Colin G.

Just wanted to say hello to a fellow farthing fanatic.....I understand why many people recommend cabinets and they do look very nice, but I have never used one. I have my collection split between albums, and my own slabs. I use the Lighthouse Optima albums with pages that hold coin envelopes/2" x 2" flips Acetone will normally work on removing the green residue if it is PVC, but not a great substance to have sloshing about, and definitely trial it on a few of your less favourable bits to ensure you are happy with the results first

Lot 2780 NGC Graded MS-64 - Est $350-400

I agree Rod's information on the site is very user friendly and well worth a look for learning identification methodology

Like I never left

Nice to see the sarcastic underlying tones are still here

Good to see all the old faces still here......I had planned to go to some of the Midland fairs but life just seemed to get in the way all the time. So can anyone give me a summary of what has happened in the last 12 months or do I need to read all those threads?

Hello strangers, thought it was about time I made an appearance again, seem to be getting some time on my hands again and the coins are starting to call again!! In the meantime I have become a grandparent as well....so coin collecting is definitely now more fitting as well. Hope you are all well, and for those that joined after I made my departure....hello

I chuckled as well

Back to the original coin, unfortunately it is the commoner type of 1881H farthing, Cooke Type A (My Reverse type 1). The H is lower in the scarcer variety, however they often do get confused by the description H to the left. Judging from the photo I don't think the coin has been cleaned, but given the fact that it is the more common variety, the value would only be a few pounds. As for grading, definitely VF, marginally maybe a bit better Don' get too put off by the friendly welcome here...it is all part of the initiation!!

Normally the reference to a frosted portrait is a feature where the dies may have been sandblasted and then when the die is subsequently polished those areas in relief remain somewhat frosted (showing the sandblasting). Similar to the feature applied to many modern day proofs, and often described as "cameo" over the pond in the USA. That is how I would interpret the description, in that it is a coin showing a visual difference between smooth fields and the portrait. I would see it being highlighted as a positive feature not something that would necessarily detract

Many happy returns

CC cleaner is an amazing piece of kit, recommended

I notice they have another mis-attributed mule farthing encased in that sale Lot 3878

Windows 8 certainly didn't have the facility to roll back when first released, and as one of its victims I can confirm it created chaos...hopefully they will have learned from their past mistakes and will ensure this OS has a roll back feature. I have to admit I hated Windows 8 at first, but I am slowly coming to terms with it and 8.1 was a definite improvement. I decided it was time to take the plunge or you get left behind with something that is ideal for you until it stops working, because then the transition to the newest version ends up being a mammoth change rather than progressive steps

I must admit I have found Microsoft support to be very good via their online access. Each time I have had my issues resolved (in one instance remotely), by staff who were individually rated by customers........I think you need to lose the telephone Rob, talking to qualified people about problems on a phone is just a distant memory !!!

Rich the 1862 large 8 and small 8 are a different subject. The 1862 large 8 is actually a different style of digit which would be better described as a fat 8. Where the alternative thinner 8 is encountered it is often recut over the "fat" style 8. The example above involves a digit which is substantially much bigger in size than the thin or fat 8. It is also important to note that the issue of the sizing of the A in the legend on the 1825 farthings would appear to more to do with die fill/deterioration. The legend font is not a different size, but has deteriorated/become filled with debris which has the effect of making the lettering appear smaller in size. Finding a farthing of this type without any recut/legend deterioration can in itself be quite a challenge!!

Cliff, I would also be interested in full images of both sides of the coin if you can provide them. They can be e-mailed to me directly, so I can compare the dies.

Cliff the fat 8 and thin 8 details are included on my website for 1862 farthings. For 1862 the fat 8 farthing is much scarcer. The fatter style of 8 was then encountered on a proportion of farthings from 1863 through to 1865. However I think in relation to your coin you are highlighting the much lower and wider bottom loop of the underlying 8. This is a type I have not yet been able to confirm with certainty, however I am aware of its existence. I also have an example in fairly low grade and I am convinced it may actually be a halfpenny sized 8 used in error, and overlays would seem to principally support the theory. However I need to see a higher grade example to be certain, so it is not yet included on the website. Yours would be the second example I have seen but that does not necessarily mean anything extra in terms of value...anyone else got one?

Make sure you are logged in, sometimes if your cache has cleared, it can show you as logged out on the main page, and therefore the link to new content does not work.

Hoping to be there on Sunday!!

With hammered coins you will get a lot of variation in the strike and the design appearance so I would not be too concerned if there are some slight variations. Many of these types of coins were found as part of a larger hoard which is why they manage to retain their condition after such a long period, however even individual silver coins can remain in very good condition below ground with the correct soil type. Regarding Spink, it may be worth getting a copy if you are thinking of building on the collection and you want to see a broad spectrum of other areas of collecting in one book. A lot of collectors and dealers do use Spink as a simple reference for coins of this period, however Spink does only tend to capture major types and does not really go into the detail of each series due to the fact it would end up about 4ft thick. If you intend to focus on a specific area of coins there are other references that may be more relevant.

Seconded

The last one I sold was about EF with some traces of lustre and I sold that for about £30 if my memory serves me well.

Very very belated Happy Birthday from me

I just wondered whether there was any chance the Obverse die may have made it back into the stockpile.....I always keep an eye out, although it is likely to just be wishful thinking