British Decimal coins

Sylvestius · January 15, 2005 9:23PM

Anyone collect them?

Well i'll fess up, i've got this fascination with the Machin obverse British 1/2p-2p coins. Dunno why but i'm really interested in starting a circulation issue date run 1971-1984 in them.

I was just gonna buy the proof sets from 1971-1984, but i'm not all that bothered about the cupronickel coins. Thing is though i wonder if anyone actually sells the 1971-1984 bronze coins in BU with full lustre? Can cost a great deal, and i already got a 1982 halfpenny. Or i did have, i can't seem to find it, nor can i find the 1971 coins i put 'somewhere safe'

Emperor · January 15, 2005 9:30PM

Colin Cooke sells a small selection in BU. Go Coins -> UK Coins -> Modern Decimal

Sylvestius · January 15, 2005 9:39PM

Ha Oli, yes you're right, i saw you're name and i instantly thought... Colin Cooke myself.

Wonder why i didn't think of it sooner, as i was looking on there for post 1992 10 pences a few weeks back.

wybrit · January 15, 2005 9:47PM

I have the following decimal bronzes in BU:

½p: 1971, 1974
1p: 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978
2p: 1971

PM me if interested.

cladking · January 15, 2005 9:53PM

It's amazing how few people collect these. The low prices show a lack of demand not a glut of coins.

rhound1977 · January 15, 2005 10:10PM

I have/collect decimal coins as part of my GB typeset GIII through EII......

Sylvestius · January 15, 2005 10:18PM

<< It's amazing how few people collect these. The low prices show a lack of demand not a glut of coins. >>

I also collect post 1992 British Ten Pence pieces. It's about my fave current denomination. I just ordered a BU 2000 10p from Mr Cooke for 50p, not bad value. You just can't find the post 1998 issues in such high grades from circulation. The finish is glossy and one rub against another and the coin is scuffed. The post '98 issues are awful, i think they made them like that on purpose to make you buy them from the mint. Honestly you can have one that's only been in circulation perhaps a day or two at most and it's ruined. I'll scan a picture in and show you what i mean.

Sylvestius · January 15, 2005 10:30PM

If you look close enough, i hope it's visable, especially around the REG, you note all light grey/white scuff marks these are on the coin itself. This was pulled out of change earlier this week, it is about the best i've found.

farthing · January 15, 2005 11:25PM

I have a full set of 1p from 71-84, all in circulated condition. I also have about half of the dates for the 1/2p and over half of the 2p dates.

Not bad when you consider that my only experience in England is transfering through Gatwick once and Heathrow once.

These coins are readily available in circulated condition and most people are happy to unload their coins from this time period on you if you express even the slightest interest.

Sylvestius · January 15, 2005 11:31PM

Oh i got tons and tons of full date runs of circulated material, full date run of pennies and twopences, the halfpenny set is slightly incomplete.

Some US collectors hoard Wheat cents, i hoard Machin pennies and two pences, i must have a few hundred 1971 pennies and double the amount of 1971 two pences. But they're all in pretty worn, beaten up condition, out of about a thousand Machin bronzes, only a dozen show any lustre, and then it's only a slight trace of lustre. One of them is a 50% lustre on, another is quite a bit more, but nothing anywhere near a full lustre example. You just don't see them.

AuldFartte · January 15, 2005 11:42PM

<< I have/collect decimal coins as part of my GB typeset GIII through EII...... >>

Same here.

But, Syl, I thought you were cuprophobic

Sylvestius · January 15, 2005 11:47PM

<< 

<< I have/collect decimal coins as part of my GB typeset GIII through EII...... >>

Same here.

But, Syl, I thought you were cuprophobic

>>

WAS! (And i was mightily proud of the fact too), but then i got visited by three conder tokens in the night... well ever since then i've been eyeing up copper coins, i still go to the tin first and gold second, but it seems as if copper is slowly displacing silver from third.

These are dark days... dark days indeed. Although i'll admit i've always been fondest of full lustre copper over any other type of copper, i'm not keen on the semi lustre types, all or nothing with me.

cladking · January 16, 2005 2:08AM

<< 

<< 

<< I have/collect decimal coins as part of my GB typeset GIII through EII...... >>

Same here.

But, Syl, I thought you were cuprophobic

>>

WAS! (And i was mightily proud of the fact too), but then i got visited by three conder tokens in the night... well ever since then i've been eyeing up copper coins, i still go to the tin first and gold second, but it seems as if copper is slowly displacing silver from third.

These are dark days... dark days indeed. Although i'll admit i've always been fondest of full lustre copper over any other type of copper, i'm not keen on the semi lustre types, all or nothing with me. >>

I know this feeling. While my favorite is nickel or copper nickel, a well preserved gem
copper coin is hard to beat for beauty. I have a startling gem 1950 Somalian 10C that
just leaves me breathless. There are many others of course too.

Copper has always scared me because of it's propensity to turn unattractive colors.

That marking around the lettering of the '04 looks like a planchet problem. If the strike
is too weak than any marring from the planchet will show up as criss crossing marks or
scratches. This is extremely common on many of the clad quarters and many copper
nickel coins. In the past the Royal Mint made very high quality coinage.

I should more actively collect the British cu/ ni but instead I just pick up nice pieces as
I find them or acquire them in trade. I don't see many out there.

Sylvestius · January 16, 2005 2:21AM

<< 

Copper has always scared me because of it's propensity to turn unattractive colors.

That marking around the lettering of the '04 looks like a planchet problem. If the strike
is too weak than any marring from the planchet will show up as criss crossing marks or
scratches. This is extremely common on many of the clad quarters and many copper
nickel coins. In the past the Royal Mint made very high quality coinage.

I should more actively collect the British cu/ ni but instead I just pick up nice pieces as
I find them or acquire them in trade. I don't see many out there. >>

Exactly, i live in a humid house and i'm always worried about the green goblin, verdigris. That's why up until now i avoided base metal coinage. I'm taking a bit of a risk here buying in copper/bronze, it might turn.

It may well be striking issues on that 10p, the 20p's this year are showing some severe flawing, there appears to be stress marks running to the corners, i'll see if i can find one and stick a picture up. It's hard to describe but when you see it, you know there's something not right.

wybrit · January 16, 2005 9:53PM

Exactly, i live in a humid house and i'm always worried about the green goblin, verdigris.

Wouldn't Airtite holders alleviate your concerns about this?

Emperor · January 17, 2005 1:36AM

We had a debate about this in another place, and we came to the conclusion that there would still be air inside the airtites,so there would still be a change of verdigris forming. Unless a relatively inert atmosphere could be created (eg with Argon) we didn't think this could be alleviated. Silica gel would always be an option, I use this.

Sylvestius · January 17, 2005 2:07AM

<< We had a debate about this in another place, and we came to the conclusion that there would still be air inside the airtites,so there would still be a change of verdigris forming. Unless a relatively inert atmosphere could be created (eg with Argon) we didn't think this could be alleviated. Silica gel would always be an option, I use this. >>

I'll just do the decimal stuff before tackling German broze coins, that way if any do turn, it's not as bad. The joys of a humid Victorian house.

British Decimal coins

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