jelida

Excellent Richard, a fine reference, thanks for all the effort you put in on behalf of us penny lovers! Penny lovers? Makes us sound cheap...what is the word? Denariologists? Pennyphiles? (liable to mis-interpretation) Pennyologists? Need some help here! Anyway, Merry Xmas everybody! Jerry

I've had a couple of these in fields across the water from you, and of course the later round ones are commonplace, obviously circulated widely.

Active (ie bright green, powdery) verdigris has to be removed or it will progressively eat away more of the coin. Inactive could possibly be watched, but I dont trust it. On archaeological finds I conserve with lovely carcinogens like benzotriazole, but does darken the patina. Info on the web, but risky to health without due precaution. As I said before, verdicare is helpful, but mechanical picking is still required. It will be interesting to see how Paulus gets on with the stuff mentioned elsewhere on the forum. Jerry

I'm with Coinery on this one, I dont consider removing detrimental surface contaminants (salts, greases, wax, oils) 'cleaning' in the perjorative numismatic sense of the word, but rather preventative conservation; the surface structure and composition of the coin itself is not altered , rather future damage from acids and salts is prevented. Dealing with copper alloys this is otherwise a very real risk long term. I suspect the break-down of organic deposits including skin oils and the chloride and acid salts released within to be the main cause of verdigris, aggravated by atmospheric moisture. Jerry

I have had good success tackling verd with verdicare, but a binocular microscope is essential I feel as the softened verd needs mechanical loosening. If do-able, would go for the better grade. Jerry

And I loved his attempt to declare it unique, and that CGS couldnt value it as they hadnt seen one before. I doubt he'll make much profit on it. Jerry

Yes, I bid on that, I think I was the under bidder; couldnt justify more because of the harsh cleaning and verd. I see it re-surfaced on the bay recently, one of this forums more favoured sellers , now a slabbing reject , attracted even fewer bids. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-VICTORIA-MULE-PENNY-1860-/321938320645?hash=item4af504ed05%3Ag%3AH08AAOSwf-VWYFtc&nma=true&si=QpvVHmX4UTCz%252F7MxamyORLwjNWQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 Jerry

My copy arrived safely thanks Mal, Jerry

True, I have my mothers old notebooks, she listed coins as she bought them, type , price, source, and gave them a collection number. I am going to have to collate this into a searchable list by type, mint and moneyer in the first instance. My gripe with Spink is the size of the pictures, given that they hardly improve under the magnifier. Jerry

I think I have to turn my attention to the collection of over a hundred voided cross pennies, purchased mostly in the nineties by my mother, gifted to me. I think it is well worth building on this, and I would like advice regarding appropriate literature. I have bought 'The Brussels Hoard' (obviously not all of it) and I have North and Spink. I really need a straightforward and portable reference when out at the fairs to pin down possible purchases; is Christopher Wren's book any good, or are there other recommendations? Big pictures definitely an asset! Jerry

Sorry, was looking at the previous page, I see this has already been suggested! Jerry

I think it's the standard 6+ G, but the lower serif of the B of BRITT is absent, making the gap look bigger. Jerry

The F114 1882H; there isn't a close-up on the CGS site. Seems a scarce coin to me, first I've come across for sale (at least that I've recognised, probably couldn't tell in many pics). I was really pleased with these, especially the 1878 which is beautiful. Jerry

The 1875H (note repair to ribbon end) and 1878

The 1865.

A few of my pennies from LCA last week, the slabbed coins are the CGS pics. First the F10 triple F.

No "H' to be seen. Jerry

I have a felt-lined tray that lives in the safe on top of my coin cabinets, all new arrivals go there after initial gloat. When several have gathered, in their 2x2's of purchase, they go, on the tray, upstairs to be photographed, then straight back to the study for ticketing and /or placement in my coin cabinets, in the appropriate recess for type/date. I haven't had one go missing since my younger brother nicked my ex circulation 1902 LT penny after a row/fight nearly 50 years ago when I was a kid. The penny was never recovered, I had a cry and he had a spanking. Happy days! Jerry

There was meant to be a smiley at the end of my last post, before you get too incandescent! Jerry⛏☠

It is scarce, and I have not yet found one better than fine. I recently sorted a few kilos of Victorian pennies from my local auction, there were 29 1898 pennies, of which two were of this type, with the changed '8' font, and that approximates to what I've noted on the 'bay. I actually rather like this as a variety, they do look quite different in the hand (under a strong glass, of course, my eyes aren't that good!). Much better than date widths that vary fron die to die Jerry

Not an open 3 sadly, but the mark below the date does need clarifying, would be great if you were right. Get some microscope pics! Jerry

Have a great day Bob, and a Merry Christmas to the colonies. Jerry

The fairs from the new year start at 09.30 instead of 10, notices were up in the hall yesterday. I usually get to Ian P by 10.01 at the latest, nice bloke, nice coins and good prices. No website afaik. The problem with Dave C is that he knows what he has! But good quality, and pricing is fair, unlike some. But of course our own Rob P is the most knowledgeable of the lot! Jerry

Cheers Pete! But you are half right in your description! No bronze pennies for me yesterday, I really didnt find anything I wanted, but got the new Spink at a good price, and a little Lizzie silver penny, I figure I might have to branch out. Rob did show me a Charles II halfpenny, and a Geo III silver penny, but I wasnt quite tempted. Ian Pratt showed Non and I a small group of Victorian silver forgeries he had acquired, they were frighteningly convincing, especially a pair of 1850's shillings which even had a fake nice old tone , the milling was the only slight givaway I could spot, a little more open and too sharp , but I would have thought them good if I hadnt been told. Jerry

I presume it's the 'nearly 1927 reverse' rather than the 'actual 1927 reverse', of which only one is known, is that right? No books to hand, and my favourite penny site is no longer available to me.... . Jerry