YeOldeCollector

Thanks, George. Edward I was ruler of Ireland because he inherited the title Lord of Ireland which came with the English crown, so was entitled to mint coins as it was perceived to be part of his kingdom. You will find this to be useful background knowledge: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lordship...eland,_1300.png The upside down triangle is purely to differentiate these from his English issues.

An Edward I penny arrived today. Second issue, Ib, Dublin mint. Dates to about 1285.

Here are some better photographs.

James I copper farthing, dating to 1613-1615. Harrington Farthing, type 2. Mint mark cinquefoil on reverse only. Absolutely stunning coin, as-struck albeit green, one of the best I've seen. Spink 2676.

If the mints are anything like the museums and fellow institutions, then it will probably take a while. I would give it another week or so before sending a polite, friendly reminder. Kindest Regards, Clive.

Thank you gentlemen. Norwich is certainly one of the less-common mints of the period. I've got a complete mint run for this period, I've just got to upgrade it to an all-VF set. The really rare mints are Shrewsbury, Ilchester, Wallingford, Wilton, Carlisle, Hereford and Durham. Then there are the scarce ones such as Lincoln, Exeter, Oxford, Norwich and Northampton. Then we move on to the slightly more common ones such as Bristol and Newcastle until we get to the common ones of London, Bury Saint Edmunds, Canterbury, Winchester and York. Here is one of my Durham pennies: Whereas Shrewsbury is also very hard to come by:

Henry III Voided Longcross penny. Jacob on Norwich, (IAC OBO NN ORW). Class 3b.

An apprentice's coins would either be melted down if silver or discarded if not precious metal. This coin is not of silver and so if it was minted by an apprentice I struggle to see how it managed to see circulation. That's what I'm trying to say, this is most likely an exceptionally well done forgery of the time. It is certainly not a poor fake if it is a fake.

Possibly, but if that was the case, surely it wouldn't have seen circulation and clipping.

However, to helpfully aid the confusion, this coin appears to have been struck three times...

This is an interesting piece. It's not silver but it is old and has all of the correct details of a normal coin. I, personally, believe this to be a contemporary forgery of a halfgroat of Henry VII, from circa 1490. The portrait is a real give-away as the neck does not conform to the standard style and the face is far too basic, a bit like a play-doh face. The legend reads true but the coin is exceptionally lightweight and thin, neither does it ring true. However, I think that this is a skillful forgery and if the forger was caught, I should imagine that the punishment would have been death. Very rare but not nice to look at.

That is a very good question George. It will always be a mystery but one can always assume. Perhaps, as the flan was not placed correctly upon the lower die, that that flat part was exposed to the surrounding, blank part of the die. So when the force of the hammer came into contact with the coin, it erased all detail on that part. This would explain the slight curling and blankness that is visible on the reverse too.

Edward I Penny, Class 1c of London dating to 1279. Absolutely superb portrait, it looks amazing in hand. I like hammered errors and so am pleased with this purchase, an interesting double-strike.

Thank you gentlemen.

Henry II Shortcross Penny. Minted by Ravl at the scarce mint of Northampton. Brilliant condition for this issue, much better in hand. Strangely well-centred and slightly double-struck on the right side of the obverse. Class 1c.

I'd be careful as to what you do say Blackhawk... Many thanks for the competition, it is most generous of you.

A very nice Aethelred II, Mat!

James I Halfgroat, scarcer issue with portrait. Stunning condition, much better in hand. Of James' First Coinage, dating this piece to either 1603 or 1604.

Thanks Mat, I have a penchant for these earlier pennies. Cheers Art. Yes, I really did enjoy that journey, such an experience.

I'm liking this

Nothing I collect has albums made for it, so I make do with coin capsules and cabinets. It works perfectly me and, hopefully, will do the same for you. Here are a few photographs: They're easy to open and close.

To follow Mat's lead, here's another 1561 and another 1562.

;) I'm sorry Pat, but she's just such a powerful woman, how can one not resist? Is that a bad thing? Well, I'm all out as I have no earlier dated coins than 1561.

Elizabeth I Sixpence. One of the very best portraits of Elizabeth that I have ever seen, truly stunning. Scarce 'large flan' type of 1561. m.m. pheon. Large bust with hair swept back and rose behind. These are much scarcer compared to their smaller counterparts. Not often do you see these with no clipping either.

Looks like a standard 8 to me, if it were a 7 then it would be backwards under your interpretation.