Valuations

John Lashmar asked if I could identify and value this hammered silver coin. It looked fairly straightforward but it turned out not to be.

It measures about 35mm in diameter, it’s made of bronze and dates from the last decade of the 19th century. On one side is an image of a ‘big wheel’ with a date below; to the left is GIGANTIC WHEEL and to the right is EARLS COURT. The London Eye has for a number of years been a major attraction both for Londoners and tourists from all over the world. The Eye is a fixture but smaller wheels travel around the UK. They are erected in various cities and usually stay for a few months before being taken down and moving on. When they are positioned in the centre of a city they tower over rooftops, enabling those at the highest point to see places and landmarks they had never viewed before.

I’ve been detecting for close to 25 years and during that time, on numerous sites, I have unearthed dozens of Roman base metal coins.

The coin is a badly clipped silver siliqua.

This specimen was found a number of years since by a detectorist named James, who said he had been trying to get a valuation but had trouble finding someone who would help.

On the obverse the king wears a crown with one jewelled and one plain arch, so the coin is an example of class IIIc.

David Brydon said this coin had been identified for him as a halfpenny of Edward I but he believed the ID was wrong.

Anyone who has been detecting regularly for a good number of years will have unearthed a high number of copper and bronze halfpennies.

The coin is a gold crown piece of Henry VIII with mint mark pellet in annulet on both sides.

This find is a penny of Offa of Mercia, who was king from AD 752 to 796.