richatthecroft

Why a bonus Lawrence? Doh! I didn’t see your quote featuring the Briot, are you a Charles I fan? Such an interesting and vast array of coin types, so interesting, particularly the Provincial/ Civil War issues and Siege piece coinage.

Hammered? Yes, the difficulty with them is 'one man's meat, is another man's poison!' Each type can be so different- I dare to say unique! it's nigh on impossible to find one that meets all your requirements. I set my stall out on the Portrait/ detail of design, rather than an 'all rounder'. Out of all the Sixpences I have two favourites, both Charles I - The Hammered 1664 York, mm. Lion- and topping my list is the 1631- 32 Briot 1st milled issue, what a coin, I'm a lucky man- scarce in this condition, and no adjustment marks that plague nearly all of this issue. Out of the early milled issues, I think weighing up scarcity/ condition, the Charles II and the James II are my top two, the Charles II getting my top of the list award. Of the later coins, and likely in keeping with many a coin collectors view, the Victoria YH Proofs are lovely, and given that only a tiny amount of Sets were issued in both 1839 (the Una and the Lion Set) (c.300) and 1853- Sovereign down to Half Farthing and Maurice Bull citing the mintage as 'very few' c.20- 50 sets issued**, then the 1853 with the Reeded Edge is my favourite, particularly because of the Emerald tone my coin exhibits in the fields, and a 'two tone' Victoria Portrait. The photos below are more representative of my coins 'in hand' rather than the photos above, which I had to magnify somewhat to use my cropping tool on the computer. The Hammered Charles I has a very deep grey tone, but uneven on both the Obv. & Rev. between 10 O'clock and 2 O'clock- perhaps some environmental damage to attract such uneven tone? **(but also acknowledging individual coins could be bought contemporaneously, but no records kept (Bull, English Silver Coinage since 1649)).

Thanks-it is a nice set of coins. With hindsight, Sixpences might not have been the best choice of denomination to collect for an inpatient collector like me! I guess the lower the denomination, the more hammer (forgive the pun) coins got during their time in circulation- Shillings might have been the sweet spot? I have seen several William & Mary Sixpences come up for sale either at dealers, and one or two at auction, but none of a decent grade, or at least a grade I would have been happy with- I set my stall out at only buying at EF or above in terms of Milled Sixpences. Having said that, I consider myself extremely fortunate in being able to purchase my EF+ grade Charles I Briot Sixpence- albeit I had to purchase from an auction in the USA. My pig-in-the-poke has been a Phillip & Mary- there's an absolute dearth of this Sixpence, and I think I'm going to have to wait quite a while to find a decent VF example. Like you say, James II coinage is a nightmare to find- I think I very lucky to find one in such lovely condition, and without the usual and almost obligatory adjustment marks. How far did you get with your collection? What parameters did you set in terms of Grade/ Date range? I would love to see them. Unlike your experience, I found Charles II extremely difficult to find- and when I did find the right one, I had to pay big for it- the photo above is not too flattering- the one below is more representative of it in hand, it has a lovely pastel green tone. I am on the look-out for a Hammered Charles II which again, are a bit of a rarity. Agreed on the George I- mine is the 1723 😂 but like you say, try find an alternative year date, they are in hiding!

Nearly there. Each Monarch since the Inaugural Sixpence issue. Notable absences is a Phillip & Mary Sixpence (substituted here with a Mary Groat) and also a William & Mary, neither of which I have been able to source an example I would be happy with, the former will be a difficult gap to fill. In terms of a Cromwell issue, I've resigned myself that it would be beyond my resources to ever acquire that Sixpence. I will in time add a nice example Hammered Elizabeth I and a Charles II- and I would like to add Proof George III & George IV example's well as a Proof William IV issue. What I've learnt: Sixpences are a difficult denomination to source in better grade! The House of Stuart, particularly the Charles I period is the most interesting in terms of Coinage and Types of coinage. What I need to learn: to take time and have more patience in curating a collection of this type. Hope you enjoy taking a look at these Sixpence Types as much as I have enjoyed collecting them. 1551- 53 Edward VI London, mm. Tun. The Boy King facing forward. Spink. 2843. VF 1553- 54 Mary (Groat) mm. Pomegranate. Crowned bust right. Spink. 2492 F/VF 1562 Elizabeth I Milled Issue, Crowned bust facing left, mm. Star, Spink 2596 VF+ 1603 James I, First coinage, Crowned bust Right. mm. Thistle. Spink 2647. VF 1631- 32 Charles I First Milled issue. Crowned bust left. mm. Flower & B. Spink 2855 GEF 1643- 44 Charles I Crowned bust left. mm. Lion Spink 2876 VF 1653 Commonwealth. mm. Sun Spink 3219 F/VF 1681 Charles II, bust facing right. Tower Mint. Spink. 3382 EF 1687 James II facing left, Tower Mint, Spink 3413 EF 1696 William III, Bust facing right. Tower Mint, Spink 3520 NEF 1703 Anne Pre- Union first bust left, Spink 3586 EF 1723 George I bust facing right, S. 3652 NEF 1758 George IIFacing left, Spink 3711 EF 1787 George III, bust facing right, Spink 3749, Unc. George III Later Milled coinage Unc. 1821 George IV. Unc. 1834 William IV, NGC MS63 1839 Victoria Proof, Plain Edge. FDC 1853 Victoria Proof Reeded Edge NGC PF63 1887 Victoria Proof Jubilee Head, PCGS PR63 Cam 1893 Victoria Proof Veiled Head, NGC PF 64 1902 Edward VII Matte Proof, NGC PF63 1911 George V, Proof FDC 1927 George V, Proof CGS Unc. 92 1937 George VI, Proof PCGS PR66 Cam 1950 George VI Mid Century Proof issue NGC PF66 1951 George VI Proof Festival of Britain Issue Unc. 1953 Elizabeth II Coronation Proof Issue NGC PF65 Cameo 1970 Elizabeth II Proof, Last Pre- Decimal issue, CGS Unc. 93 2021 Elizabeth II, Bergdahl design, NGC MS70 2021 Elizabeth II 22ct. Gold Proof NGC PF70 UC 2021 Elizabeth II 24ct Gold Proof 'Christmas' issue. NGC PF70 UC.

Agreed, I’m thinking seriously about getting the hammer to the slab and keeping the Sixpence in my cabinet.

Two more Sixpences. A beautifully toned 1834 William IV and a Commonwealth Sixpence, VF grade albeit with a wavy flan. This Sixpence was struck In 1653, after the dissolution of Parliament, and the Army Council adopted Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of a united "Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland", inaugurating the period now usually known as the Protectorate. The Commonwealth was the political structure during the period from 1649 to 1660 when England and Wales, later along with Ireland and Scotland, were governed as a republic after the end of the Second English Civil War and the trial and execution of Charles I. The republic's existence was declared through "An Act declaring England to be a Commonwealth". Coins struck during the Commonwealth are inscribed in English instead of Latin as a truer expression of Protestantism. The St. George’s Cross & the Irish Harp take the place of the Royal Arms. The obverse inscription boldly reads ‘The Commonwealth Of England’ and Reverse, ‘God With Us’.

Thanks. It’s a giant leap of faith and I can safely say that according to my spreadsheet my Silver Oz/ £ ratio is well and truly knackered 😂

Two more Sixpences toward my Monarch Type Set, and the last of my recent tranche of buying. The first is a 1687 James II Sixpence. Extremely scarce in this high grade. All James II coinage is difficult to source due to the dearth of it and his (disastrous) three year reign prior to exile. The more familiar portrait of George III is easier to pick up, but this high grade uncirculated example is a welcome addition, thick with toning and haze that gives way to a nice iridescent brilliance. The bottom photos are of the two Brothers together- Charles II & James II.

Three lovely coins today, two Sixpences toward my Type Set collection and a Mary Groat. The Mary Groat has matured nicely since it was hammered into shape 469 years ago, VF grade? Queen Mary coinage was only issued for two years prior to her 4 year Marriage and coins then issued under the reign of Phillip & Mary. The Sixpences are whippersnappers in comparison, but both very nicely preserved, the Charles II is exceptional and clearly the star of the three here, presented in a bold EF. The George I is lovely and again, grades EF I would think. Came with an old Spink ticket.

Whoops- wrong thread!

Don’t underestimate the difficulty and your tenacity in putting together decent examples of Britannia for a full date run- It will be a lovely collection 👍

Gold, Silver & Bronze today. A lovely 1839 Victoria Proof Plain Edge Sixpence, a Charles I Groat & thank you @DuncanWylieWilson for the 1953 Elizabeth II South Africa Long Set. Photograph's at the bottom are a comparison of the 1839 Plain Edge with my 1853 Milled Edge Proof Sixpence and nice to look at the four different Victoria Proof Sixpences- the Young Head’s and the 1887 Jubilee and the 1893 Veiled Head.

Lovely! All that haze will disappear! Then if you're grading you'll just have to run the gauntlet of the 69/ 70 lottery 🙄- and pray it doesn't land in front of the grader on a Monday morning at his grumpiest and notwithstanding when his stomach is rumbling

Definitely- I don't think many people would consider buying blind- not at this level- I once bought a modern Half Sovereign sealed in its wrapping, but the risk there was minimal.

I think this is a lovely design, both the Ian Rank Broadley designed Reverse and Obverse- he did a great job, unlike his more widely known Portrait used for (far too long) on circulating and Proof coinage. I think if you are a collector, this is a fantastic addition- but future values might well be influenced by a large mintage of 3500- (it was contained in the 2002 Gold set). I personally would keep it raw, there again- if exceptional I would grade, I see no benefit in keeping it in the shrink wrap. In terms of grading, I would check it carefully- there's a large expanse of field on both sides- likely why the majority of these hit the goalposts with a PF69UC at NGC.

A wonderful Half Sovereign. Thanks@SamG

Received something old and something new: Charles I (1625- 49) Sixpence, Tower Mint under the King (1635-36). Group D, type 3a mm. Crown- no inner circles. Spink 2811 And another 2013 Queen’s Coronation 60th Anniversary £5 Crown Piedfort Set. Lovely reverse and plain edge to compliment Her Late Majesty’s Portraits.

I think the choice of using the classic design of the Crown in Centre of Emblematical Cross, with Shield of Arms in Angles for the 50p is a nice idea. Being a collector of Crowns, I would have preferred it on the Charles £5 but we can’t always get what we want. As we know, the design featured on the 1953 Coronation Crown all in Cupronickel- Bu, Proof & VIP Proof Spink 4136- (Bu & Proof are pictured below.) The design was also replicated in 1960 for the New York Exhibition issue, again, in Cupronickel Bu, similar from polished dies (photo below) and VIP Proof, Spink 4143. The design was latterly used in 2014 in a commemorative £5 Crown coin to mark the First Birthday of Prince George of Cambridge and only issued in Silver Proof (bottom photo) Spink ‘Decimal issues’ L33.

George II (1727-60) Sixpence, 1758, older laureate and draped bust left, legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS. II. DEI. GRATIA. rev. crowned cruciform shields, garter star at centre, date either side of top crown. S.3711 A wonderful irredescent red colour a truly fabulous example UNC or Near so. The Latin legends translate to on obverse "George II by the Grace of God" continuing on the reverse in abbreviated Latin which if in shown in full reads "Magnae Britanniae Franciae ET Hiberniae Rex Fidei Defensor Brun ET Lunebergen-sis Dux, Sacri Romani Imperii Archi-Thesaurius ET Elector" and translates as "King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire."

I think that if anyone owns a medal in this condition, only remove the toning if you want to purposely make it worth a lot less, and make it look less attractive.

Received yesterday, a very nice and special Five Pound Piece.

Fantastic Set Mike, consistently toned and they look to be in fantastic condition. An extremely rare key Maundy Set for Elizabeth II 🤩 👍

I think you are correct @Stuntman Edward VI (1537- 1553) reigned 1547- 1553 before his death aged 15 and his reign overseen by a Regency Council. Here he is, represented on the third period coinage: And this document outlines all three periods of his coinage. http://www.bajr.org/BAJRGuides/38. PM Coin Identification/Introduction_to_post_medieval_coins_and_identification_guide_forarchaeologists.pdf Also note that Some posthumous Henry VIII coinage was issued alongside Edward VI coinage, the document also explains this.

You have got me broadening my thinking now, I guess it might well have done. 1632 coincides with Charles I providing a Royal Charter for the founding of the Maryland Colony. I bought the Sixpence from a Cincinnati based auctioneer- same vicinity. I like to think this scenario might be the case. Thanks.

I’d have this one if it was going begging! But a quick flip springs to mind 😂