London Coin Fair

[Half Penny Jon]

The London Coin Fair was excellent! There was the usual mix of dealers, Chris, Saltford Coins, Mark Rasmussen etc. aswell as Andy from Online Coins and a few other new faces. The variety of material was astounding, everything you could ever think of was for sale. No less than two 1831 crowns, two Una and the Lion £5's, an 1821 silver proof set , numerous 1847 crowns, and much much more. I got to handle one of the Una and the lion £5's, as well as some of the 1847 crowns! One cannot appreciate the true character of a coin until you actually handle it and see it in it's true light.

As well as doing all that and more, I increased my collection by purchasing the following coins:

1. 1935 BU halfpenny.

2. 1929 BU halfpenny.

3. 1916 BU halfpenny.

4. 1918 BU halfpenny.

5. 1902 BU Low Tide halfpenny.

6. Another BU 1925ME halfpenny.

7. Bronzed Proof 1826 FDC halfpenny (absolutely beautiful!)

All in all the Fair was a great time for everyone!

Btw Oli, I could not see and 1826 sixpences. I spoke to a few dealers and they said that they had only seen a few in low grade. They are becoming increasingly scarce apparently.

[Emperor Oli]

My jaw dropped when I saw number seven. Those things are superb, and it's a shame I can't collect copper anymore! Please post a scan or a picture, I'm dying to see it! Thanks for enquiring about the 6d, their answers were as I suspected they might be

[Sylvester]

I'm soo missing out on these coin fairs.

I'm gonna punish myself an buy an Æthelred II penny for that.

Oh but then there was that Eadred or that Coenwulf.

[Emperor Oli]

Come on Manchester Coin Fair 2005! We certainly need one up North in a major city like Manchester. For the fare to London I could buy some nice coins!

[Sylvester]

Come on Manchester Coin Fair 2005! We certainly need one up North in a major city like Manchester. For the fare to London I could buy some nice coins!

I said we should have had one at Leicester, or Leeds (there used to be one at Leeds it's now at Wakefield).

Now i personally don't like Leeds so Manchester would be an improvement there.

Since Manchester is probably the third largest or so city in England you think it would have one?

I think Birmingham has one, but i hate that place more than i hate Leeds so you won't get me going there.

[Emperor Oli]

Ah Birmingham, the armpit of England. I do hope we have no Brummies here

Manchester would be ideal - a large city with a railway hub. You have the trouble of the venue then, but I suppose the MEN would be alright.

[Master Jmd]

I just must get up to london for the next fair, sounds great ...well done on getting that Bronzed Proof, they are very nice

[Half Penny Jon]

You should go, its great! The bronzed proof is marvellous, I paid a very low price for it aswell which makes me even happier!

[Sylvester]

I feel like a foreigner when you guys get talking about copper and bronze...

[Half Penny Jon]

Copper and Bronze are supreme.........you just ahve to accept it Sylvester!

Edited November 6, 2004 by Half Penny Jon

[Emperor Oli]

My allegiance is with the precious metals

[Sylvester]

My alliegence is to tin. Tin is actually my favourite coin metal. One day i will have a collection of problem free VF tin farthings... wuhaha.

Oh i can dream.

[Sylvester]

And maybe tin halfpennies too.

But i always peferred farthings to halfpennies, i think it's a size thing.

[Half Penny Jon]

My alliegence is to tin. Tin is actually my favourite coin metal. One day i will have a collection of problem free VF tin farthings... wuhaha.

Oh i can dream.

Ah you've reminded me! Today I saw a beautiful problem free VF/EF Charles II farthing, it was a beauty!

[Sylvester]

I take it, it was tin?

[Half Penny Jon]

Yes it was tin! You would have loved it Sylvester! It was right beside a BU 1902 Low Tide Penny!

[Sylvester]

Yes it was tin! You would have loved it Sylvester! It was right beside a BU 1902 Low Tide Penny!

Oh i'm sure i would have, nothing like an 1684 farthing. I used to have one.

[Geoff T]

Come on Manchester Coin Fair 2005!  We certainly need one up North in a major city like Manchester.  For the fare to London I could buy some nice coins!

I said we should have had one at Leicester, or Leeds (there used to be one at Leeds it's now at Wakefield).

Now i personally don't like Leeds so Manchester would be an improvement there.

Since Manchester is probably the third largest or so city in England you think it would have one?

I think Birmingham has one, but i hate that place more than i hate Leeds so you won't get me going there.

I go the the Wakefield one pretty much every month, especially these days as my son is at university just down the road so I can visit him at the same time. You tend to see the same people (on both sides of the tables) and it's not a huge affair, but I usually come away with something. As with a lot of these things, the variation in price between sellers for roughly similar stuff is very interesting.

There's also York in July and January - two days at the racecourse. GMEX is an obvious choice for a putative Manchester fair but it's a vast barn of a place which takes some filling. The Royal Exchange would be better.

Maybe if enough people in the area wanted to sample Wakefield we could organise an outing.

G

[Guest pierrevonmunzen]

I,ve been to Wakefield and its a good day out (180 miles each way) so I feel obliged to buy something.

The Birmingham fair is slightly bigger (and 60 odd miles nearer)so its my favourite....where do you start at these fairs?

Do you do a quick circuit and then return to the interesting displays & known dealers ?

After these fairs I get home...study my purchases and realise my collection will never be complete.

One piece of advice...follow your instinct...I once left a 1698 1/2d because I thought I couldn,t justify it...I got 30 miles down the road before deciding I must have it....after driving back at 110mph you've guessed...it had gone.

The annual fair in Harrogate is also quite good....but my overall vote goes to Birmingham.

There are dealers that I had never previously heard of and looking back some excellent purchases(overall).

[Master Jmd]

Today I saw a beautiful problem free VF/EF Charles II farthing, it was a beauty!

!!!

1684 or 1685?

I only like the tin farthings if the date and the legend can easily be read...

For the early milled book...if it was 1685...what price was it...i dont have any prices yet for 1685 farthings

Edited November 7, 2004 by Master Jmd

[Sylvester]

most probably an 84 in guessing.

1685s are not seen often.

[Half Penny Jon]

Today I saw a beautiful problem free VF/EF Charles II farthing, it was a beauty!

!!!

1684 or 1685?

I only like the tin farthings if the date and the legend can easily be read...

For the early milled book...if it was 1685...what price was it...i dont have any prices yet for 1685 farthings

I think it was 1684. It was part of a selection of high grade and rare coins being offered for auction sometime next year. It was a special preview or so I was told!

[Emperor Oli]

I saw a tin farthing on a site in shoddy condition for a ridiculous price, but they obviously float some people's boats.

[Sylvester]

I saw a tin farthing on a site in shoddy condition for a ridiculous price, but they obviously float some people's boats.

They float mine.

[Master Jmd]

I saw a tin farthing on a site in shoddy condition for a ridiculous price

...many go for over £70 in Fair condition...Fine gets to about £100-£200...EF can be anything from £600-£2000...!!!