Coins

[boatbuilder]

From time to time over the past 15-20 years I have purchased a number of sets of UK Proof Coins. I recently added the 2015 set, which incorporates the new portrait of the Queen, to my collection and today I decided to try and photograph them but they are not easy to do, particularly as a complete set, mainly because the coins are enclosed in an air-tight (unfortunately reflective) sleeve which shouldn't be opened to avoid spoiling the coins and thus reducing their value as proof coins.

After various trials I found the best way was to set the SLR up on a tripod and take the pictures with a flash from a distance of about 2 metres using a telephoto lens set to about 200-mm and at a slight angle from above with a black cloth underneath and in front of the coin set to minimise any reflection from the table. The other problem was the light refracting through the sleeve which gives rise to a slight 'ghosting' in parts with some of the coins and which is more obvious with the Queen's portrait and particularly noticeable when the images are viewed at full size. Of course it may well have been easier with proper studio lighting but unfortunately I don't have those luxuries at my disposal.

Anyway, here are some of the results.

Proof Set in Case

Obverse

Reverse

[Trigger]

BB: Excellent photos - especially realising how difficult it can be to get them with no reflections! Did you also get a few of the Gold Sovereigns?

[boatbuilder]

BB: Excellent photos - especially realising how difficult it can be to get them with no reflections! Did you also get a few of the Gold Sovereigns?

Thanks, Trigger. I might try and see what sort of pictures I can get with some of my older sets.

I'm afraid I didn't get any Gold Sovereigns but I do have some £2 proof coins in Silver with the outer ring 22 Carat Gold Plated. It's my birthday in a little under three months so if you want to treat me to some Gold Sovereigns they would be a much appreciated present.

[Suffolkboy]

I'm afraid I didn't get any Gold Sovereigns but I do have some £2 proof coins in Silver with the outer ring 22 Carat Gold Plated. It's my birthday in a little under three months so if you want to treat me to some Gold Sovereigns they would be a much appreciated present.

Looks to me like you already have enough BB,perhaps we should share them out to LOL members.

Nice photos though.

[MEG]

My friend Jill and her children and me and Michelle arrived in England after the coins were first changed-we had no idea what was what!!We tipped a porter something and he thanked us profusely.Didn't take long to learn the money though.By the next time we visited the coins had changed again and Barclays wouldn't take some of them.These were ones we had kept from our last visit.We have lots of the old pennies,halfpennies etc and a Churchill Crown among other coins.

[Trigger]

It's my birthday in a little under three months so if you want to treat me to some Gold Sovereigns they would be a much appreciated present.

Thanks for the early hint about your forthcoming birthday Whilst I would be delighted to meet your request, unfortunately, at my greatly advanced age, there are more pressing needs to cause me to draw money from my bank account at Coutts.

But, do enjoy your birthday - and just make sure the fire brigade definitely are on standby when you light all those candles!

[boatbuilder]

But, do enjoy your birthday - and just make sure the fire brigade definitely are on standby when you light all those candles!

I'm sure you have more candles on your cake than me.

[Trigger]

I'm sure you have more candles on your cake than me.

Don't you believe it!! My "birthday" cake is now a Cupcake with ONE candle on it. This is because a few years ago there were not that many candles on the cake - but, after being lit - we had to get the fire brigade in.

[boatbuilder]

Now here is a £500 coin for the 'Wish List'

http://www.royalmint.com/shop/Lunar_Yea ... Proof_Coin

[boatbuilder]

Found this interesting page about 'oddly shaped coins'

http://blog.royalmint.com/oddly-shaped-coins/

[Mel]

Found this interesting page about 'oddly shaped coins'

There are certainly some great shaped coins there Boatbuilder, the Somali geometrics would certainly be a pain in your pocket and I don't know if I like the idea of a scratch and sniff coin. I think maybe the Bermudian triangle coins might be prone to disappearing though

[Trigger]

My favourite odd-shaped’ coin (from me ‘yoof’!) was the “thrupenny bit” - or “Joey”! It has a long history: “The three pence coin – expressed in writing as "3d" – first appeared in England during the fine silver coinage of King Edward VI (1547–53), when it formed part of a set of new denominations.” Source: Wikipedia.

[funkychick]

Now you ve surprised me as I always thought a joey was the lttle tiny silver sixpence blow wrong all these years

[Trigger]

Don't despair - you may well be right! I seem to recall, through the whirling mists of time, that, as a kid, we called the threepenny piece a "joey". But, that's no way definite!

Did a bit of "research" and, according to the OED: Joey -A threepenny bit - slang

Earliest references:

1936 - George Orwell - “Keep the aspidistra flying” “He took out the miserable little threepenny-bit.”
1965 “Australian Post (Melbourne)” - A ‘joey’ was originally London slang for a fourpenny bit; and later was transferred to the English threepence).

Can also can recall the "silver" 3d piece that Mum put in the Christmas Pud! Don't think I ever got the piece with the coin in it - unless I swallowed it! But, sometimes families used words/terms which were often just theirs. As a kid, if anything in the house couldn't be found - it was said to be "Probably, up in Nellie's room"! Still haven't found out who Nellie was!

[morty1753]

Seems the Royal Mint thinks a Joey is a thruppenny bit. I guess they should know

http://blog.royalmint.com/coin-nickname ... or-change/