Colin G.

I remember coming across a flag site which I used for my site, which had them all listed along with their flag designs, it was actually a very good site. Flag Site

I must admit, when ebay announced that they would not let sellers leave negative feedback for buyers, I thought 'About time!' - I had not taken into account the existence of such ......... I have never seen such appalling feedback - a direct result of ebay's new policy. There are more crap buyers out there than you realise. I've had more than the odd one or two who have decided they don't want the item before paying for and seeing it despite having used buy it now or decided to leave negative feedback because you had the audacity to send a payment reminder three weeks after the item finished. Some simply don't communicate at all. I think it is wrong that sellers can't leave negatives. In this case I guess feedback has to be a case of abuse with a smile where genuinely deserved. If everyone files non paying bidder reports, he should get booted. But it doesn't stop him doing this again and again until that time arrives.

Any farthings to add?

I have to admit I try and look at these things logically, although what I know about pennies is probably not worth knowing!! Unless a coin is produced in specifically low amounts for a reason (1933 penny, die letters etc), then it stands to reason that the coins are from a currency die, and therefore the die would have presumably been used until it failed. On that principle you would anticipate that many more than 10 would have been produced. This would lead me to believe that there are probably at least several thousand of this type produced, hence Freeman's estimate. Taking into account the fact it is difficult to identify this type in lower grades this could explain why only a small proportion are currently known, but I would tend to disagree with a statement that says "only 10 are known to exist", in that I think it puts this on a par with other "genuine rarities" when it is highly likely that in actual fact many many more were produced.

There is a 1920 5c Straits Setllements which can be silver or CN if I remember correctly. The CN version is much larger than the silver version. Don't know whether the same applies to the 10c coins

Ah but you have now got an excellent book that will earn back its money if you ever decide to sell, and I can look for some new farthings

With regards to the pennies, have not got a clue!! I am very blinkered towards farthings (maybe too much) so am not fully up to date with prices on other denominations. As for buying, I look for coins from anywhere, and tend to look more at the impression I get from the sellers feedback, descriptions etc. I look more in the feedback for names of other ebay collectors I know when buying from "dealers", therefore if they were happy with the service, it should be the same for me. If it is a private sale from someone who would not normally deal in coins, i bid accordingly and take the chance. Very few problems to date, and tend to get better deals abroad. I tend to sell anywhere and then if I encounter bad experiences with the post etc, alter my approach. I have to say the only bad experiences I have to date post wise have been with Russia and Spain. It is mainly the UK postal service that cause me grief!! The best (worst) one was a high value coin sent to Italy, that was not received, but it had been sent insured. It took me a while to start getting answers from Royal Mail, and eventually they tracked the coin down in Washington DC!! It had got on the wrong plane. Coin was returned and re-sent to buyer, who was very understanding.

Hi, In certain years the production of coins was also carried out by others than the Royal mint. The H refers to coins produced at the Heaton mint (Ralph Heaton & Sons, Birmingham), the KN refers to coins produced at the Kings Norton mint (T.R Bayliss & Son, which became part of Noble Industries). Coins that were produced at these companies (in many cases) bear a mint mark to show this fact. On pennies it is positioned to the left of the date on the coin.

Thats an attractive penny by the way!!! Its good to see there are still some people releasing these poor things from captivity!!

¿Trying to drum up competitive bids for my watched item aye? Thats modern ebay for you, you have to do the marketing yourself!! Good luck !! Don't forget its worth bidding that little bit extra for something you really want .

The most comprehensive book I have read on coin manufacturing is 'The art of coin making' a history of minting technology by Denis R Cooper, published by Spink & son, ISBN 0907 605 27 3. Copper variations are not very well recorded genrally and mint records very scarce to non existant for the Copper period. Most books like Bramahs and Pecks only record a few of the most well known variations. John How's that for timing, I have just put a copy on ebay for sale !!!! Link to Ebay

Awwww bless.... thats sweet. Probably worth more than my bloomin 'sovereign' from my gran! I have got a bit of a background to the "Cumberland Jacks" on my site - Hanover Tokens

Teg, There are a few there that take my fancy also!! Decisions decisions......... I have to agree on the comments about farthing grading also, some look initially great in the hand, have a closer look and the difference is staggering.

Chris, I agree, I got really excited by the list, but some of the coins were not what I had pictured from the description BU Full Lustre. Although it is always difficult to capture lustre on a photo, I have my doubts, but still some nice coins in there, just got to persuade my wife to let me have a spend now!!

I can vouch for Clive, he is great at spotting mistakes!!!!

You mean send ALL of them in the post? Nah, I'd rather not spend the money shuttling the coins back and forth, especially if they're not worth a great deal. I'll get in touch the next time I'm near London and show you them in person, if I still have them. Thank you muchly for all your help Where abouts in the Midlands are you? I am based in the West Mids also and may be able to have a look for you. I have no doubt there are a few people on here who would vouch for me (I hope!!). Are you interested in selling them as a lot?

Ron, I agree it is not a proof. I saw this coin for sale on ebay described as a proof and had my doubts due to the quality of the strike, and I believe the seller is now selling an 1806 farthing also described as a proof. Seeing the edge confirms this fact.

Matty, Forgive me if I sounded a bit negative, that was not my intention. You have an 1860 TB farthing, if you can get hold of a beaded border example and place them side by side the difference will become apparent. The tooth shape, is not the overriding factor. There are other features which distinguish one type from the other. It is worth getting a beaded border example, and then I think you will see the difference quite clearly. Good luck hunting for the bargains, they are out there but I have yet to find a mule Note the rocks to the left of the lighthouse in the above image, and the difference that would be on section.

sorry everybody, just gettin the hang of it, thanks chris, looks much neater Matty, Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this coin is also a toothed border farthing. The rock to the left of the lighthouse would show as 3 separate rocks, like jagged teeth, not the one solid rock that is visible. I think what you have is similar to the one that was slabbed, in that some of teeth appear as beads due to the die, but it is not a true mule (a mismatch of two dies that were never intended to be together.

I have seen a couple of farthings that give a prooflike appearance. One of my 1893's has this effect. I think as someone else has commented it would tend to be an early strike. As for the Mule, the image only shows the reverse of the coin and it has a toothed border. All the mule varieties have a beaded reverse and a toothed obverse, so I would say it is very unlikely that it is in fact a mule.

All, I am after 25-30 one shilling coins for a friend so that they can be encased, they must be lustrous/Aunc condition. Any dates will do, does not matter if they are all the same date. Have a look in the back of those cupboards, If you can help me drop me a PM with a price including shipping.

Is it just me or is the border tooth design also different, it may just be the photo but!! Unfortunately I do not have any in my collection to check.

Geoff, My concern is that if I see Britannia, I instinctively think British. This is one of the features that identifies our coinage, as does the Monarch's portrait. We already have coins that carry commemorative/artistic designs, so why do we need more. If other modern coinage produced gave the same impression my views may be different, but I think we are one of a handful of countries that have coinage that immediately gives you an impression of the country and its identity. I look at much of the euro coinage, and the modern bi-metallic coinage, and it all looks the same, cheap, dull and repetitive. I am all for change if it is a step forward, and I know the new design may be stunning, but I would confidently bet a few farthings that it will be lacking....

I too admit to being a last minute sniper , because I have witnessed first hand those bidders that just keep doing it an increment at a time. Bid too early and it can cost you money!!! Bid early and you can also become victim to people searching for items by bidder name. For example if I collect a certain type of coin, and another e-bay user also collects the same item and knows my ebay ID, they can search for items I am bidding on, to save them searching, another reason why I bid late!! Its the rush of the bid in the last few seconds that does it for me Although I have messed it up on occasion

Just to confuse things, I always use the term British Colonial. Welcome aboard!!