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And the Cromwell has been reported and removed.

Below is a copy of an email that I received today in relation to an online only auction that ended on Sunday. I was the "lucky" winner of 2 decent looking Victorian coins of Jamaica. My winning bid was a paltry £10. I was emailed an invoice on Monday and payment was taken later that day from my card details held on the saleroom.com. The total taken was £13.96, 36% commission plus 36p for bidding via the saleroom! Todays email: Good afternoon, We have an invoice for you relating to our sale on 10 May 2017. RE: LOT 1198 – Victorian Jamaican Half Penny I have attempted to call you today to no avail as it would appear that we have an incorrect contact number for you on our records. We are able to provide P&P on this lot to your address which would be charged at £12 plus VAT. Unfortunately the items have attracted storage charges as outlined in our T&Cs and on the emailed invoice. This currently equates to £20.00 . If the account is settled by close of business Monday I would be happy to reduce the storage charges by half. If I do not hear from you by close of business on Monday 22 May 2017 we will have no option other than to enter the items into the next available sale to recover the storage charges. Best regards, Warrington Auction 551 Europa Boulevard Gemini Business Park Westbrook Warrington WA5 7TP T:01925 658833 I phoned them immediately upon receipt and was told that their terms and conditions are clearly outlined on both the saleroom and the email that I was sent on Monday. If I wasn't knee deep in trying to sort out Dads estate I probably would have sorted postage on Tuesday (YES EVEN AT £14.40 for 2 small coins), but c'est la vie. I spoke with the office manager, some fella called Chris, and he was quite implicit regarding their terms. I told him he was probably sailing close to the wind legally but he repeated that their terms are stated on both the saleroom and their email to me. I'd like to see them justify £5/day storage for a halfpenny and a Farthing in a County Court but life is too short and my immediate circumstances mean life is too precious. The final result is that I have instructed them to put the coins back into their next auction and give the proceeds to the Air Ambulance. Their will be no charges to me other than the 15% commission plus VAT (wonders why he was charged 36% VAT inclusive commission to buy), which will be deducted from the sale price. Most auction houses charge no commission when selling on behalf of charities, then again Warrington certainly aren't most auction houses. They have the unique distinction of being the worst and most money grabbing firm I have yet to encounter! Please feel free to share far and wide (no risk of libel as I have stated fact only) and remember that if you deal with Warrington Auctions you do so at your peril....

Well CHRIS at Warrington Auctions why your so keen on your" terms and conditions" i am now glad its brought to peoples attention.

Thanks for the heads up, John. They will ultimately lose by employing such sharp practice.

Good that you have shared your experience. I guess the message is 'one to avoid like the plague'! £5 a day storage? I had no idea available space in a matchbox could be so expensive. …And £12 to post the coins from Warrington to Durham?!?!

I would avoid buying sovereigns on e bay. It's not trustworthy, and you can easily get ripped off by sharks, unless you really know your stuff, and even then you can come unstuck. With gold, go to established dealers, or reputable auction houses.

If its vitreous enamel i.e. glass then unless it is loose and you can pick it out then the only way I know is to soak it in hydrofluoric acid but I would not go anywhere near that stuff, its highly dangerous. It may be possible to break it by tapping it and then picking out the pieces but depends on how well it was applied in the first place. If its the resin type of enamel, I have burned it out in the past but its very sticky and makes a mess.

Cheers John. Fantastic items on offer anyway, and I've bid for two rarities. Good luck !!!

This WRL shilling has been reported via CCF. Let's see what happens.

John..so sorry to hear of your Dad's passing.Take care buddy.

Very nice.

I remember when Radio 2 had a phone in about sexuality.A chap phoned in and said he was gay but mentioned he had a very small penis.BBC didn't even pick up when he said his name was Justin Sidebottom. I nearly crashed my car.

You lost for words Peck

It certainly was not a 1911 obverse as it has the small head portrait found on 1928 to 1936 coins . Terry