Old Coins

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 208, 31 May 1935, Page 13

Old Coins

Sir,—l would be glad of space for the following letter re the value of oid pennies. • I have tile following’ coins in my possession : An Irish farthing, Geo. 111, date 1806; an English farthing, William I\ , date 1535; one large penny or twopenny piece (copper), date 1859; and a large halfpennv, George 111. date 1S07; two large pennies, Geo. HI, date appears to be 1806 on both; one very ancient com the size of a large halfpeny, with a bearded face, a cowl at the back of the head like a monk, completely encircled a wreath of some kind, perhaps thistles. The reverse appears to have Britannia and the date very indistinct excepting the first two figures, 12. Ah these coins are copper, in excellent preservation. with one exception.—l am. etc., INTERESTED.

Hastings, May 27. [Reporting on the above letter, the New Zealand Numismatic Society writes: — •‘Many of the copper coins issued in England during the early llith century are worth little more than face value. In average condition, the Irish farthing is worth about sixpence; the English farthing of 1533, threepence; the Victorian pennv dated 185 U, sixpence: and the halfpenny of George 111. fourpence. The copper pennies (‘cartwheels’) of George Iff may fetch a shilling each in good condition. About 1780 the copper coinage of England had become insufficient for the needs of trade and tokens were issued by many firms. The first trade tokens struck at this period were the Anglesey pennies and “halfpennies. The very ancient coin, mentioned above, is a specimen of this issue and bears the sign of the Ijruid's head. On the reverse or tail side, the cipher of the Parys Mine Company and the date are shown. The market value of the coin is not high, and will depend to a large extent on the condition of the specimen.’’]