an hour trying with no success !!!

I have a nice penny collection and would like to set up a website to show it off. I'd appreciate any advice from the guys who have already done it.

You won't have long to wait - the catalogue should be out next week..............................

The line is also on my own photo of the coin and looks quite deliberate. I'll check out the actual coin. Maybe part of the design process ?

Regarding the 1926 with "pattern" reverse. It seems to be a hybrid of Freeman reverses B and C. It has the slightly larger figure of Britannia as on reverse B but has the border teeth of reverse C which are slightly longer and fewer in number (184 as opposed to 187 on reverse C. I assume that it's an interim stage of development of reverse C. It was sold at London Coin Auction in March 2009 as part of the Roland Harris collection (as a 1926 M.E.) and was previously part of the Andrew Wayne collection sold at LCA in June 2006 (as a 1926 M.E.). Neither collector seems to have recognised the non-standard reverse but it was later brought to my attention by another collector who had spotted the difference from the catalogue. I bought it shortly afterwards at Croydon Coin Auction in May 2010, again as a normal 1926 M.E. penny having recognised it as the Roland Harris coin from the CCA website.

May I echo previous best wishes to Michael for his forthcoming move and sincere thanks for his landmark work on the coinage that fascinates so many of us. Regards Richard S

The 1922 with genuine 1927 reverse does exist and with Modified Effigy obverse !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The 1927 reverse differs from the hybrid reverse on the Freeman 192A variety principally in that the latter has 181 border teeth whereas the 1927 reverse has 184 teeth (the standard 1922 reverse has 180 teeth). There are other minor differences. See pictures.

I am the guilty party - the picture was concocted on Powerpoint by copying and pasting the first 7 over the 5 of a F80 1875 penny. If you look carefully you can see the join. Because it was late at night and nearly the end of April Fool's Day, I didn't have much time to put together a clever description which would give the game away.