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DrLarry

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  1. DrLarry

    Toy Coins

    DrLarry replied to DrLarry's topic in Free for all

    by S G Onions , it is strange that in the listing of these little coins by Rogers he does not make that connection, but I am sure you are right. I would have thought it was the kind of novel thing he would have said.
  2. DrLarry

    Toy Coins

    DrLarry replied to DrLarry's topic in Free for all

    Oh ....yes I am sure now you say it you are right by S G Onions , it is strange that in the listing of these little coins by Rogers he does not make that connection, but I am sure you are right. I would have thought it was the kind of novel thing he would have said. If the 'onions' referred to in the phrase is indeed human rather than vegetable, there is another Mr. Onions that could be our man. S. G. Onions (they were strong on initials in those days) created sets of coins which were issued to English schools from 1843 onwards. These were teaching aids intended to help children learn £.s.d. (pounds, shillings and pence). They looked similar to real coins and had inscriptions like '4 Farthings make 1 Penny' or, as in the example pictured, '12 Pence make 1 shilling'. We can imagine that 'knowing your Onions' might be coined, so to speak, in those circumstances. although it does say the first in print reference was in 1920 I'm going to write that in my addition of Rogers in case anyone should update it at some point i do wish someone would there are a lot of varieties that even I have noticed which differ from the numerous ones he lists. They are the kind of collection you do need a microscope for I would not have a hope in hell of seeing anything at all if not LOL
  3. DrLarry

    Toy Coins

    DrLarry replied to DrLarry's topic in Free for all

    yeah those are cute characters too there are a few in that series of different denominations . I may be wrong I assumed them to be some kind of educational teaching aid to learn the rather complex system of £ S D. at the moment I have only the shilling and penny
  4. DrLarry

    Toy Coins

    DrLarry replied to DrLarry's topic in Free for all

    I hope so I know it is not strictly coins but they are interesting history. I do have a few Moore pennies and half pennies and the tiny ones I found one in its tiny little box the other day in the US still wrapped in the paper . I like model coins I think the design for the two shillings with Britannia in her cart with the sea horses is a beautiful item I wish it had been made into a coin. :)
  5. DrLarry

    Toy Coins

    DrLarry replied to DrLarry's topic in Free for all

    oh Ok let me know if you have any GV ones, I was lucky enough to find a small hoard of Spanish ones uncirculated which are not listed in Rogers (if you ever get collectors always happy to swap) I am always interested in the rarer Baviens and Balmberger types. Let me know Larry. I do miss Dorset so much
  6. DrLarry
    In fact can I broaden this and ask if anyone has coins that show considerable corrosion on the surface even irregular corrosion having been buried as I wish to study variable corrosion on the surface of coins (not Roman ) thanks
  7. DrLarry

    Toy Coins

    DrLarry replied to DrLarry's topic in Free for all

    LOL yes I do too, do you have them because you are collecting them ?
  8. DrLarry
    I am in search of Green Pennies , pennies and half pennies that have been buried. I know many of you might find the idea strange (well it is me ) but I am doing some experiments with green pennies and wondered if anyone has any they have dug which they might be looking to get rid of (cheap!) usually collectors don't like them so they have limited value except to strange people but I find them useful. Victorian ones are best but also earlier dates pennies or half pennies perhaps farthings. The process of the gradual replacement of the outer layer of copper alloy by percolating ground waters usually results in a complex of mixed carbonates and oxides and I ,being a fossil man, am interested in the transition. Happy to buy them but as happy to rent them or loan them or if you are feeling generous give them away. As long as they have not been chemically altered by that funny paste sadly on sale in many metal detecting clubs. THanks
  9. DrLarry

    Toy Coins

    DrLarry posted a topic in Free for all

    One of the greatest enjoyments I have had in the last 4 years is the collecting, of often very beautiful, miniature coins dating from the 19thC and early 20thC. Made by the company of L Ch Lauer and a couple of other toy manufacturers Balmberger and Cooke (in the UK ?) These tiny copies usually around 13 mm are almost perfect replicas of the coinages of Victoria, Edward VII and George V (rare) with a couple of others George IV along with sets for each country. A rather expensive book by D J de Solar Rogers cover the subject in some detail and there is a wonderful online collection at the Fitzwilliam Museum donated by this author. In the four years I have been collecting the price seems to have climbed in the rarer country types USA, Germany, Belgium, French, Spain , and others. The detailing is wonderful They were made essentially as toys of course for children but of course mostly for girls in part ,I am sure, as a learning tool to learn home economics hence the name dolls House Coins. They are made of zinc, copper, tinned, brass and iron coated with gold and silver and copper. I wondered if anyone else is interested in this more obscure numismatic area of interest?
  10. DrLarry
    yes it might be ,,,,,some struggle and struggle for years and never see , I am going to try split image using a rhombus of iceland Spar it has interesting optical properties
  11. DrLarry
    once the skill exists it is as fast and as rapid as looking at any image aye, I like them too ...... interesting studies on optics early 17th C I believe following on from Ptolemy and Hipparchus of Nicaea
  12. DrLarry
    yes modern day version of stereographic projections offset and overlapped , Euclidean Geometry really
  13. DrLarry
    at least we both see the same in one context
  14. DrLarry
    very good Jerry
  15. DrLarry
    i will leave you with these images then with these in the hope you can see these too. I think it might help
  16. DrLarry
    yeah , I assume also there were several dies (design stamps) from which the coins were made, as each die reaches the end of the line (breaks or wears) it is replaced sometimes the new dies are the same others seem to have variation. There is supposed to be a master die from which the other working dies are cut but there appear to be anomalies in this simple approach which made no sense to me at times. Also you have to remember that there was a serious of shortage of small denominations at this time the only previous silver was the 1863 Northumberland shilling (often faked) I dont think this new design was liked that much, I am not sure why I think that.
  17. DrLarry
    the British Numismatic Journal is available free online you might want to take a look and search in that someone at some point is likely to have done some kind of study of the coins of that period and you can download them as pdf's
  18. DrLarry
    part of the problem is that most prefer not to to see legend variations as varieties and hence they end up unlisted so there is little method as far as I see it. Variations in the lettering and position seems to depend as many will say on "who it is who refers to them" in other words you have to be the "right" person....rather takes it out of the hand of the normal folks, although we do find new varieties that end up on a list somewhere. I am afraid I dont know too much about proclamation coinage I have a reference set but they oftentimes seem very "spotty" especially the silver (black marks across the surface something to do with the metal impurities or method of stamping)
  19. DrLarry
    yes I would have gone for the Australia deduction as my first choice, but I admit that I hesitate to make assumptions on here my deductions usually end up with me under a pack of wolves. I think the rules are the same I think it is an international law issue and as EBay are legally based in Luxembourg it should work. I suppose the issue is the cost of the postage, the buyer if they "just don't like it" has to pay the return but if the coin has been polished and it is not noted then the description does not match in which case the seller is the responsible one. I assume it is in part the law of contract if the object does not match then the contract is deemed to be void or at least questionable. images : great little app for the android phone is one called "cozy magnifyer +" in the google play shop it is only a couple of pounds or free in the less good version helps turn the phone into a microscope it is helpful in that it allows you to view things in reversed light so that images on the screen of coins, can be seen and the flaws show up quite nicely and you can zoom in for details. I use a microscope a lot ( much to the annoyance of many) my findings and musings tend to get dismissed a lot LOL all in a days work.
  20. DrLarry
    well everyone thanks for all your opinions and help with this topic. Perhaps you are right. So I think what I shall do is write a short essay on the subject the process, the findings and your opinions and then I can keep it for posterity. If anyone is interested e mail me message me directly. Many thanks Larry
  21. DrLarry
    yes my Grandfather's collection of 20th C coins is badly damaged by these old plastics.
  22. DrLarry
    I think he might not be in the UK or is a very early riser or a very late night person the post went up 7 hours ago .....although saying that I often end up rising in the early morning and get lured into the coin world LOL
  23. DrLarry
    There is a noticeable increase in the number of low grade George IV Crowns i have noticed lately. Also be very careful of the Vic Shillings for sale the copies are very good from china at the moment. There is a noticeable flaw on the reverse on the right side half way up the band one of the oak leaves is attached to the outer rim
  24. DrLarry
    of course just report it there a re lot of fake florins around the most common is 1864 . they seem to have the obverse for the gothic and use it for the crowns and sadly they make them now in silver and have managed to get the edging right. There are usually however minor aberrations in the fancy gothic dentals around the edge which give them away a little
  25. DrLarry
    First of all Welcome to the forum and welcome to collecting of shiny bits of squashed metal with pretty pictures on them, it is indeed a great way to be in touch with history. You have decided upon an interesting field of collecting there are some interesting Georgian coins and the history of the time is great too. I would recommend as a starting point having a look at the feeds on Modern Fakes. There are a lot out there and I also advise that you go onto one of the chinese selling sites like Aliexpress and search for coins and see which ones fit into your category of collecting. There is a great little book by reprographics the supporters of this site on coin grading which covers most of the obverse and reverse types since G III ( I don't work for them by the way) but it is useful. if you do not like the guinea that you purchased send it back. No matter what the seller says internet buying is remote selling and hence the buyer only has a limited scope of viewing a potential purchase. If on arrival you simply do not like it send it back , open a request on ebay for a return. Legally a seller cannot refuse this in the case of coins simply because no advert is sufficiently good enough. Even if a buyer has no previous feedback it is invariably safe to buy especially if you pay through pay pal which allows you 6 months to change your mind ebay is only 30 days I think. You are just as likely to be flogged rubbish by some of the "professional" sellers and the amateur sellers, although some have a better reputation than others read the feedback and look at the other coins they are selling. Once you know the modern fakes and the types you can quickly see if they are selling the junk you can buy for a few dollars even if they battered a fake is spotable in the most because it usually comes from grannies attic , or a tin grandad had in the loft, or basement. Take many of these family treasure trove stories with a pinch of salt. I am the resident crazy person on here at the moment ( as I am sure you will discover) so take anything I say with a dose of salt or pinch depending on your view on novelty approaches to collecting. Good Luck Larry
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