George IV identification

[Descartes]

Greetings,

I'm new to collecting sixpences so sorry if this seems like a silly question. I've recently purchased the attached coin and have noticed that it is larger that the other sixpences in my collection. It measures at 23mm and the reverse is upside down! Is this a George IV sixpence or a different coin?

Regards,

Descartes

[TomGoodheart]

Shilling at (nominally) 24mm. Sixpences are 19mmm but often (particularly on ebay) you can't tell from the photo or the seller doesn't know.

The weights incidentally if you have some reasonable scales are 5.7g and 2.8g so the coin should feel quite a bit heavier too.

As to the 'upside down' that I seem to remember is normal. Some coins (George VI or Elizabeth II sixpences for example) are struck what's called 'en medaille' (like a medal) with both sides the same way up. Others, en coin with the reverse 180 degrees rotated to the obverse. Why? Dunno! Whim of the mint I think!

Not a bad coin, though sadly cleaned at some point. And welcome to the forum!

Edited April 19, 2012 by TomGoodheart

[Peter]

I noticed the cleaning There are faint hairlines and it just isn't right.Why do people spoil what could of been a respectable coin.

[Red Riley]

I noticed the cleaning There are faint hairlines and it just isn't right.Why do people spoil what could of been a respectable coin.

Although obviously it would have been better without the cleaning, it may be one of those coins where the damage is far less obvious in the hand than in the photograph. Whatever the situation, the cleaning of silver reduces the value far less than would be the case with a Brassoed bronze or copper coin.

[Nick]

Greetings,

I'm new to collecting sixpences so sorry if this seems like a silly question. I've recently purchased the attached coin and have noticed that it is larger that the other sixpences in my collection. It measures at 23mm and the reverse is upside down! Is this a George IV sixpence or a different coin?

Regards,

Descartes

It's a shilling, by the look of it. Coin alignment (ie upside down) is the norm for George IV coins.

[Peter]

I noticed the cleaning There are faint hairlines and it just isn't right.Why do people spoil what could of been a respectable coin.

Although obviously it would have been better without the cleaning, it may be one of those coins where the damage is far less obvious in the hand than in the photograph. Whatever the situation, the cleaning of silver reduces the value far less than would be the case with a Brassoed bronze or copper coin.

Damn

I've just finished my 1698's & 1717...I did use duraglit though

[choolie]

lol Descartes, good name.

[Descartes]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.

It looks like I'll be sending the coin back in the morning post then as I only collect sixpences ... I've weighed and measured following your advice and it's most definitely a shilling!

Thanks again!

Descartes

[TomGoodheart]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.

It looks like I'll be sending the coin back in the morning post then as I only collect sixpences ... I've weighed and measured following your advice and it's most definitely a shilling!

Thanks again!

Descartes

No problem. And do come back and post a few pics of your sixpences for us to admire!

[Peter]

6d's are an underated series.Quite easy though for the 20C (1952 being the key date)1958 is also difficult???

It took a while to get a BU at the right price....£2 (I know the location of a GEF for £1 but I haven't the cheek to order it)

Have you looked at William 111.It is a minefield and will keep you off the streets

[Nick]

6d's are an underated series.Quite easy though for the 20C (1952 being the key date)1958 is also difficult???

It took a while to get a BU at the right price....£2 (I know the location of a GEF for £1 but I haven't the cheek to order it)

Have you looked at William 111.It is a minefield and will keep you off the streets

1958 is difficult to get in top grade, but why? According to the mintage figures, which are supposedly accurate for that era, there were more than 120 million minted.

The young head Victoria series are also difficult to obtain in decent grades, ESC only lists 4 of the entire series as more common than scarce. 1860-70 (excepting 1864 & 1866) are probably the most difficult apart from the very rare years 1848, 1854 and 1879+DN.

Edited April 20, 2012 by Nick

[Gary D]

6d's are an underated series.Quite easy though for the 20C (1952 being the key date)1958 is also difficult???

It took a while to get a BU at the right price....£2 (I know the location of a GEF for £1 but I haven't the cheek to order it)

Have you looked at William 111.It is a minefield and will keep you off the streets

1958 is difficult to get in top grade, but why? According to the mintage figures, which are supposedly accurate for that era, there were more than 120 million minted.

The young head Victoria series are also difficult to obtain in decent grades, ESC only lists 4 of the entire series as more common than scarce. 1860-70 (excepting 1864 & 1866) are probably the most difficult apart from the very rare years 1848, 1854 and 1879+DN.

I've found 1960 in top grade hard to get.

[Nick]

6d's are an underated series.Quite easy though for the 20C (1952 being the key date)1958 is also difficult???

It took a while to get a BU at the right price....£2 (I know the location of a GEF for £1 but I haven't the cheek to order it)

Have you looked at William 111.It is a minefield and will keep you off the streets

1958 is difficult to get in top grade, but why? According to the mintage figures, which are supposedly accurate for that era, there were more than 120 million minted.

The young head Victoria series are also difficult to obtain in decent grades, ESC only lists 4 of the entire series as more common than scarce. 1860-70 (excepting 1864 & 1866) are probably the most difficult apart from the very rare years 1848, 1854 and 1879+DN.

I've found 1960 in top grade hard to get.

I think that a lot of the later sixpences are more difficult to come by than they should be. This is because auction houses will only sell them as part of a larger lot and eBay sellers tend to use single-sided and/or stock photos.

Edited April 20, 2012 by Nick

[Red Riley]

6d's are an underated series.Quite easy though for the 20C (1952 being the key date)1958 is also difficult???

It took a while to get a BU at the right price....£2 (I know the location of a GEF for £1 but I haven't the cheek to order it)

Have you looked at William 111.It is a minefield and will keep you off the streets

I seem to have quite a large stock of 6ds at the moment but they don't sell that fast, and from discussing with other dealers that's the norm. I actually like most of them but from William IV to Edward VII, the reverse is a little staid for my taste.

[Peckris]

6d's are an underated series.Quite easy though for the 20C (1952 being the key date)1958 is also difficult???

It took a while to get a BU at the right price....£2 (I know the location of a GEF for £1 but I haven't the cheek to order it)

Have you looked at William 111.It is a minefield and will keep you off the streets

Yes, the series is definitely underrated IMO. They are lovely little coins, and ought to appeal to our many farthing specialists. The 20C scarcities are 1904 and 1905, 1917 (EF or better), 1923 (less so than it once was), 1932 & 1934 BU, 1938 BU, 1952 EF or better, and the even-numbered dates of Eliz II in BU, i.e. 1954/56/58/60. It's hard to say why some dates in the 1950s are so elusive in high grades compared to others - it's the same for all denominations. I suspect it may be something to do with some stocks being held back of some dates? Which makes those dates common in BU when collecting fever struck in the mid-60s. The 1959 has a similar mintage to 1958 I believe? yet is very common.

[Descartes]

6d's are an underated series.Quite easy though for the 20C (1952 being the key date)1958 is also difficult???

It took a while to get a BU at the right price....£2 (I know the location of a GEF for £1 but I haven't the cheek to order it)

Have you looked at William 111.It is a minefield and will keep you off the streets

Hi Peter,

Yes, I've heard that William III sixpences are a minefield. I read somewhere that there are over 70 different variations. Would make an amazing collection! Although I do like to pick up a good sixpence from any reign and date, I am beginning to specialise and collect sixpences from the four Georges (I-IV).

Regards,

D