Hey!

[Greg]

Hi, I'm new here and new to coins, my little brother just came into collecting coins,

Which also got my interest.

[Coinery]

Welcome aboard, Greg, any ideas where you're going with this roller-coaster ride?

You'll no doubt have noticed there's a fair bit of reading on here, so take a couple hours out and enjoy!

[azda]

Welcome aboard, Greg, any ideas where you're going with this roller-coaster ride?

You'll no doubt have noticed there's a fair bit of reading on here, so take a couple hours out and enjoy!

A couple of hours? He'll need a couple of weeks at least. Welcome Greg

[Greg]

Hi. thanks for the welcome.

Im not entirely sure where i want to start or dive into. it will probably be a little while for me to read everything and then decide.

however. ive been considering just for a taster.

the victorian pennies.

or something in the french currency.

any suggestions or reasons theyd be a bad idea?

[Peckris]

Hi. thanks for the welcome.

Im not entirely sure where i want to start or dive into. it will probably be a little while for me to read everything and then decide.

however. ive been considering just for a taster.

the victorian pennies.

or something in the french currency.

any suggestions or reasons theyd be a bad idea?

Always buy as good as you can afford - you'll enjoy the coins more, and they will be a better investment if you care about that sort of thing. For example, it's much better to spend £100 on a single bun penny in EF or better, than 20 bun pennies in Fine condition.

The other thing is that Victorian pennies are very popular, so they aren't cheap!

I don't know anything about French coins.

[Coinery]

Hi. thanks for the welcome.

Im not entirely sure where i want to start or dive into. it will probably be a little while for me to read everything and then decide.

however. ive been considering just for a taster.

the victorian pennies.

or something in the french currency.

any suggestions or reasons theyd be a bad idea?

The Victoria pennies are an expensive start to 'get your eye in' with, maybe consider buying a couple of penny/copper bibles, and have a dabble with the 20th century pennies first. Much better to realise that, what you thought was 'good' lustre and GEF, was actually GVF and polished, on some cheaper coins.

The above does depend on where you source your stock, of course! We have dealers on the forum...Chris (site owner), Rob Pearce (R P Coins), John Stephenson (argentum & coins), Clive Knipe (historic coinage), Red Riley, etc, where I'm confident you'll get an honest deal if you wanted to add one or two nice vickies while you're growing in knowledge with the G5/G6 pieces. There are also a large number of other sellers here, who advertise their stock on the infamous eBay, who would also provide you with honest stock, and would happily take returns under just about any circumstances, I would be so bold as to add.

So, copper/bronze, the most challenging of the metals to collect quality examples of, I'd personally say...good luck and enjoy.

Edited November 9, 2012 by Coinery

[Greg]

Thats perfect. I do have several coins. Ill post them on when i get in. have an hour and 20 mins to have a flick through the forum while on train home from work and cinema. Maybe if you get the chance you could give me your opinions on the coins when i finally get home.

[Coinery]

Thats perfect. I do have several coins. Ill post them on when i get in. have an hour and 20 mins to have a flick through the forum while on train home from work and cinema. Maybe if you get the chance you could give me your opinions on the coins when i finally get home.

Get them on the forum Greg, there's s huge audience here who love nothing more than sharing their thoughts on absolutely any coins!

[Greg]

They aren't much + my camera is dead so quickly took some pictures on my sgs3.

Sorry to be difficult, but as it's done on the phone, I can't really resize the images. so rather than display it as an image (Which would take up your whole screen per image. I'll link them as a link:

Here are the pennies:

1897:

http://darksmurf.com/coins/penny-back-1897.jpg

http://darksmurf.com/coins/penny-front-1897.jpg

1899:

http://darksmurf.com/coins/penny-back-1899.jpg

http://darksmurf.com/coins/penny-front-1899.jpg

1900:

http://darksmurf.com/coins/penny-back-1900.jpg

http://darksmurf.com/coins/penny-front-1900.jpg

Single farthings:

http://darksmurf.com/coins/farthing1.jpg

http://darksmurf.com/coins/farthing2.jpg

http://darksmurf.com/coins/farthing3.jpg

Grouped Farthings:

http://darksmurf.com/coins/farthings1.jpg

http://darksmurf.com/coins/farthings2.jpg

Once again, excuse the pictures. Taking them and uploading all through the phone limits what you can do.

I also have an 1855 Dix Centimes French coin (why do they have it so that the sides are upside down to eachother?

I also have some more pennies, but figured I wouldn't take loads of pics just yet.

[Peter]

Right

Where do I start.

The coins are worn or polished,Nice pieces of history but nothing over 5p

[Debbie]

That first one looks as if it may have been guilded at some point and probably of sentimental value to someone sometime in its history.

Sadly it is not of monetary value though.

[Greg]

its only sad because they would have been tampered with. the fact they have no value isnt the end of the world to me. we have to start somewhere

thanks for looking at them too.

[Hello17]

Welcome greg, we hope you have lots of fun and learn lots about coins.

Do you know what i collect? of couse not, but i'll tell you.

I collect pre-1936 pennys and shillings, i also collect late victorian shillings. i got one of my silver shillings for £6!!!!

[Peckris]

Have a close look at that first penny, the 1897. The reverse isn't half bad -there's a complete shield, and Britannia has most detail apart from some wear to her leg, and those all-important fingers on the trident. I'd say it is between VF and EF (ignoring the artificial lustre). However the obverse isn't so good - an EF or UNC example would show much more detail especially to the veil and lower bust and ear. I'd say it was less than VF. But all in all it isn't too bad, and I certainly wouldn't collect that series in anything less than that (preferably better). The second one 1899 is poor, and if you look at the two side by side you will see how much worse.

I hope that gives you an idea of what to look out for.

[Peterkin]

Have a close look at that first penny, the 1897. The reverse isn't half bad -there's a complete shield, and Britannia has most detail apart from some wear to her leg, and those all-important fingers on the trident. I'd say it is between VF and EF (ignoring the artificial lustre). However the obverse isn't so good - an EF or UNC example would show much more detail especially to the veil and lower bust and ear. I'd say it was less than VF. But all in all it isn't too bad, and I certainly wouldn't collect that series in anything less than that (preferably better). The second one 1899 is poor, and if you look at the two side by side you will see how much worse.

I hope that gives you an idea of what to look out for.

Greg, whilst you may have been thinking of a choice between pennies or French coins - take your time, read, absorb, follow what takes your interest in the likes of Google and Wiki. Absorb the free stuff, become familiar with coin jargon, which the above posts are full of. Do plenty of reading up and familiarizing before you spend anything. There's no rush. Enjoy the hobby. There's an awful lot more to it than just accummulating bits of metal. For example, as you enquired: "Why IS the back of the coin upside down compared with the front?" Research, enjoy.