Ætheling

Here's an English penny from 1180; and a French gross from 1290;

Cromwell was definately not a pretty sight it has to be said, he apparently had quite a few warts to top those features off as well. But put it this way since the Cromwell coin just breaks into a five figure sum dollar-wise it's not one to be turned down lightly! I know i'll never have one.

I sometimes wonder if i should take the hobby back up but i never seem to ever do. I think if i did then i'd concentrate exclusively on either Victorian Line Engraved Issues. (I.e Penny Blacks, Penny Reds and Twopenny Blues) from 1840-1879. Or it'd be the regular royal cypher/crown issues of George V (but there's far, far too many minor types and varities and colour variants and stuff). To say nothing of Victorian plate and watermark varities. As well as corner lettering types, two letters, four letters. And whether to collect as VF used (i.e in EF condition with light overstamp) or as Mint unused is a question to ponder on. There's just too much choice!

Oliver Cromwell! Need i say more?

I got a Charles II 1670s gold half guinea Trantor that looks like that! A dealer even refused to buy it off of me for £20 (say $40) because he thought it was just unsellable. He said even £20 would be a push. So it's been jingling around in my pocket for about a year since, it's probably not even gonna be worth that now.

I've got a British coin that looks much like that near blank Morgan. These things made good pocket pieces.

Amusingly the old letters are often the key point of designating which type/class a hammered coin can be ascribed to.

Alright so it ain't dated 1965 but i figure this one must be in the running. I've been wondering whether to use it as a pocket piece or something. Makes a good paper weight though. (Sorry about the size).

Well i could post some hammered coins that i think are nice eye appeal wise but i'd be in a minority, since the designs are most just legends and no portraits or pictures. However perhaps the only coin i have that might be able to partake in this with any success is this. Which is alright but it ain't no $20 Lib.

1100-1160 is particularly abysmal with regards to the quality of strike. Although i think you're wrong about 1300-1500, there are many well struck and well designed coins out there from that period. 1160-1300 is hit and miss, mostly miss.

I've been thinking, i don't actually have any pretty coins.

What is that exactly?

Very sensible.

Hmm indeed, but no coin on this planet however, dipped, battered and abused can look as bad as that monstrosity that passed for a coin. Whoever designed that piece of junk should have been shot.

Franklin's are good, i'm fond of them even if i don't collect them.

The ugliest coin is yet to come, actually there are three that would win a prize straight off before any damage occurred to them. And they'd all win that award straight out of the mint. Two are US coins and the other, the worst coin in the entire world bar none is British.

Can you imagine one of those as a pocket watch fob piece... eek. Something that big swinging about could be uncomfortable, but one hack of a conversational piece.

Well that killed this thread. You can't really top that one can you?

Hmm nice! I like old objects myself though.

Hey funny that, i was other way around. Limited interest in stamps, absolutely none in banknotes. I dunno why but banknotes never really did it for me. I don't mind designing them, but collecting them is something i've never properly considered. If i ever did then i'd be exclusively British notes and at a push US notes. I tend to favour the monotone type notes with subtle colours. I don't like the really bright and modern notes at all. I think 1970s/80s UK notes are about the cream of the crop from what i've seen, very regal held back feel.

Well i can see exactly why you say that Stu because i myself am leaning towards that perspective anyhow. Although i do find old written documents and books interesting, sometimes more interesting than metal objects although generally not. The question perhaps is why? Well the best way i can possibly think of explaining it is this; About two weeks ago i was walking around an antiques shop and i saw the usual stuff, plates, knives, forks, spoons, figurines and all that kinda stuff, most of it i don't bat an eyelid to. The odd coin here and there. Then i saw something that had the 'wow factor', for me at any rate. Victorian (1837-1901) and Georgian (1714-1830) wine glasses, decanters and a whole host of other glass bits and pieces. Seeing a small rose tinted wine glass dating to the 1780s and 1790s was to me more stunning than any 1933 Double Eagle or death mask of Tutankhamen. How can thin and brittle glass last over 200 years when a building made of strong solid stone might not even last half that. I haven't bought one of these glasses yet, but i dare say i will. I agree with your point on tangebility, but to me the fact that paper and glass are so easily destructible actually gives them a certain amount of wonder. Look at the Domesday book, an 11th century written document still surviving. How many castles, bridges, general buildings, dams, ships and all other big objects don't even last anywhere near that length of time. I still think the biggest thing that always makes my jaw drop is when you go round the Egyptology section of museums, Saracophaguses and the usual run of the mill stone, gems and stuff doesn't do it so much. But seeing say a little wooden box dating to the old kingdom period found in a residential kitchen, looking intact and as good as the day it was made is a stunner. Why? Well firtly it's wood and organic an thus easily decomposable material, secondly because most archaeological finds come from places of religious/spiritual significance, tombs, temples, palaces etc. So finding one from an ordinary household is a double 'wow' for unusual.

Some people just have more focus, obviously Although you might say these days the tables have turned somewhat...

Too right! Me in Birmingham? Not on your nelly.

One more addition whilst i'm here on this, this captures history i think; This is the envelope of a letter sent to my great, great grandmother in August 1943. The letter was from the British Royal Admiralty. On the right examples of the coins that could have been used to purchase such stamps. (Hosted on Omnicoin only temporarily, until i can figure out somewhere else to put them!) A penny (1912), two half pennies (1927 and 1946) and two farthings (1885 and 1917). The 1885 farthing actually came from my great, great grandmother's son shortly before he died in 2000. History is everywhere, if you look for it.

I'm shure yu'll enjhoy tHat