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Of interest for Blakeyboy

No problem Mike, glad to help. It's always difficult deciding to part with one of your nicest pieces, but when you sell to someone who you know will cherish it then that always makes it much easier. I am constantly under pressure to sell my collection rather than leave it one day to those who will not understand..........and probably sell for a fraction of what they are worth!!😨

When that supposed 1841 No REG Colon Proof sold at London Coins in 2009 I noticed that the obverse had some interesting features, in that the top bar of both I's in VICTORIA, and DEI, were very weak to the point of being missing; also the C of VICTORIA had been repaired. It made me think that the coin was perhaps NOT a Proof. Picture below refers. I have an example with exact same features in my own collection, which I can show tomorrow if anyone wishes to see. I would also sell my coin to anyone who wants it for far less than the $6.5K that Heritage sold theirs for in 2017.....and perhaps even less than the £900 that LC sold same coin for in 2009! 🤣

I think the two 1874's with that 'wide ribbons with small gap' obverse are _way_ rarer than is assumed. Just look at how often any examples turn up anywhere, in worn condition. Very unusual to see one. Mike is so right- one in this condition turning up, regardless of perceptions of rarity, would drive a purchase that would be argued as 'rash' in our house, but I would defend the decision! An UNC 1864 or 1869 or 1871 would not be half as tempting......

Well interestingly, Freeman has the F78 as R12, whereas an 1871 is R8, the 1869 is R11, and the 1864 is R10 (crosslet) and R9 ) plain. Overall, of course, the 1874 penny is R4, so maybe the varieties have got a bit lost in the mix over the years, as compared to the individually dated single coins. Moreover, the probability is that they weren't sought to anything like the extent that say an 1869 would have been prior to the big melt, so most would have been lost. The few that did survive were most probably saved, by default, as date only examples. That same principle applies to other varieties.

Having seen a few coins proofed up, I wouldn't go for one either. Peck didn't know of one, that's not definitive as he did miss things, but it's evidence that in his 30 plus years of researching he never saw one that jumped out at him as a proof. One example I would like to look at was sold as "full lustre" in a very early 2000's SNC. It was listed as the colon proof, but I couldn't make out the usually bold colon from the photo, in black and white back then. Perhaps it just didn't show up on the photo, though whether colon or no colon, a "full lustre" one would be quite something to behold

I don't think I'd trust an 1841 without colons, which has been touted as a proof. Although I can't find anything definitive in writing on whether they exist, the only 1841 proofs I've seen (three), which I'd personally accept as being proofs, have had the colons in place. Possibly from the same dies which later were used to produce the much less common, with colon 1841 currency strike. Too strong a possibility that somebody is bumping a nice currency strike as a proof. Plus let's be honest, it wouldn't be difficult to get past the checkers at NGC.

There are a few that would be acceptable. And an awful lot that aren't.

Ian, I think this is an issue which faces all serious numismatists holding a collection which has assumed some considerable value over the years. Although it's more statistically likely you will pass away - for whatever medical reason - as you get older, it can happen at literally any age to anybody. Car crash, unexpected accident or unanticipated sudden severe illness. We none of us know from day to day. Thankfully, it's far more probable than not, that the worst won't happen for a good deal of time yet, and people are living much longer these days. Maybe the way round it is to prepare a numbered inventory of all your coins, with photographs and a description, perhaps in both hard copy and e form, and let a solicitor have it as part of your will. The collection to be handed to a major auction house, with the inventory, in the event of your death, and an agreement with your wife and/or other close relative to effect the transfer of the coins to the auction house. Not necessarily an easy task as collections change and are added to etc. The other potential problem we have is theft. Yes you can insure, but the monetary replacement would come nowhere near the sense of loss from having your collection stolen. Decades of work gone up in smoke, and the pleasure of viewing your collection gone.

Private sale agreed with Ian for this very nice aUNC F78. Now arrived. I must emphasise how (along with quite a few others, none of which have ever been thought of as notably rare) difficult this variety is to obtain almost in any grade, let alone this nice high grade. Thanks a lot Ian. Much appreciated. I might otherwise have been waiting a very very long time.