Victoria 18? coin possibly a penny

[thedigger]

Hello all,

My late father -in-law (R.I.P) [number of years ago] was an avid stamp collector.

We have a number of his collections and were going through some bags the other day.

We have found amongst his stamp collections some folders with coins in them.

Could someone help identify the date on this Victoria coin, i think its a penny?

It looks like 1838 or 1858.

Cheers

[Rob]

The picture isn't clear enough to say, but if it's a penny then 58 is the only option as there were no 38 pennies, only halfpennies and farthings. The last two are about 28 and 21mm dia respectively. Pennies are 33mm.

[Chingford]

The picture isn't clear enough to say, but if it's a penny then 58 is the only option as there were no 38 pennies, only halfpennies and farthings. The last two are about 28 and 21mm dia respectively. Pennies are 33mm.

I would say it is possibly a farthing, Britainniars helmet doesen't protrude the legend on Rev as it would with a Penny, and the Obv looks similar to

the penny Obv.

Check the diameter, Coppers are the following sizes - 34mm Penny, 28mm Halfpenny and 22mm Farthing.

John

[Chingford]

The picture isn't clear enough to say, but if it's a penny then 58 is the only option as there were no 38 pennies, only halfpennies and farthings. The last two are about 28 and 21mm dia respectively. Pennies are 33mm.

I would say it is possibly a farthing, Britainniars helmet doesen't protrude the legend on Rev as it would with a Penny, and the Obv looks similar to

the penny Obv.

Check the diameter, Coppers are the following sizes - 34mm Penny, 28mm Halfpenny and 22mm Farthing.

John

[thedigger]

The picture isn't clear enough to say, but if it's a penny then 58 is the only option as there were no 38 pennies, only halfpennies and farthings. The last two are about 28 and 21mm dia respectively. Pennies are 33mm.

I would say it is possibly a farthing, Britainniars helmet doesen't protrude the legend on Rev as it would with a Penny, and the Obv looks similar to

the penny Obv.

Check the diameter, Coppers are the following sizes - 34mm Penny, 28mm Halfpenny and 22mm Farthing.John

Thanks Chingford & Rob,

I think this was my mistake.

I was in the middle of sorting out quite a few pennies and had pennies on the brain when i posted, but again you have cleared things up for me.

As you've both mentioned it is a farthing, but im still unclear about the date though?

cheers

Edited January 4, 2010 by thedigger

[Peckris]

The picture isn't clear enough to say, but if it's a penny then 58 is the only option as there were no 38 pennies, only halfpennies and farthings. The last two are about 28 and 21mm dia respectively. Pennies are 33mm.

I would say it is possibly a farthing, Britainniars helmet doesen't protrude the legend on Rev as it would with a Penny, and the Obv looks similar to

the penny Obv.

Check the diameter, Coppers are the following sizes - 34mm Penny, 28mm Halfpenny and 22mm Farthing.John

Thanks Chingford & Rob,

I think this was my mistake.

I was in the middle of sorting out quite a few pennies and had pennies on the brain when i posted, but again you have cleared things up for me.

As you've both mentioned it is a farthing, but im still unclear about the date though?

cheers

It's most likely to be 1838 though the middle of the 3 looks a little strange - can you get it bigger and sharper?

[thedigger]

It's most likely to be 1838 though the middle of the 3 looks a little strange - can you get it bigger and sharper?

Hello peckris,

Ive taken another photo as requested and hope that from this you will be able to determine the date if possible mate.?

cheers

[scott]

i think thats 58, i have my 58 large date to hand and the shape is similar.

but it is hard to tell

[thedigger]

i think thats 58, i have my 58 large date to hand and the shape is similar.

but it is hard to tell

Scott,

The more i look at the photos the more i think the date is 1938?

Ive just taken some more photos that i hope are a bit clearer, please let me know what you think mate..

cheers

Sorry couldnt fit another couple on file upload.

[scott]

hmm, 3's and 5's look almost the same, but 1838 had raised W.W this is incuse W.W and therfore its 58, plus having seen pictures of 38, its more of a 5 to me.

[Cammop]

Well my eyes are definitly seeing a 3, just thought I'd throw in another opinion.

[scott]

its a 5, the wear has caused the top of the 5 to join with the top of the curve, i dont have an 1838 but i do have an 1839

the 3 is obviously shaped and note the raised W.W

here is a 58, it looks more messy then a 3 and incuse WW

[Colin G.]

its a 5, the wear has caused the top of the 5 to join with the top of the curve, i dont have an 1838 but i do have an 1839

the 3 is obviously shaped and note the raised W.W

here is a 58, it looks more messy then a 3 and incuse WW

Scott has solved the puzzle, it is an 1858 because of the WW incuse, all 1838 farthings were WW raised. Many have a strage 5 with the vertical upright of the 5 missing which makes people think its a 3.

Scott you are definitely getting to grip with this identifying, well done!!

[scott]

yea i have to know these things myself so it helps.

its an 1858 large date farthing you have there, looks to average cirulated grade though, but its one of my fave designs

[thedigger]

hmm, 3's and 5's look almost the same, but 1838 had raised W.W this is incuse W.W and therfore its 58, plus having seen pictures of 38, its more of a 5 to me.

:huh: Silly question time fella's

What exactly is W.W and where on the coin can i find it?

Appologies for the stupidity of the question but its gone straight over my head?

[Jamesred]

hmm, 3's and 5's look almost the same, but 1838 had raised W.W this is incuse W.W and therfore its 58, plus having seen pictures of 38, its more of a 5 to me.

:huh: Silly question time fella's

What exactly is W.W and where on the coin can i find it?

Appologies for the stupidity of the question but its gone straight over my head?

The WW is for William Wyon who modelled the head of Queen Victoria on the coin. If you look at most coins even today they have the initials of the designer.

Hope that helps

James

[scott]

its usualy on the bottom of the neck, you can usualy find engravers enitials either on the bottom of the portrait or just below

[Peckris]

hmm, 3's and 5's look almost the same, but 1838 had raised W.W this is incuse W.W and therfore its 58, plus having seen pictures of 38, its more of a 5 to me.

:huh: Silly question time fella's

What exactly is W.W and where on the coin can i find it?

Appologies for the stupidity of the question but its gone straight over my head?

Not at all stupid. There's a whole specialised glossary for coins which it takes time to pick up. Once you know what a "1926ME" or a "1919KN" penny is, it's easy but until then, we might just as well be talking gobbledygook.

[Jamesred]

we might just as well be talking gobbledygook.

Funny, My wife says that all of the time when I try to talk to her about coins, usually along the lines if "what did you spend this money on?" ah well she gets it now.

[thedigger]

The WW is for William Wyon who modelled the head of Queen Victoria on the coin. If you look at most coins even today they have the initials of the designer.

Hope that helps

James

Yes James thats a big help mate

Not at all stupid. There's a whole specialised glossary for coins which it takes time to pick up. Once you know what a "1926ME" or a "1919KN" penny is, it's easy but until then, we might just as well be talking gobbledygook.

Ah you know though, when you dont know anything about a subject, you feel at times questions you ask , to those "in the know" may seem so stupid.

But them someone did say at some point in time The only stupid question...was the one that wasnt asked or words to that effect?

Im just glad that the questions ive asked here have been answered with respect, no matter how simple or stupid they seem..

cheers all

[Colin G.]

It was not so long ago we were all in the same position. Ask away.....this is one of the joys of the hobby, spreading knowledge

[Geoff T]

It's most likely to be 1838 though the middle of the 3 looks a little strange - can you get it bigger and sharper?

Hello peckris,

Ive taken another photo as requested and hope that from this you will be able to determine the date if possible mate.?

cheers

How about looking at the reverse. If there's only one stop after FID then there's a good chance it's an 1838; two stops and it must be 1858. I've seen numerous 58s being sold as as 38s and vice versa.

G