Victorian copper pennies

[CollectorNo1]

Hi 

I love and collect Victorian sovs. On a whim I purchased a 1841 1/2 penny and now find myself getting a bit hooked.

I liked the detail and patina on this,would like some advice if you collect Victorian pennies! I've seen some on ebay which I don't like to use going for high prices, so would like some kind of idea what to pay for them in good very good or unc condition.

Appreciate any advice

Photo of the one I've just purchased.

Forgot to say has a serif error on the 'E' in DEI.

Edited October 18, 2021 by CollectorNo1
Added comment

[morezone]

moved to the non PM coins section.

[CollectorNo1]

17 minutes ago, morezone said:

moved to the non PM coins section.

I did place this under non precious metals???

[morezone]

1 minute ago, CollectorNo1 said:

I did place this under non precious metals???

No.  You created it under general precious metals.

[CollectorNo1]

9 minutes ago, morezone said:

No.  You created it under general precious metals.

Oh..bit confused how I done that..does state at the top of the thread that I created it under non precious metals/base metals....I havnt seen under topics "general precious metals"??

[CollectorNo1]

1 minute ago, CollectorNo1 said:

Oh..bit confused how I done that..does state at the top of the thread that I created it under non precious metals/base metals....I havnt seen under topics "general precious metals"??

Sorry I've got myself confused...haha so where do I find "non precious metals" for future ref.

Regards

[morezone]

15 minutes ago, CollectorNo1 said:

Sorry I've got myself confused...haha so where do I find "non precious metals" for future ref.

Regards

Between the official sponsors and trading the markets forums.  It has 4 subforums within it.

 

[CollectorNo1]

19 minutes ago, morezone said:

Between the official sponsors and trading the markets forums.  It has 4 subforums within it.

 

Thanks..something new I have learnt. 

Regards

[Bruce06]

On 18/10/2021 at 21:00, CollectorNo1 said:

Hi 

I love and collect Victorian sovs. On a whim I purchased a 1841 1/2 penny and now find myself getting a bit hooked.

I liked the detail and patina on this,would like some advice if you collect Victorian pennies! I've seen some on ebay which I don't like to use going for high prices, so would like some kind of idea what to pay for them in good very good or unc condition.

Appreciate any advice

Photo of the one I've just purchased.

Forgot to say has a serif error on the 'E' in DEI.

I am collecting pre-decimal as well, and yea, it will be addictive, haha....i used to refer to London Coins n DNW for pricing, though sometimes auction prices are unreasonable, but at least you have a reference.  By the way, there are many many variants for Victorian pennies, i use Gouby site n allcoinsvalue.com for some guides.  You will find it's very interesting n funny through these variants.  

[CollectorNo1]

9 hours ago, Bruce06 said:

I am collecting pre-decimal as well, and yea, it will be addictive, haha....i used to refer to London Coins n DNW for pricing, though sometimes auction prices are unreasonable, but at least you have a reference.  By the way, there are many many variants for Victorian pennies, i use Gouby site n allcoinsvalue.com for some guides.  You will find it's very interesting n funny through these variants.  

Thanks for the info..I've looked on allcoinsvalue. The thing I'm curious about is there a market out there for victorian pennies etc..do people collect them on a large scale..you are the first person to respond to my thread so I'm thinking maybe it's not a common collectable?  I love the different varieties and the history of what these coins have seen as were more used in day to day life than say...shillings crowns and sovs..

regards 

[Bruce06]

I do think there is market for penny, especially young head.  As long as pricing is reasonable, Victoria pennies are popular in auction.  Maybe copper n bronze are not main stream in this forum only.

[CollectorNo1]

21 minutes ago, Bruce06 said:

I do think there is market for penny, especially young head.  As long as pricing is reasonable, Victoria pennies are popular in auction.  Maybe copper n bronze are not main stream in this forum only.

I think your right...mainly gold n Silver here..Do you ever clean your copper or bronze coins?..I was thinking about cleaning it with a non harsh abrasive..I'm dead against cleaning gold,silver but thought its not going to be much of a problem if I tried to clean it..although I do love the patina on these coins..

[Bruce06]

No, i didn't try to clean any coin, no matter it's silver or copper.  I only have it comes across my mind for my 1887 halfcrown, which seems a bit dirty.  Since I am not experience enough about cleaning, I will either take to my friend's coin shop asking for his assistance, or leave it, or sell it.  If you really want to try cleaning, I suggest not to do with your 1841 halfpenny.  Try in very low grade first, as I see some copper or bronze coins are in weird color after cleaning.

[CollectorNo1]

13 minutes ago, Bruce06 said:

No, i didn't try to clean any coin, no matter it's silver or copper.  I only have it comes across my mind for my 1887 halfcrown, which seems a bit dirty.  Since I am not experience enough about cleaning, I will either take to my friend's coin shop asking for his assistance, or leave it, or sell it.  If you really want to try cleaning, I suggest not to do with your 1841 halfpenny.  Try in very low grade first, as I see some copper or bronze coins are in weird color after cleaning.

Thanks...I've got some old copper coins I can try...but thinking about it might just leave as is..the details are very nice and the patina,I do like.

Regards..

[Bruce06]

If details are good, then better to leave it.  Natural patina and toning add charisma and charm to a coin, i believe.

[TeaTime]

I have a selection of Victorian young head pennies i bought at auction... Once in a while i think of collecting them full-time but the prices of some of them scare me off. I managed to buy a Geo III unc halfpenny, a William IV penny in EF and a proof George IV Hibernia penny for next to nothing a few years back. Sadly the local coin auction i used to attend finished having sales - i used to buy a lot of copper at them and was rarely bid against.

[CollectorNo1]

47 minutes ago, TeaTime said:

I have a selection of Victorian young head pennies i bought at auction... Once in a while i think of collecting them full-time but the prices of some of them scare me off. I managed to buy a Geo III unc halfpenny, a William IV penny in EF and a proof George IV Hibernia penny for next to nothing a few years back. Sadly the local coin auction i used to attend finished having sales - i used to buy a lot of copper at them and was rarely bid against.

Thanks as I have only bought 1 1941 1/2 penny in very good detal..but the patina is black which I really like...just want to know whether going forward its a good idea to collect all years...and wondered what a good price would be for these copper pennies or half's?????

[Bruce06]

7 hours ago, TeaTime said:

I have a selection of Victorian young head pennies i bought at auction... Once in a while i think of collecting them full-time but the prices of some of them scare me off. I managed to buy a Geo III unc halfpenny, a William IV penny in EF and a proof George IV Hibernia penny for next to nothing a few years back. Sadly the local coin auction i used to attend finished having sales - i used to buy a lot of copper at them and was rarely bid against.

Yes, some of the Victoria young head pennies are crazily in price.  To me, the 1860 is unable to reach.  I had bid for 1849 penny before which i think was in reasonable price, but failed.  I tried to achieve a date run (except 1860), but few are still outstanding at this moment.  

How about your Victorian pennies now?  Not to go forward for this collection?

[Bruce06]

6 hours ago, CollectorNo1 said:

Thanks as I have only bought 1 1941 1/2 penny in very good detal..but the patina is black which I really like...just want to know whether going forward its a good idea to collect all years...and wondered what a good price would be for these copper pennies or half's?????

Nice idea to have date run for young head halfpenny and penny, I am trying to do so for the pennies, but don't know if able to achieve apart from 1860.  For 1860 penny or halfpenny, I give up already 😅. Some others, like 1843, 1849, 1856 penny and 1843-1852 halfpenny, are scarce but not totally impossible.  I am still waiting for some of them to appear in right price.  For latest pricing, auction prices at London Coins and DNW can give you some ideas about pricing and grading.  Since I am not residing in UK, I am unable to attend coin fairs or sales across the country which there may have bargains to come up.

[TeaTime]

As with all numismatics - the condition will determine the cost. Most of mine are VF which can be picked up for a reasonable price, once you start looking at EF or UNC then it becomes serious. Veiled head Victorian pennies and Edward VII bronze pennies would be a good starting point for a collection - which can be found for around £6-£10 in VF... Until you start looking at the varieties..

I don't actively seek out copper coins any more, just enjoy what i've got. Never say never though !

[Stuntman]

The pre-1860 British copper coinage is really nice to collect, although I do agree that if you want a copper 1860 penny, it will cost you at least the price of a couple of ounces of gold.

I don't have all that many pieces and am not particularly interested in date runs, but I do have various British copper coins from various monarchs, for variety.

Farthings from 1799, 1821 and 1835

Halfpennies from 1721, 1799, 1807, 1826, 1837 and 1855

Pennies from 1797, 1806, 1826, 1831, 1853 and 1854

The cartwheel Twopence from 1797

A Half Farthing from 1844

And a Quarter Farthing from 1852!

This covers George I, George III, George IV, William IV and Victoria.  I don't have a George II copper coin but I would like a nice halfpenny in about VF condition and if I saw one with nice eye appeal at a reasonable price I'd probably buy it.

My favourites are probably the 1797 cartwheel penny and twopence, and the 1799 farthing and halfpenny.  Having all four denominations of these Matthew Boulton new coinage makes a nice little collection on its own I think, and the coins themselves are impressive things to hold.  The 1799 halfpenny I have is particularly lovely.

Edited October 31, 2021 by Stuntman
Added Half Farthing - forgot it was copper!

[CollectorNo1]

1 hour ago, Stuntman said:

The pre-1860 British copper coinage is really nice to collect, although I do agree that if you want a copper 1860 penny, it will cost you at least the price of a couple of ounces of gold.

I don't have all that many pieces and am not particularly interested in date runs, but I do have various British copper coins from various monarchs, for variety.

Farthings from 1799, 1821 and 1835

Halfpennies from 1721, 1799, 1807, 1826, 1837 and 1855

Pennies from 1797, 1806, 1826, 1831, 1853 and 1854

The cartwheel Twopence from 1797

A Half Farthing from 1844

And a Quarter Farthing from 1852!

This covers George I, George III, George IV, William IV and Victoria.  I don't have a George II copper coin but I would like a nice halfpenny in about VF condition and if I saw one with nice eye appeal at a reasonable price I'd probably buy it.

My favourites are probably the 1797 cartwheel penny and twopence, and the 1799 farthing and halfpenny.  Having all four denominations of these Matthew Boulton new coinage makes a nice little collection on its own I think, and the coins themselves are impressive things to hold.  The 1799 halfpenny I have is particularly lovely.

Thanks for the info....I have bought a couple more pennies in v nice condition but still don't know whether they are worth collecting..investment wise...there doesn't seem to be that  many people who collect them...some of the prices have shocked me so I guess there is a market for collecting..I've only looked at the Victorian pennies but do like the Georgian ones as well...if the price is reasonable I will buy...I do like them and makes one think of the history and the hands they have been through??

Regards

 

[Stuntman]

I like them for their history as well.

There are some very serious penny collectors out there - and with deep pockets, but they tend to specialise in the bronze coinage more than the copper coinage, and try to collect as many of the different Freeman numbers as they can.  Some of them are very rare indeed, and the differences between some of the varieties are very hard to spot.  

So penny collecting can keep someone interested for many years attempting to amass getting on for 200 separate coins, but most of them are very similar and the type of collector is quite different from what I imagine many of us here are like.

There are some very knowledgeable penny collectors and a wealth of information available at www.predecimal.com if you are keen to find out more.  They are a friendly bunch too, but the traffic over there is quite limited.

[CollectorNo1]

1 hour ago, Stuntman said:

I like them for their history as well.

There are some very serious penny collectors out there - and with deep pockets, but they tend to specialise in the bronze coinage more than the copper coinage, and try to collect as many of the different Freeman numbers as they can.  Some of them are very rare indeed, and the differences between some of the varieties are very hard to spot.  

So penny collecting can keep someone interested for many years attempting to amass getting on for 200 separate coins, but most of them are very similar and the type of collector is quite different from what I imagine many of us here are like.

There are some very knowledgeable penny collectors and a wealth of information available at www.predecimal.com if you are keen to find out more.  They are a friendly bunch too, but the traffic over there is quite limited.

Thanks for that..I've been reading about different varieties.. near colon,far colon,no colon...not sure about the ornamental trident whether it's worth more...large dates,small dates...its interesting....as I said only just sparked an interest in me...probably like you I'm a gold and silver buyer..so not much knowledge when it comes to the pennies..but will learn...do you have many in your collection???.

Regards 

[Bruce06]

6 hours ago, Stuntman said:

I like them for their history as well.

There are some very serious penny collectors out there - and with deep pockets, but they tend to specialise in the bronze coinage more than the copper coinage, and try to collect as many of the different Freeman numbers as they can.  Some of them are very rare indeed, and the differences between some of the varieties are very hard to spot.  

So penny collecting can keep someone interested for many years attempting to amass getting on for 200 separate coins, but most of them are very similar and the type of collector is quite different from what I imagine many of us here are like.

There are some very knowledgeable penny collectors and a wealth of information available at www.predecimal.com if you are keen to find out more.  They are a friendly bunch too, but the traffic over there is quite limited.

Yes, the forum mentioned is very useful, n members are willing to help as well, like this forum.