Help needed with this 1861 British Penny

Buffalode

Hello to everyone at this forum. I am usually at the US coin forum and know pretty much nothing about this coin or British coins in general. I have learned there are several different variations of it but I haven't been able to find a site with photos to help determine exactly what this one is. If anyone can share some information or point me in the right direction to find it I will be very grateful. I have a Krause catalog which lists different versions but I don't know what a lot of that is referring to to really be any benefit. As I said, I know basically nothing about these coins so I would also be interested in any opinions on the coin itself. Thanks for any help!

Muygrandeoso

off the top of my head...Looks like a Freeman #33 to me. One of the more common varieties.

If no one else has chimed in, I will look at my books tonight to confirm my guess.

JCMhouston

In the images I can't see a signature either below the bust or below the shield, and it looks like the upper stop of the colon after D at the end of the legend is flawed, so I am going to guess obv. 6 rev. G. Obverse 6 should also have 16 leaves witht he veins raised which I can't tell from the images (it's too late in the day for these tired old eyes).

The other thing to look at is the date, is there something going on under the 6? There is a very rare variety with a 6/8, but would need closeups with different lighting to tell, and I am not sure which obverse die had that overdate.

Buffalode

Thanks for the responses. I took a couple of closeups and full shots with a Dinolite. Maybe these will be easier to see:

Muygrandeoso

<< <i>In the images I can't see a signature either below the bust or below the shield, and it looks like the upper stop of the colon after D at the end of the legend is flawed, so I am going to guess obv. 6 rev. G. Obverse 6 should also have 16 leaves witht he veins raised which I can't tell from the images (it's too late in the day for these tired old eyes).
>>



Yep. It still looks like a Freeman 33 (Obv. 6 Rev. G) to me. and I see no evidence of the 8/6.

JCMhouston

Correct, I was just wondering if that was a notch in the 6 I was seeing in the first image and could not be sure.

RareBronzeCollector

F-33 is correct....

Obverse 6, Reverse G

Buffalode

Thanks everyone for all the help. I did a search for Freeman and came up with some books by Michael Freeman which I assume is the Freeman being referred to. Sorry to be so clueless here but these coins are something completely new for me and I have a lot to learn, including how to grade them and what to look for. Thanks again for all the help.

Hussulo

Hi Bob Freemans book is well worth buying also you might find this one helpful on grading British coins:

http://www.predecimal.com/standard-guide-grading-british-coins-p-8054.html

Regards,
Hus

Muygrandeoso

I also use Michael Gouby's book quite a bit. I find it easier to use than the Freeman book.


http://www.michael-coins.co.uk/BPbook.htm

InforaPenny

As mentioned by others, it's Freeman 33, the most common type. According to Freeman's survey results more than 55% of 1861 British pennies are of this die pairing. None-the-less, bronze bun pennies by die variety are a fascinating series to collect.
Best Regards,

Buffalode

Thanks again everyone for all the help and advice. I can see very quickly I need to buy some books and go to school on these. I got 60+ coins from probably 20+ countries in a lot and don't know any more about the rest than I did this one, so it is defintely going to be a learning adventure. Should be fun, thanks again!