Tin Farthing varieties

[DaveG38]

Hi all,

I have just been lucky enough to obtain a 1685 Charles II tin farthing. It's in about fine condition, but is pretty corroded with the copper plug missing, so a bit of a mixture from a collector's point of view, although it is the first one I have seen for many years and fills a gap in my collection. What I would like to know is whether there were many varieties of edge for this particular farthing type, as there are with the James II tin farthings, where there seem to be all kinds of mixtures of mullets, stops and spaces. Does the Peck 'bible' say anything about this? The edge of mine is very clear so I should be able to assign it correctly.

All advice gratefully received. Thanks.

DaveG38

[Teg]

Very Good catch - any chance of a picture?

No edge varieties in Peck - or from any other source.

BMC 538. NVMMORVM * FAMVLVS * 1685 * (5 pointed mullets).

Montagu writing in 1885 said

"In the cabinet of Mr R.A.Hoblyn, is one (farthing) dated 1685, which is probably one of the many forgeries of the period, seeing that the King died on the 6th of January 1685 - this according to the old style then in force, being in the year 1684."

(topical as new years day used to be 25th March - not tomorrow!)

If you look at Colin Cooke's collection on his site you will see the Ex Parsons specimen. Peck states that it is definitely genuine - as are the Baldwin and British Museum pieces.) Peck did not trace the Hoblyn coin - but said it was probably genuine. Colin Cooke sold the Hoblyn coin from list 8 as GVF (and genuine).

Contemporary forgeries also exist - and Peck shows an example in his book.

Teg

[DaveG38]

Hi,

Here is a composite picture of both sides of the coin, plus the edge date. I have to say that it compares well with the much better example on the Colin Cooke website, but I stand to be corrected if mine turns out to be a contemporary forgery.

Any further thoughts please.

Thanks. DaveG38

[Teg]

Thanks for the photo.

I would say genuine - from that picture.

Very nice.

Teg

[DaveG38]

Thanks for the photo.

I would say genuine - from that picture.

Very nice.

Teg

Many thanks for the endorsement - another gap in my collection filled. Only a 1684 James II to go!!

DaveG38

[Hussulo]

Only a 1684 James II to go, you say Dave. I have found a James II 1687 ,or do you already have it?

:

http://cngcoins.com/Bid.aspx?ITEM_ID=97778

[Guest Guest_DaveG38_I'm_a_Guest]

Hussulo,

Many thanks for the kind thought. However, I do already have an example of both bust types of 1687 farthing i.e. BMC 554 and 560, although I don't have all the other BMC types - I'm not into collecting every minor variety of farthing, just the main types and dates.

DaveG38

[Hussulo]

No problem Dave. You must have quite a formidable collection of farthings.

[Teg]

Thanks for the photo.

I would say genuine - from that picture.

Very nice.

Teg

Many thanks for the endorsement - another gap in my collection filled. Only a 1684 James II to go!!

DaveG38

ONLY A 1684 James II to go !

Wow - I still have a number of gaps.

BTW Hussulo, that 1687 is a 1/2d - though they do have some top farthings in that sale.

Teg

[Hussulo]

BTW Hussulo, that 1687 is a 1/2d - though they do have some top farthings in that sale.

Teg

[DaveG38]

Hussulo,

It may be a formidable collection by dates, and some varieties, but they are not all in the grades I would like. Basically, I am a collector of quantity rather than quality, as I prefer to have 10 coins at £10 each in VF rather than one at £100 in EF, although I do have a basic standard to aim at of between fine and VF, and many of my coins achieve this and better. The exceptions tend to be the early coppers (Charles II, William III, George I, and some George II) and of course, the tin series, where fine is about the best I have been able to manage. Trouble is that I also collect halfpennies, pennies, 3ds, 6ds, shillings........... you get the idea!!

DaveG38

[Hussulo]

Hussulo,

It may be a formidable collection by dates, and some varieties, but they are not all in the grades I would like. Basically, I am a collector of quantity rather than quality, as I prefer to have 10 coins at £10 each in VF rather than one at £100 in EF, although I do have a basic standard to aim at of between fine and VF, and many of my coins achieve this and better. The exceptions tend to be the early coppers (Charles II, William III, George I, and some George II) and of course, the tin series, where fine is about the best I have been able to manage. Trouble is that I also collect halfpennies, pennies, 3ds, 6ds, shillings........... you get the idea!!

DaveG38

Still a great accomplishment thus far Dave and your almost at the completion mark.

I too struggle to concentrate on one area of collecting. I am trying to finish my 1/3 Farthing collection and Edward VII Shilling collection in Unc. (Although 1905 will be a tough one). I do however get miss tracked and buy other coins if I like the look and price of them.