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The other thing to bear in mind is that not everybody has a fabulous collection of top grade, superb coins. You could get that impression from reading the posts on here, and it is certainly something to aim for, but it really isn't like that for most of us. A few do reach these high standards, and good luck to them, but most don't - if we did then lower grade material simply wouldn't sell at auction and as you know it does sell perfectly well. Also, of course high grade coins are not always available and a lower standard has to be accepted, at least until a better one comes along - if ever! Many of us simply can't afford to buy in top grade, but if we are date collectors we either have to accept a lower grade for a rare date, or live with a gap. For instance, my 1854 sixpence is GF at best. It's a rare date and high grade specimens occasionally come along, but their price is astronomic. So, I'm faced with a choice. Do I buy a high grade 1854 for £2-3k or more, or do I buy maybe several more interesting, but less rare coins of other denominations? Choices, choices. Only a lottery win would take away the problem. My point is that you shouldn't be put off by not achieving the goal of perfection. As I say, most of us have lower grade coins in our collections, simply because it isn't always possible to do better. For me, I'd always have the lower grade than a gap. Gaps are like missing front teeth, whereas lower grade can always be upgraded sometime.

We all go through the same process UIS, we've all bought coins that have been not up to scratch, in the digital age, good pictures are most valuable, i would think 75% of us have all bought a wrong-un at some point or other, it's all about learning, that's what makes the forum so good, and as i've said previously, it's only you that has to look and admire it, we're only giving opinions which you might not agree with either, we can be extremely critical, and most say it as it is, some people take it personally, others take advice on board...... Its a learning curve....

I am sure they do. As I said, it depends on the coin. But, for the coin I just bought, when I factored in my estimate of the cost of buying in an auction, plus the buyers premium, plus postage and packing, the Atlas price for the coin was pretty competitive with what I would pay at auction. Obviously, one needs to have a view as to what a coin 'should' cost. For my area of interest, which are sixpences, I generally have a perspective as to what a coin should cost and from being active in the auction marketplace over the past few years, I have a good idea what a given coin will probably go for. So you look for where you think you will get the best price. For me, auctions are likely to remain my primary source of coins. But I have no problem using reputable dealers if they have the coin I want at a competitive price.

Stick with it! I have only been collecting for 13 months now, and I have made mistakes a plenty along the way however I feel I am starting to get better with my grading and things I would have snapped up a year ago I pass by now. Go look at the thread in the beginners section I started and hopefully you will see the progression from what I initially purchased through to what I am looking at now. I still have masses to learn but the experience of this year has helped me with George V Halfcrowns and they guys on here have been very helpful. As long as you take the feedback as just that, feedback, and not a personally affront to yourself it is really useful and this is a great place to learn.

I'll be submitting several coins to PCGS at the London Fair. Happy to assist as long as you cover your own grading fees.

Just take your time, don't trust the sellers grading and don't rush a buy until your confident its a keeper . As others have said go over the pictures a few times making sure you are happy before you make a bid/commit to buy.

No, you're getting there for sure!

Again as a comparison here is my 1826 half crown, bought at Spink auction last September and described as EF, which I agree with