dave-lowe

This Elizabeth I Sixpence reads "IVORE", and it appears that someone has tried to insert the missing T. It certainly looks like there is the base of a T, and a trace of the top stroke. The coin has a rather blotchy tone, but it is the larger flan variety. We know that errors on hammered coins aren't regarded as important, but they are still very interesting.

I bought this fairly recently from a well known auction site. The seller said it was found in Wiltshire. It's the first hammered gold coin I have owned, and I've been collecting over 30 years! Naturally, I was interested because the coin isn't English. At first, I thought it might be French or Italian, but I have seen pictures of so many similar ones. I think it might be from one of the German states. Can anyone identify it? - I suppose it dates from around the 15th Century.

Here is a Charles II Crown with what looks like a stop below the bust. It has a very clear edge "VICESIMO NONO". I know it's in terrible condition, but I felt sorry for it and thought I'd "rescue it", because it looks so interesting. Pity about the Reverse! - I only paid £14.64 for it, so it's not bad. I bet someone has seen a similar one! I wish people would stop polishing coins, though! - I always wipe over any that have been cleaned with a damp cotton bud. I wipe them again and put them in a brown envelope. If you don't get the desired re-toning the first time, keep doing it until you do. It's an ideal example to try this kind of thing on!

I don't usually bother about the number of harp strings, as we know they can vary, but it's still interesting to note the variation.

Thanks for the comments and picture. Very attractive coin - beautifully toned. I forgot to say that on mine the E of ET is extremely weak. Has anyone seen another like this?

The Reverse of my Anne Crown has a "blob like" flaw between the 1 and 7 of the date - it looks like the base of a mis-placed 7, but as I haven't seen another one I can't compare it with any. Has anyone got a similar one? The coin in my copy of ESC has a stop before MAG, but mine has a colon. It's not a fantastic discovery, but I find it interesting. I haven't seen any such "varieties" listed anywhere.

At first, I was unsure whether it is gold or not. I have examined it carefully and there is no sign of corrosion. I agree, it should weigh about 3g, so I'm really not sure. Looks like a genuine metal detecting find that appears to have been lost a long time ago, but if it was counterfeit, surely it would have some corrosion or staining.

Bought from a well known auction site. One would expect this piece to weigh at least 2g, but it only weighs 1.7g. It was sold as a metal detecting find - the cut looks as if it was done a long time ago. The first 5 of the date looks as if it may be over a mis-placed 5. Surely it must be a genuine piece, but why does it only weigh 1.7g?

I have been collecting over 30 years, and even I can't be sure on this. If you are a serious collector, you will know there are many error readings on Shillings and Sixpences in this reign. I think a possible explaination is that the letters have become mis-shapen due to heavy use of the dies. They may be flawed. The mint letter C certainly has a die crack, but are any of the others overstruck? Any serious collector will have seen the same thing on Farthings, particularly those of George I where many mis-shapen letters are found.

This picture should be better. I have looked very carefully at this under a glass, and can't find a trace of any stops.

Very interesting article. Mine certainly does look like the first coin pictured, and it is dated 1679 (couldn't post a picture of the Reverse); the uprights of the letters before the last A look the same as mine. I know it's not in very good condition, but I bought it with THREE other Charles II coins for less than £60; the other two coins are pierced, but it's still incredible value. There is a Sixpence 1678 over 7 and a Twopence of 1679 [the figure before the 9 is flat, but I think it is a 7].

Here is another recent find - a William III Crown of 1696 with the Third bust, with no stops on the Reverse. Not listed in SPINK.

This Charles II Half Crown certainly looks like the rare variety of this date, which reads GRATTA in error. Because it is so worn, it's difficult to be precise. I have looked under a glass, and I can see what looks like the tops of two T's, but is it a "trick of the light" which makes it appear so? Look at both A's and you can see a difference in size to the horizontal bar. I have looked at an angle, and there is a definite bulge where the serif of the "T's" are. I have been collecting over 30 years, and would welcome any comments.