Stuntman

Definitely the top one of those two, but I'd echo azda's concerns about the lighting. The coin is probably fine (as in proper, not as in grade) but there is an element of doubt. Looks like they're double florins rather than florins?

Wow, lots of new acquisitions! Plenty of good advice regarding dealers and coin fairs too, I'd highly recommend the same and have bought from all four dealers Paulus mentioned. Another very fitting coincidence of 1899 and 1951 is that the 1951 Crown was actually struck from an old 1899 Crown die, with a suitably modified date. Seems very apposite given your Grandmother's influence on you. Thinking further, it might be worth you also considering collecting a year set from other monarchs once you've finished your 1899 and 1951 sets. I'd suggest 1902, 1935 and 1953 because there will be a Crown in each of those years too. Given they are coronation/jubilee years, many coins will have been kept, so it's relatively easy and inexpensive to find nice ones. I might then consider doing a year set for 1887 which would give you Jubilee Head silver, Bun Head bronze, plus some more interesting coins (withdrawn sixpence, double florin). Beyond that I'd consider collecting a type set (i.e. different designs of the same denomination) back to 1816 of whichever coin(s) tickled your fancy the most. Most importantly, have fun!

Hi Mick - I suspect your storage needs will also depend on how many coins you intend to collect. Note the word "intend", perhaps the siren call of certain coins might lure you to collect more than you originally suspect... For what it's worth, I've got one of the Lindner Coin Transport Cases with 6 trays. I think it's an inexpensive and convenient solution if you collect a bit of everything (i.e. different denominations of different sizes). My coins are all raw - i.e. unslabbed - and are in various grades from less than Fine up to BU. I think it's a really nice idea to collect all circulating denomination for 1899 and 1951, thankfully nothing should be too expensive (good job your Grandmother wasn't born in 1905...). I also think it's nice to be able to handle your coins (carefully, of course) and think about the various people who may have used them over the decades/centuries rather than have them 'imprisoned' in some way. I like the Victoria Veiled Head coinage designs, particularly the Shillings and higher denominations. Happy collecting!

I agree on all counts. Tasters from people's coin annals sounds great! PS - I think Pete's term is rang tang - but don't google what else it means...

Hi Pete, I guess I don't post much at the moment because I'm out of work and currently can't really justify any potential new coin acquisitions. Hopefully this state of affairs won't last much longer though. Am drinking a small glass of Aberlour 10 as a nightcap, very tasty...

I'd say the Obverse is Fair, the Reverse Fine or near so. None of the Vicky Young Head halfcrowns is very common but 1884 isn't particularly rare, there were nearly 1.6 million minted. The commonest mintages are 1883 at just under 3 million and 1881 at about 2.3 million. If you like the design, it might be worth looking to spend say £50-£75 on a nicer one, or perhaps spend the same £20 budget on say an 1887 Jubilee Head halfcrown? As an example, I bought this 1885 halfcrown from an online dealer about a year ago for £66 delivered. The seller graded it GVF, the coin is nice in hand.

By the sounds of it, your Father had an interesting and varied collection. I'm sure that quite a few of us might be interested in seeing more of these coins. I'd certainly be interested in seeing pictures of anything pre-Victoria, particularly the William & Mary coins. By the way, another way of posting photos is to upload them to a photo sharing website (I use photobucket) and then post the link. As an example, here's my George IV Farthing from 1821:

Yes please too, if there are any left! I've looked at the UK & Ire auction list for the last few weeks, but haven't placed a bid so far. Hope it continues to go well, Declan.

Oh yes, forgot about that one! I have an 1888 example.

You need a shilling and a farthing to complete the set of circulated coins (ignoring fractional farthings). A two pence would be a maundy coin. There are plenty of nice shilling and farthing coins available for reasonable prices, both from online coin dealers and elsewhere. Decide which 'head' of Victoria you like the most, and then find a nice one in your price range. Good luck. I'd forget about the two pence if I were you!

Similar dealer examples appear to be priced in the £80 to £110 range I reckon, before negotiation. So perhaps £50 to sell and £80 to buy?

Cracking shilling there Paulus I was aware of the WCC shillings but not the EIC, nor the reason behind the Elephant or Elephant & Castle. Great stuff, thanks!

Some stuff about Vigo Bay: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vigo_Bay And Lima silver: https://24carat.co.uk/frame.php?url=limacoininfo.html

Rob might come along with more detail, but it's to do with the silver being used in the coins. I think the VIGO silver was captured by Admiral Rooke from the Spanish or French (accounts differ) in Vigo Bay, and the LIMA silver was captured from the Spanish by Admiral Anson. Also, I think it's correct that VIGO was the first time that a word was used on a coin to denote the origin of its silver, as opposed to Roses, Plumes etc. I wanted one of each, because of the historical interest. I have a 1723 SSC (South Sea Company silver) shilling and a 1739 Roses (West Country mines silver) shilling, both of which are pretty common. I would like a Plumes (Welsh mines) shilling as well, ideally a Queen Anne one of 1707 or 1708. One day!

A couple more new acquisitions. A 1745 LIMA shilling from the Midland Coin Fair again, and a 1703 VIGO shilling from a local auction recently. Again grading opinions welcome. I suspect I overpaid for the VIGO shilling!

Hopefully this will work. Here's my new acquisition of an 1829 Halfcrown from the Midland Coin fair yesterday. First attempt at pictures! Opinions on grade welcome. Looking at it again today, I'd give it a solid NVF!

If you like them as BU coins, then your 23 quid is money well spent. I wouldn't worry too much about their future value either way.

Purely on their subjective eye appeal to me, I think 2694 is probably the best all-round proposition of the three, but number 2691 immediately above them is much nicer altogether and possibly worth trying to find the extra cash for it. Good luck either way!

I'd go a little higher on your 1817. It has bags of eye appeal as well. I agree with Garrett!

I'd go with at least EF for Mynki's 1890. I have a couple of Double Florins - an 1887 Arabic 1 graded GEF by the seller and an 1889 which is Fine, maybe slightly better. the former coin is very pleasing on the eye, I bought it about a year ago from a dealer who is a forum member here. The latter coin was a birthday present over about 35 years ago when I was a schoolboy!

1872 is the commonest I think. Guess which single date I have!

I really like the Widow Head shilling design too, on both sides of the coin. In fact I think the shilling, florin and halfcrown of that era are all lovely. 1883 is pretty reasonable in terms of price I think for a Young Head (4th Young Head). For the different types of Young Head in the lower grades that I tend to collect (VF to GVF), I have found that 1856, 1874 and 1883 have tended to be lower priced. I've never seen an 1839 WW so I suspect that 1838 is the lower priced option for the first Young Head?

At least GEF for me too. The obverse in particular is lovely.

Welcome BigJohnny. I think there are perhaps two ways in which you can stop without having to shuffle off your mortal coil: 1. Needing to spend your discretionary (coin) cash on something else - e.g. moving house, changing your car, family changes, or by being out of work (like me at the moment) 2. Setting yourself a simple-ish collecting goal, completing it, and then resisting the temptation to set another. Possible, but good luck with that one In reality I think most people either have the collecting gene or they don't. The more time you spend on here, not only the more you learn, but you also see pictures of some lovely coins that sparks a desire to save up for something similar yourself!

And sometimes you might well never see one as nice as the current example again, so you may need to strike when the convergence of opportunity and available funds presents itself. I've certainly paid full gallery list price on a few occasions for original artwork I really like (e.g. new work from an established artist's solo exhibition), given that it would be sold very quickly to someone else if I hesitated. I've learned that lesson the hard way more than once! In other words, take a deep breath if you love the item. You're unlikely to regret the decision.