Read this first if new here.

[Chris Perkins]

Peck numbers are already included, I think for copper and bronze coins. ESC numbers are already quoted for silver coins. I don't suppose it would ba a problem to put freeman for bronze instead (with your help).

[william]

Peck numbers are already included, I think for copper and bronze coins. ESC numbers are already quoted for silver coins. I don't suppose it would ba a problem to put freeman for bronze instead (with your help).

What is ESC Chris, at a guess English Silver Coins?

[Emperor Oli]

I will probably make this members only area a little more exclusive too, so that I can be sure new members can't come in and nose around what is none of their business. I'll look into upgrading all you lot somehow and creating an even more private area for this kind of thing.

And give it a cool name like "The Clubhouse"

[william]

I will probably make this members only area a little more exclusive too, so that I can be sure new members can't come in and nose around what is none of their business. I'll look into upgrading all you lot somehow and creating an even more private area for this kind of thing.

And give it a cool name like "The Clubhouse"

I like that..! How about Hotclub de Numismatics?

[Emperor Oli]

What the hell are we? A gentleman's club as that name suggests!? Most certainly not!

[custard1966]

Peck numbers are already included, I think for copper and bronze coins. ESC numbers are already quoted for silver coins. I don't suppose it would ba a problem to put freeman for bronze instead (with your help).

I hadn't spotted the the Peck refs

Perhaps that's because the layout is a bit chaotic and the refs are patchy for the bun heads and non-existent thereafter.

It'd be a big improvement to tidy that up and I think preferable to use Freeman for the bronze.

Another question is over which grades to use for pricing points.

As we discussed in another thread a while back, Spink means 'full lustre' when it says UNC. I'm not sure how helpful this is because it's a big jump from EF to BU for bronze coins.

The collectors guide describes UNC as 'unworn, as struck by the mint' but says nothing about lustre.

If we take Abt FDC as used in the guide to mean BU then having a lower grade of UNC to mean less than full lustre is very useful. It would be even better if it were possible to give prices for percentages of lustre (the Satin reference uses 20, 50 80 & 100%).

[Geoff T]

Neither do I, shall we just leave decimal alone?

I have to say I disagree with this sentiment fundamentally.

As someone who has actually published and who is constantly involved in facilitating access to reference sources, I can't stress too highly the need to bear in mind the need to remain objective. In short, you have a duty to put your personal preferences and prejudices behind you and provide the information which people require.

Decimal coins have been with us now for 36 years. They are part of our numismatic tradition and as such deserve a place in any reference work. I can accept that the collectable value of many of our decimal coins may be low, but so is that of any standard coin when its comparatively new and in circulation. Telling people that, no, their worn 1971 pennies aren't worth a fortune is just as important in a reference work as telling them that their BU 1905 half crown is.

We also need a decimal section to give valuations for all those coins which don't normally circulate, such as proofs, or to point out any varieties.

Finally, we have to bear in mind that any up to date reference work will eventually become a historical document and thereby take on a new role for the researchers of the future who will be keen to look at the pricing of coins from a retrospective point of view.

I admire the enthusiam of the younger generation in the forum, but believe me, preparing anything for publication isn't something you can just rush into with your eyes shut. There are lots of issues which need to be addressed - remember the old adage about 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.

(BTW - I do hope the title will gain its rightful apostrophe and become Collectors' Coins )

[Chris Perkins]

You're right Geoff, decimal stuff does have a place. I just wish they'd make less of the bloody stuff to save my pages!

I may see if I can cut it down, but I would never cut it out.

I will absolutely put the apostrophe in Geoff, and that apostrophe shall be forever dedicated to you.

[Chris Perkins]

The current owners have confirmed receipt of my deposit for the Rotographic publishing empire So it should be 4 - 6 weeks to get the rest of the finances and stuff sorted out, before everything is under my control *evil cackle*.

I've also been getting quotes from local printers for printing the titles too, and that works out reasonable when large numbers of books are printed.

I haven't decided what to do about distribution yet. It may be an idea to send most of the books to the UK to be posted out individually from there. That would mean I could lower the postage price charged and make them even more irresistable.

[Half Penny Jon]

That's great news Chris! Well done, it should be a great business venture, especially with all our help!

[Master Jmd]

decimal stuff does have a place.

to save my pages!

to save pages, why not have 1/2 p's and 1p's on 1 page...2p's and 5p's on another ect...then you would not waste about 20 pages on a few coins (like spink...)

[Emperor Oli]

Now's not the time to worry about precise details - if Chris can do anything to limit the number of pages used I'm confident he will

[Sylvester]

i have to admit that i hate the way Spinks just list...

coin A... Many varities

Unfortunately i collect by variety and i actually want to know what these varities are!

And why don't they list all the known moneyors on the hammered coins, and have pictures of all the classes? If you don't then you'll not be able to identify your coin unless you knew what it was when you bought it, so i think Spinks is pretty useless in the Edward I penny department.

[Chris Perkins]

Yes, you're right. I do know someone with highly specialised hammered coin knowledge, and I think he would like to write a book on the subject, perhaps starting with something general, but advanced stuff like that wouldn't be out of the question.

[william]

Yes, you're right. I do know someone with highly specialised hammered coin knowledge, and I think he would like to write a book on the subject, perhaps starting with something general, but advanced stuff like that wouldn't be out of the question.

Why don't you let him write a book on it for you and then you could publish it?

[Chris Perkins]

We have already talked a bit about that, he has some other good ideas too.

[Sylvester]

We have already talked a bit about that, he has some other good ideas too.

one day Chris, one day i might get round to writing a book on sixpences. Oh in about 10 years when i've really studied the field in depth.

[Aethelred]

Chris,

This is wonderful news! I am very excited for you as well as for myself in that you were kind enough to involve me in this project. I have already started a note book and will review each page as you post it. With your permission, I will print those pages in order to make notes on them (I will of course not use them for any other purpose nor share them with anyone else).

I also hope to help you create an American market for these. I am the buyer at a numismatic firm here in the states and also have a connection with a major wholesale numismatic supply house (we'll talk about that in due course).

For now you have my sincere congratulation. Although I have only known you a short time you seem like the type of person who deserves an opportunity like this and will take it far! I'll drink a Scotch in your honor after my little Turks are off to bed!