Brit Tip #14
wybrit
Posts: 6,988 ✭✭✭
With my class finishing up Tuesday, there is a little time to squeeze in a tip. Expect more frequent contributions in the new year after tax planning is completed.
Tip #14
Die numbers were used to see when the dies would die
Back in Victorian times several die number experiments were performed. Presumably, most were used to determine the lifetime of specific dies. The most well known was that on the silver coinage of 1864-1879, namely the sixpence, shilling and florin. The threepence was left out of the mix and the halfcrown was suspended until 1874 in hopes the florin would catch on. No die numbers appeared on subsequent halfcrowns.
Die numbers were also used in the gold coinage from 1863-1874 on sovereigns and 1863-1880 on half-sovereigns.
On the sixpences and shillings of the time, the die numbers are located above the date. The florins have die numbers below the obverse portrait. See the pictures below.
Sixpence die number above date.
Shilling die number above date.
Florin die number below bust and to left of ww.
Die number collectors are probably satisfied with a coin in any condition given the likelihood of finding some of them in UNC being negligible. With only few exceptions, different die numbers do not differentiate a coin's valuation. The exceptions refer to scarce or rare coin varieties that may be accurately identified with a single die number, such as the sixpence's DRITANNIAR error in 1878, which has only die #6.
Tip #14
Die numbers were used to see when the dies would die
Back in Victorian times several die number experiments were performed. Presumably, most were used to determine the lifetime of specific dies. The most well known was that on the silver coinage of 1864-1879, namely the sixpence, shilling and florin. The threepence was left out of the mix and the halfcrown was suspended until 1874 in hopes the florin would catch on. No die numbers appeared on subsequent halfcrowns.
Die numbers were also used in the gold coinage from 1863-1874 on sovereigns and 1863-1880 on half-sovereigns.
On the sixpences and shillings of the time, the die numbers are located above the date. The florins have die numbers below the obverse portrait. See the pictures below.
Sixpence die number above date.
Shilling die number above date.
Florin die number below bust and to left of ww.
Die number collectors are probably satisfied with a coin in any condition given the likelihood of finding some of them in UNC being negligible. With only few exceptions, different die numbers do not differentiate a coin's valuation. The exceptions refer to scarce or rare coin varieties that may be accurately identified with a single die number, such as the sixpence's DRITANNIAR error in 1878, which has only die #6.
Former owner, Cambridge Gate collection.
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Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
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Collecting:
Conder tokens
19th & 20th Century coins from Great Britain and the Realm
<< <i> . . . apparently has a problem with the concept of above and below. >>
Seriously, glad to see the tips starting to flow again.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." -Luke 11:9
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." -Deut. 6:4-5
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us." -Isaiah 33:22
No other news to thee
But that the country is too cold
The people beastly bee"
(I wish I could remember who said this in 1598!) --Lloyd
Lloyd, re. your sig line. Perhaps the author was someone from a European delegation testing the waters for a Union with the Islanders???
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." -Luke 11:9
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." -Deut. 6:4-5
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us." -Isaiah 33:22
It was a Queen Elizabeth I envoy to Russia. He was reporting back to her. Can't remember the name though.
Was it Russia? or was it Minnesota?
Collecting:
Conder tokens
19th & 20th Century coins from Great Britain and the Realm
09/07/2006