Starting off the new year right! (so much for resolutions...)

coinpictures

Well, so much for cutting back on my coin purchases... I am trying to stick with quality though.

Picked up these two NEN pieces tonight on the Bay:

Great Britain 1d, 1855 Plain Trident. NGC MS64BN. Looks like it should be an RB rather than a BN. Soft strike though. Some spotty areas, but no fingerprints or carbon spots I can see; nice reverse. Cost: $150.




One for the type set; always wanted one of these in high grade:

Jamaica 1/4d, 1894. PCGS MS65. Talk about yer blazers! Cost: $87. Pricey compared to Krause, but just too pretty to pass on.




And last but certainly not least, I just ordered the coin below. I've always wanted an early proof, and usually the 19th century coppers are too darned expensive. This one was just under Krause, which puts it considerably below Spink. Cost: $280.

Great Britain 1/2d, 1831 Bronzed Proof. NGC PF64BN. Does anyone know the mintage figures for this coin?

1jester

Not only are those beautiful coins (love that Jamaican especially) but it amazes me how inexensive Darkside coins are.

FilamCoins

I know you like your dark copper, but I'll go with Jest on this one. That Jamaican is cool!! Love the simple, clean design and is that an Alligator on top of the shield??? Neat! A blazer for sure.

rhound1977

I like them all, the Jamaican is super!....

wybrit

Great Britain 1/2d, 1831 Bronzed Proof. NGC PF64BN. Does anyone know the mintage figures for this coin?


One of my references states that 145 sets containing this halfpenny were minted. Of course, more than that may have been struck individually, but no book I have says how many. Is the alignment coin (up/down) or medal (up/up, the standard alignment for copper coins)?

coinpictures

<< <i>Is the alignment coin (up/down) or medal (up/up, the standard alignment for copper coins)? >>



Dunno. The listing doesn't say. I'll post when it arrives. Was the proof available in both varieties? Neither Krause nor Spink make reference to multiple types.

Thanks for the mintage figure!

wybrit

Was the proof available in both varieties?

It is. Spink actually does make reference to the two types.

coinpictures

D'oh! You're right, it does. I missed that entirely. I'm assuming it's the more common of the two varieties. If not, then a pleasant surprise.

SYRACUSIAN

Great Britain 1d, 1855 Plain Trident. NGC MS64BN. Looks like it should be an RB rather than a BN.



NGC has become very difficult with RB designations lately, although they often tend to compensate by a numerical bonus point. I wonder what the non-Plain Trident looks like. Beautiful coins, all of them.

wybrit

I wonder what the non-Plain Trident looks like.

That is what it looks like. Coinpictures, you have the Ornamental Trident version of the 1855. Fortunately, it makes no difference since both are priced the same in Spink (although plain tridents are generally thought a bit more scarce). How do I know? First, I checked my resources for details. Second, the DEF has the far colon, which is found only on ornamental trident reverses for that year.

Oops.

wybrit

Here is a picture of my not nearly as nice 1855 1d, OT.

coinpictures

Thanks for the information. Is there a good reference book for 19th-century British coppers? One that explains and pictures the variations? Both Krause and Spink *list* the ornamental/plain tridents and other varieties, but neither go into any detail...

wybrit

Wilson C. Peck for copper, Michael Freeman for bronze. Both are out of print but are occasionally offered on ebay and can be quite spendy.

Here is a link to a Freeman first edition for sale. I'd personally wait for one to be offered in auction format.

I wish I could post a Brit tip about it, but I have copper pennies only with ornamental tridents.

wybrit

On sale here is another good reference work. It only covers bronze pennies 1860-1970. I already own one and recommend it to aid identification.

Sylvestius

Love the William IV halfpenny! Shame about the slab, and will NGC ever get it right? 1/2p... 'p'??? Surely they mean 'd'!