"Not My King" on UK 50 pence 2022

Started by FosseWay, December 12, 2023, 06:10:36 PM

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FosseWay

In the December issue of Coin News (page 22, in the regular feature "A view of the Bay") it is reported that several 50 pence coins have been sold on eBay, defaced with the words "NOT MY KING". It doesn't say but I imagine these are the Queen Elizabeth memorial issues, the only circulation coins dated 2022 with Charles's portrait. 

Unfortunately the article isn't illustrated and, somewhat surprisingly, I don't get any relevant hits on a Google image search.

Anyway, the article notes that the seller has sold four of these so far, all in basically uncirculated condition other than the countermark. I smell a particularly voluptuous rat here. I don't get the impression that the Charles 50p is overly common in circulation; because of reduced cash use, my experience when I've been in the UK is that newer issues overall are pretty thin on the ground. Unlike with, say, Brexit or Troubles slogans, which can be punched (originally or as copies) on any current money, this slogan really has to be on a Charles coin, not an earlier one. Despite their infrequency, this seller has managed to conjure up (at least) four at once.

::)  

andyg

Yes, I thought that too... someone has some new stamps :)
There was a case in Sweden I think not too long ago.
always willing to trade modern UK coins for modern coins from elsewhere....

brandm24

I also saw one on eBay just recently. I'm almost positive it was on a 50p coin with Charles portrait but I'll look and see if I can find an example. Need to verify that

Bruce
Always Faithful

Offa

Left wing imbeciles trying to force their views on everyone as usual.
Member British numismatic society

brandm24

I looked everywhere but couldn't find the listing I saw. He must have sold all the coins he had or just took the auction down.

Bruce
Always Faithful


FosseWay

Ah, thank you. I wonder why they didn't come up when I searched...

Attaching the pictures of the coins for posterity. Something I notice is that the first two items are identical. Not just the same stamp on two different coins of the same date/issue, but the self-same coin. Look at the position of the stamped letters relative both to each other and to the underlying design. Also, the punches used on the third one are the same as those used on the first/second: the letters O T Y I are notably bolder than the others. So the two countermarks are made by the same person using the same punches. What are the chances of someone randomly getting (a) a countermarked coin at all, (b) two countermarks with the same very topical political comment on brand-new coins at a time when new issues are slow to emerge into circulation, and (c) two examples of the foregoing from the same "workshop"?

Countermarks, especially ones to do with high-profile political issues like votes for women, Brexit, the monarchy etc., are hard to prove genuine in the best of circumstances. The least a seller can do is to display photos of the actual coin they have on sale.

To pick up on Offa's spectacular miss of the point - if these were the product of left-wing/anti-monarchist groups trying to force their message on everyone else, they'd be numismatically, politically and socially interesting. These aren't the product of someone with a constitutional axe to grind, whatever any of us think of the underlying issue. These are the product of a con-merchant trying to make a fast buck.

redlock

Quote from: Offa on December 13, 2023, 11:16:46 AMLeft wing imbeciles trying to force their views on everyone as usual.
Couldn't say it better myself.

andyg

No, it's not - it's the product of someone trying to make a fast buck.
always willing to trade modern UK coins for modern coins from elsewhere....

brandm24

Quote from: andyg on December 13, 2023, 07:49:25 PMNo, it's not - it's the product of someone trying to make a fast buck.

I agree. If he had just made them and put them in circulation to get his message out then they would be authentic...but not made for a profit.

Bruce
Always Faithful