
The Bronze Coinage of Great Britain
Michael J. Freeman(Author)
Rotographic Publications (Publisher)
2nd Edition
Published on 14. June 2016
Book
Paperback/Softback
232 pages
978-0-948964-84-8 (ISBN)
Description
This is an enhanced reprint of the most current edition. 80% of the existing images in the main section have been replaced and there is a new appendix containing over 100 coins that were not included in the last edition (this is the first ever attempt to update the information for over 30 years). Where there is new information, the main text contains references to the new appendix and some of the rarity ratings have also been adjusted. This new book is also slightly larger than previous versions, in an attempt to improve the quality of the images and ease of identification. In this book Mr Freeman articulately describes the differences between the obverse and reverse types of the subject matter. Where relevant there are tables of the possible combinations of reverses and obverses, often many combinations even for a single coin date. Proofs in bronze and other metals are also listed. Alterations to the dies, including changes to the date punches and major overstrikes resulting in letters/digits appearing to be struck on other letters or digits. Over 1000 different coins are listed, including patterns (both official and unofficial).Decimal coins have been removed from this edition (they were previously only listed from 1971 to 1983) and there are no values in this book, it is solely concerned with the varieties of bronze coinage.
Each coin type in the main section and some of those in the new appendix are, as mentioned above, assigned an estimated rarity on a 41 point scale from 'believed unique' to many millions made.
Each coin type in the main section and some of those in the new appendix are, as mentioned above, assigned an estimated rarity on a 41 point scale from 'believed unique' to many millions made.
Reviews / Votes
Michael Freeman is acknowledged to be the leading expert on British bronze coins, having once had 60,000 Victorian pennies in his collection. Originally published in 1970, this excellent and invaluable reference guide is sought-after by dealers and collectors alike. This book also includes an explanation of rarity symbols, ranging from R20 meaning unique to C20 indicating a mintage of over 150 million. I would consider it an essential reference to any serious collector or dealer of bronze coinage and, as such, it is deemed as the 'benchmark'.More details
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Torquay
United Kingdom
Illustrations
270 black and white illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 170 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
230 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-948964-84-8 (9780948964848)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
The author Michael J. Freeman once had over 60,000 Victorian pennies plus thousands of other British bronze coins. He devoted over 35 years to the study of them and identified and organised them, assigning each a unique and logically number. His numbering system and book on bronze coinage is still used as the standard reference more than 45 years after it was first published.
Content
A Note from the Publisher, Preface to the 2nd edition, Acknowledgements, Introduction, The Penny 1860 - 1970, The Halfpenny 1860 - 1970, The Farthing 1860 - 1956, Patterns and Trial Pieces (official and unofficial), Appendix I. Explanation of Abbreviations, symbols and terms used, Appendix II. Explanation of rarity symbols, Appendix III. Table correlating die references with those stated in the British Museum Catalogue (Peck), Appendix IV. Significant new discoveries since 1985, Plates I - XVIII, Bibliography