jelida

I'm afraid I dont see the item as false teeth either, and cant find anything similar on the net. Look much too deep, poorly shaped, no clear articular or gum surface, and softness and weight would have been impractical. Denture making was always a skilled profession, most simply went without. Jerry

It is the right size and appearance for a Roman grot, and there may be a portrait but it is too far gone to be sure. You will have more luck with the coin in hand, rather than any photo I'm afraid. Do you have a local FLO? he might help. Jerry

Impossible to date accurately by style and function, though I agree the Lead Carbonate patina suggests a good age, could be anything from Roman to C18, and have performed one of many functions through loom weight, steelyard weight, trade weight, net weight and I'm sure there are dozens more possibilities . It is quite large, and the nearest in size that I have came from a Roman site. Jerry

Looks like the classic 'twisted sixpence', George, they are usually worn William III coins, and often quite abraded on the high-lights created by the 'S' shaped bends. I have found many over the years. I dont really believe the 'betrothal' idea of two sixpences twisted together, I suspect they were gaming pieces or had some other use. Jerry

Missed by me too, thats a good buy, well done. Jerry

The biggest issue I encounter at my local detecting club is persuading finders not to rub a coin immediately on recovery, the adherent soil acts as fine sandpaper and this is the usual cause of the 'Brillo pad' effect. I have convinced a few, largely through my find displays when I give a talk, but the instinct seems difficult to overcome. Jerry

Well done , in all my years of detecting I've never found a George I silver; the reverse is actually quite reasonable for a soil found coin, shame the obverse isn't a little less worn. Jerry

Looks like severe (multiple) die clashing to me, often seen on earlier bun pennies though rarely to this degree. Jerry

Shame about the sprouts. But I hope you and yours are safe and dry. Jerry

Terribly sad for many, but I do like your last link; developers should be obliged to pay onto a fund that indemnifies their house purchasers against flood damage in perpetuity, might encourage them not to build in stupid places, and prevent us (the taxpayer) having to try and protect properties that others in their greed throw up without a care as to the consequences. Me, I'm looking forward to the 600ft sea level rise that means I can fish from my garden into 'Pontypool Fiord'. Its become a frequent topic of conversation with my neighbour in the pub. Jerry

You could try the copper coins of G3?. But seriously, Rob is probably your man here. Jerry

Hi Richard, this is going to develop in to a superlative reference, but I also have a couple of queries; I cannot see the F72 with ja reverse listed, and I note that you have not followed Goubys rarity estimate in every case , notably in the Gouby F varieties, and 1882 F114 and 115; I have always found F114 to be considerably scarcer (as reflected by Freeman, R10 and R4 respectively). I appreciate this may be deliberate , in line with your own research. Have you used your own rarity estimates on occasion? The F72 ja will clearly be rarer than normal F72, for example, but Gouby listed them together. And a little clarification of the years covered in your varietal lists, there is overlap in the titles correctly not reflected in the content. Jerry

Merry Christmas to all! I'm off to the pub with my son, when I get back the women will be merry and the dinner on the table. Then, like a sated anaconda, I'll curl up for a sleep somewhere. Twas ever thus.

Works for me, typed it in.

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