Colin G.

I agree with your identification, it is not what we know as a toothed border/beaded border mule. It is also the 5 berry portrait, so it would be the finest known 5 berry mule in existence by quite a way if it were correctly attributed......deja vu?

Snap And welcome to the forum, another member of the copper/bronze club

That sounds like a decent start, we get detectorists in the UK saying you will never get permission from a certain land owner, but some people do. Some people just seem to be able to communicate with landowners and others don't. I struggle to get permission on land whereas my detecting buddy seems to be able to get access almost anywhere, he is older and a bit less "rough" looking You will never know until you ask, and don't be put off by being knocked back, it is a bit weird at first but once someone has said no, the next time you hear it, it gets easier!! Walking land close by will usually result in you chatting to people who will normally know who the landowner is

I have no problem with almost any area being a potential site for detecting/archaeology, our history tends to have a brutal past, and inevitably to uncover that history wounds will be exposed. As some as said these wounds are still fairly raw, which makes it a particularly difficult challenge to obtain suitable permissions, but whatever is done, it has to be done in the correct manner. If people are serious about detecting it is important to understand the history of the hobby. The detecting community in the UK have struggled (and continue to struggle) against large parts of the establishment that would much rather see detecting banned altogether, and this is a common theme across Europe. A lot of the ammunition for them to undertake such measures is due to people taking exactly the approach you talk about. It does so much harm to the hobby as a whole, and creates endless problems for those who detect responsibly. There are several issues worth considering: If you are not the landowner then you have no right on that land without the owners permission. How would you feel if someone started detecting on you property without permission? Why do you feel the need to detect that specific area and what are your reasons for wanting to detect that area? If historically motivated, then you have to follow the correct channels, otherwise you would not be able to report/record any finds, and then what would be the benefit of undertaking detecting in such an area. There are many sites in the UK I would love to have a go at detecting, but I do not have permission and therefore I am unable to at the moment. I accept that and would much rather try and convince the doubters, by showing them the positive sides of the hobby. Yes it can take a long time to change opinions, but I have no doubt in my mind it is the correct approach. I am unsure of the approach in Germany towards detecting....what are the principle laws? Another route may be trying to get involved/build relationships with archaeologists when they are dealing with such sites, you can then become part of the team uncovering such history. You are more likely to get the permissions required as a result.

A friend of mine had a Findus Lasagne last night, there must be something wrong with them because he had the "trots" this morning

Collect farthings

I agree!!

BUNC I would say about £15-20.....UNC with 50% lustre...about £7...

Thanks again, I might have a dabble later! Everyone else, keep off!! You are being worryingly normal tonight Peter! If you had a sneaky lottery win that Mrs P didn't need to know about, and you negotiated £4k-ish for the 2005 HC with CC, would you go for it? I know you want one!! I am on line in Barbados.Don't tell Mrs Peter. I'm at a stage when I would prefer a true UNC ED7 rather than overpriced key dates.A type collector away from 1/4d's Good man, I won't tell her, she is in the kitchen at the mo fixing me a snack, so we should be ok One reason I prefer top grade types to a parade of dates is when you show people your collection, no non-numismatist is going to be wowed by a mid grade rare date or variety! What you mean you show them to other people

Not quite enough legend variety to attract you to it though Scott, I hope! I wonder if there really is a 'FARTING' out there somewhere?? There certainly is, but you have to read it phonetically....there is a Lauer model farthing which has the legend FARHTING And by the way that is a 5 berry portrait, and an attractive looking coin, that will have a nice red tone to it, and as Peter says underlying lustre...did you get it? Oops not gone yet!!

Two great finds!!!

I saw this post and thought great I have at last found someone who can do me a fake Afghan passport, then I realised Afghan passports were not on the product list...Oh well I will have to carry on looking!!

Spam about spam, that is a new one

The picture I posted is of my own coin Dave, which is of a fairly clear example (though it's not a great photo, I admit). I'm still not convinced about the coin for sale, even comparing with the various photos in Michael Gouby's book. I agree. There is absolutely nothing on the left of the 5, as there is in ALL Michael's examples. There is a faint ghosting to the right of both the top stroke and the main loop. If I had to stake my life savings, I would suggest it was a 5/5 recut. The puzzling element is the "teardrop" below the upright of the 5, which doesn't correspond to anything. (ETA: it could be the ball at the end of the loop, if the underlying 5 was a slightly different style than the recut one?) Having looked at the image in more detail armed with what others have said, I agree that a 5/5 is a likely explanation, although without the coin in hand it would be difficult to be certain, anyone got any spare birthday money to buy it with so we can settle the debate

Happy Birthday Scott & Debbie!!!

I don't know in relation to pennies, but the phenomenon spans multiple dies in the farthing world for both 1865/2 and 1865/3

I have to admit I would also be interested

Are you taking about re-cutting a datal figure with a new figure or re-cutting a date with the same digit? For example an 1865/2 farthing was the re-use of 1862 dies by re-cutting the 2 with a 5. It just allowed unused working/master dies to be re-utilised. There are several different dies used for the 1865/2 farthings, so they were recycling multiple dies at that time. Re-cutting of the same digit is normally done when a die becomes clogged or damaged, and therefore that particular area of the design is re-cut to strengthen the design.

Would have been near VF (but not quite), if it hadn't have been for the gouge in front of Britney's face, Greg. Clear hairline on Victoria's forehead, and Union Flag on the shield more or less clear. I would agree, not much short of VF (but not quite there) but the dig/flaw? is an issue.

Are you talking bronze only, or are you including copper in there? What do you define as good grade? And anyway how dare you, the smallest denomination holds a special place in many people's hearts whereas the halfpenny, is not big enough to please the collectors with the deep pockets and is a boring medium That's the touch paper lit!!!

The 1895 YH is very difficult to obtain in full lustre, whereas the 1895 OH is fairly easy to obtain in full lustre. The 1895 YH tends to be more readily available due to its "key date" status and the fact that it is sifted out and sold separately, but I would be fairly comfortable stating that a large proportion of the mintage is the OH variety. The 1872 I would agree is a toughie to obtain in higher grades, and is underestimated. I also agree that the 1869 is easier to obtain in a decent grade than expected. The 1875 large date is not too bad, but the small date version is much tougher. It is also quite bizarre how some coins are really difficult to obtain in a pleasing lustred state. I am yet to see a blazing 1885 farthing, but there are masses of them out there which are toned or that have good uneven lustre.

Thanks all, I am currently looking for my pressie I am just having trouble deciding!!

Great result, well done you, it makes it so much easier when they do the "right thing".........in the end

Very attractive looking coin there Bob!!

Notice how the bidding went from £255 to £333 in one leap? No-one is going to tell me that's not suspicious! No reason why a leap of that magnitude should be any more suspicious than small increments. If I bid on a coin at £200 and put a max of 400, then it will go to the next bid up from 200 (205 or 210 or whatever it is). If a second person puts in a bid of £450, then it will go to £400 + one increment with the second person winning. Far more suspicious is the anonymity issue where a shill bidder can beat the high bidder repeatedly without third parties being able to identify the person responsible. I agree, I would be more suspicious if the bidding crawled its way up a few pounds at a time.