Colin G.

A new one to keep an eye out for ....who bids on these.... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1934-GEORGE-V-FARTHING-UNC-ERROR-COIN-/110835524706?pt=UK_Coins_BritishMilled_RL&hash=item19ce4fe462

I agree totally and that is why I state that unless you can be 100% sure it has to be detailed with a question mark, in which case something along the lines of 4/4 and 1 over inverted 1? In relation to John's size question, I agree that we will never know how exactly the re-punching was carried out and it is evident that a "make do" approach was adopted. Inevitably punches bearing letters/digits must have been modified to strengthen existing characters even if they weren't an exact match, you could see how an I could be easily adapted to recut the digit 1. There are several examples where an I "appears " to have beeen used to strengthen the uprights in R's

I don't thikn you can compare that penny with the 20p die crack. That is undoubtedly an inverted 1. Something I have found whilst compiling my catalogue is that it is imperative that you only describe what you can 100% see. If you have any doubt you need to wait for a clearer example/clarification. I have not seen anything to clearly demonstrate that the die crack is a 1 on the 20p, whereas I can state quite confidently state that the coin shown looks to have an inverted 1. Without doubt seeing it in the hand is the only way to be certain. Going that bit further with the smaller arbic over Latin...hmmmmm maybe a bit too far but as you say they can write what they like on them. I have thought several times about the conflict of interest scenario, and I think people will start to challenge this, especially as you say regarding the auction aspect where there is an interest in higher grading to ensure higher prices at auction....but you could also take the view that because it is so obvious a connection it will be seriously scrutinised by the collecting market and therefore will need to be able to stand up to that scrutiny. If it was separate companies with separate directors, you may not even know about the link at least this way it is certainly not hidden from view, but it is an interetsing point, and one which I think needs to be discussed

What happened with Lot 1873 did it get pulled? No results?

Thread hijack....I agree you get the same feature with some farthings where the prep marks are visible, the 1902 weak breastplate is a fine example!!

That is the beauty of copper and bronze, they do not seem to have mastered it yet!! I think the problem with a lot of the fake slabs is that the coins can be genuine, but just given a false grading to increase their value!!

Well done Bob that is a great looking coin!!

In my day that was a LOT of hair!!

Taken from their website - The Key Facts About Eligibility. 1. All School, College, University students and their family members are eligible! 2.No Student ID required for Microsoft Software*:As an Official Microsoft Partner, our offers extend beyond academic email address holders so that any family member or guardian can buy on behalf of a pupil or student. *All licensees' must be Qualified Education Users (i.e. students or their parents or guardians) I just had to enter student mane and select place of study

I would be interested to know how you get on with image/Ole fields in open office. I have always used MS Access 2002 because of the simplicity with displaying relational pictures in forms. However any upgrade (as I have found again with MS Access 2010) always seems to have problems displaying my images because of the software associated with the creation of the image file originally. The solution is to start coding up a solution, but I just can't be bothered at the moment, too many other things going on!! I would be interested to know how open office handles image data, or if anyone else has already solved such an issue?

My version of office 2002 started to play up the other day and has finally bit the dust. I had a scout about and stumbled across this deal that seemed too good to be true, but I have tried it and managed to get a copy of Microsoft Office Professional 2010 with 90% off for £39!! The website is called software4students and as long as you can prove you have a student in the family you can get the deal. They do check as well and will request names and the establishment of study. You can either get it downloaded electronically or have the bundle posted out to you. I went for the download and it is working a treat, it also seems quite a decent version of office!! I know some of you have shown an interest in MS access before, so I thought I would put a post up Peck they even do a Mac version

That is the most important bit in my opinion!!

Silver is not really my strong point, I only have a few hammered farthings and the odd "other" so you may be better get some advice from other members. I know from past experience that even a minor hairline crack in a flan will turn it into a dull thud. The same can also be found on modern coinage where an air bubble/contaminant gets trapped in the planchet and in essence creates a void/internal flaw which will affect the tone.

Copies are usually made from tin or tin alloy. It has a ring which is not out of sorts. Some casts give a dull clunk when you tap them, but others sound more realistic. Even within genuine coins you get a variation in the ring. Just out of interest, have you ever come across genuine coins that have a very flat uninspiring no-ring, for want of a better word, before? Obviously it starts other bells ringing, but I've come across some which weigh right, test positive for silver, pass every other test I can apply to rule out joined halves, casts, etc. but just sound terrible. I guess my question is does a genuine coin always have a 'right' ring, or can one sound 'flat'? Sorry, Rob! Just to clarify...I know you've mentioned variation, but I mean 'NO ring', most definitely a flat nothing! A flan crack can sometime cause that effect

A beautiful coin but i'm baffled as to how well preserved it is after being underground so long. Did anyone read about the WWI trench the french dug up last week while excavating A new road. Bodies, timbers, weappns preserved, realy interesting to read about it and see the pictures. Gold comes out the ground exactly the same as it went in regardless of time...it is escaping the plough damage that is the fun part!!

Rich I think you are slowly getting attracted to farthings, you keep mentioning them in your posts

As you may have gathered my focus is purely farthings, but a denomination really does give you a lot more freedom to collect than you may think. I can't say I have not looked at other denominations when I have momentarily lost focus, but I always regain focus and really do enjoy collecting them. During times when my finances have been stretched I can delve into overseas farthings, and other farthing type coins that are low budget, but still keep me fascinated and when the going is good I can look at other areas. Hammered coins never used to do it for me, but I now find myself looking at them completely differently, so have started to study this area. I could have never dreamed of owning earlier proofs when I started, but again I have found I can study the series from literature, and when I am in a position to start collecting them I am at least prepared. The hammered tokens of James I and Charles I are a completely unique series, and are easy on the budget but open up such a wide area of study. I chose farthings by fluke when I bought a coin from Colin Cooke, and it was the best flukey decision I ever made in relation to this hobby I have a plan but it has evolved, and I think that is important, because at least it keeps the attraction fresh......but if I ever did choose another denomination, I think it would have to be halfpennies, silver milled just does not appeal to me for some bizarre reason....and my pockets are not deep enough for gold

I have a general visit planned to the BM later in the year and think I may do an overnight and devote the next day to the study room. Hopefully by then I would have a clear indication of what I would like to see. Thanks for the input guys!!

Just wondering whether anyone has ever done a day in the study room at the British Museum? I am hoping to get a day later in the year there, and just wondered how it all works from a practical point of view in terms of being able to study the coins physically, and to see what what others experiences have been?

That's because ours was not in a little plastic box

There's worse than that out there David I want one, where can I get a spongebob coin from

I do but I do have a few specific targets as well....but I never seem to find them so I go back into headless chicken mode

Midlands, near Brum

3-4 inches here

I knew you or Clive would turn up eventually