Princetane's Growing Collection Of British Coins

1878...I think that's my pin number

another senior moment

Yes 1876 of course.

The latest additions are too numerous and spectacular to single out favourites...although if pushed I'd say the 1887 shield sixpence.

I purchased another swag of british coins, waiting for the arrival, for the most part nothing spectacular enough to grace these pages except a 1928 farthing and the 46 and 49 brass thrupps.

October saw the arrival of 2 bulk lots including an accumulation bag of treasures from my op shop ladies and a purchase in a stamp auction. The following are all from these buy ins.


1838 Groat - worn but necessary first year Victoria coin. Few back then would imagine she would still be on coins in 1901!


UNC 1919 3d - someone in 1920 was souveniring the last of the sterling silver coins. VF/EF ok, but UNC is rare!


1920 ditto - although I suspect its a half silver one (1920 3d and 6d are known as sterling as well as half silver coins, the shilling, florin and Halfcrowns of 1920 are half silvers only as far as they know).

One way to tell is that sterling silver has a yellowish white colour tinge in EF up and 50% is usually a greenish white tinge. Of course VF and below you will get greener/brown wear on half and blackish wear on the sterling coins, although this can be seen on halfs too.


And 1921 - another AU/UNC stunner like the 1920 although 1919 is full UNC.


1936 almost as nice, shiny gEF (Clear wear patch on king's cheek)

Old people dying and relatives clearing off all their junk to the shops. Often these include jewellery chests and knick knacks and the ubiquitous pile of coins. Some travelled and saved change, others got old coins as hand me downs.

Mostly its just copper and muck metal stuff, but occasionally you get some better stuff in. the haul I got last month was the first decent one since 2020. The ladies bring it all to me, I go through it and make an offer which is seldom refused. It's donated back to the shop (Although I suspect they take a finders/brokerage fee).

Sounds like a wonderful arrangement.

We reach the era of my dental diagnosis and the buy ins slope down a bit. This shilling came in around the time of a major toothache!


Another coin in the "Fine" condition - but heavily stained by a century plus in the sea, ground or some archaeological context.

In late October came a swap from a metal dealer who took my worn halfcrowns in for slightly better ones. These are upgrades except the 1890, which is a new add and makes up a 80 year date run (1885 - 1964, excluding varieties)


1834 Halfcrown - good Fine upgraded from gVG


1845 - this replaced a worn coin I brought back in early 2020 - its Fine but ruined by a previous jewellery mounting as a brooch


1890 gFine - a nice coin except the big edge dent, so its a filler rather than a destination piece. Still it fills an annoying gap like one left by a newly extracted wisdom tooth.


1927 a slight upgrade my current 1927, the joy of this coin is that its not cleaned.

Amazing coins!

Thanks - no offense taken - lucky you another year without dentist anxiety.
Got used to it now.