Taikonaut

I bought a beautiful Roman sestertius in nice condition but it clearly has a fake or artificial patina. I decide to get rid of the fake patina and strange enough in its clean state it actually look more "honest". I now decide to leave it out exposed in the air to get some natural patination. It may take some time but it wil be worth it.

I have a terrible time trying to tone a shiny ancient silver tetradrachm. Tried ammonia dip, egg yoke, etc, all it does it it tones and then it comes off easily. Eventually I found some success using Goddards Silver Dip. Yes its use for cleaning silver. After dabbinig it on a artificially toned silver I left it outside for a few days and let it toned further. The tone is now more robust.

I placed an order for the silver proof version just after 9.00am on the day of the release and it was on backorder. RM refunded my money because they have no stock.

Its call "seasoning". Oil and heat does that too.

I heard that if you live near the sea your silver get tarnish faster. What I notice is coins left on the window sill patinate at a fast rate which makes me think frequent changes in temperature from one extreme to another may have caused this to happen.

The edge of the coin was clean but both obverse and reverse look like they hav been treated with commercial patinating fluid that I'm already familiar with which gave it a light brown washed appearance. Its now a bit shiney after I cleaned way the fake patina. If I compare with how my polished brass house number took to patinate I would guess about 6 months to get a reasonable look. I find old brass that have been polished seem to get patinated quicker than new brass which is probably treated to resist it. We will see.

I see this fairly frequently with ancient bronze coins althogh it happens in other periods too. Why does people varnish coins?

I hated the varnish. I use alcohol and got rid of it and the coins look better. I think the only argument in favour is protection from handling. Does museums use Ren Wax on ancient coins?

Opinion on this coin. Real or fake?

I spoke with Richard Bishop from Spinks and he confirm they use Swann from 1970 until they cease trading in 2000. In my opinion these cabinets looks like they were very late towards the company cease trading because earlier cabinets looks pale and not as grainy. I think later cabinet the wood started to resemble Nichols maybe the choice starting to become limited? Also notice the smaller cabinet using more then one piece of wood to build up the size on the side. I never seen that in a Swann but could suggest large mahogany becomming scarcer when it was made.

I kept the brass fittings untouched to allow it to look its age. The trays with complete original green felts are in almost new condition I would even say no evidence it has housed any coins before. The mahogany used for the trays are of higher quality and better finish than Nichols with some having a beautiful grain pattern iridised effect. It has a "Spink & Son" ivorine plate on the base. I think they are very similar to "Turton" and would not be surprise if they made these cabinets sold by dealers in the same way Rob now makes cabinet sold by Royal Mint to the public.

Not have many coins but I have many cabinets. I have view them as furniture 🙂 Nichols cabinets the St Leonard era was a bit of a mix bag. Maybe its the quality of mahogany became inferior after 2004 when there was a worldwide ban on big leaf mahogany. Could also be because of Peter's health just before he sold the business? His best cabinets seems to be from the 90s but I also think the price Peter was selling them for plus the demands influence the quality. I have a medal cabinet from around 1990 and it must be the time when Peter paid attention to evolving his design and it was very well made and the wood was stunning. The Nottingham family version I have not owned one but it looks like QC has been tightened now. Recently I was deciding what sort of coins I should put in my antique cabinet. I suppose it was'nt too hard, it screams "Roman". This is an auction photo when I first had it, its now cleaned up nicely and I treat it with Renaissance Wax due to the glossy varnish of antique furniture. It is between the size of Nichol's Crozier and Mascle so it is intimate in size but big enough to house many coins. In reality it does not matter one bit but for me I think a cabinet should suite the coins it houses like fine wine should be drunk with the finest glass and not from a paper cup. Imagine an antique cabinet steep in mystery and when you open the tray it reveals rows of Peter Rabbit 50p😱 Victorian and Edwardian cabinets take on a character of its own and for me it should house coins that date either around or before its time. Obviousely I won't lose any sleep havng modern coins in my old cabinet, I still do, but this one is strictly ancient only.

That is a very nice cabinet. Is mahogany? How is built quality compare to Nichols?

Or they may go with Nichols. Museums are very heritage conscious plus they already make cabinets for the BM, Fitzwilliams and many other museums. I sort of recall when I spoke with Peter Nichol's wife back around 2001 she said they were one of only two coin cabinet makers working in the traditional manner in the country and the other maker practically wound down his operation already. It could be Swann she was referring to. Personally I think its good to have more cabinet makers, they need the competition and can only benefit collectors.

Admittedly I don't buy many coin magazines but the ones I do have dated from 1980 till more recent I never come across adverts from Swann but lots from Peter Nichols. And before the age of the internet how did collectors able to buy his cabinets? I can only guess Swann was most active before I started collecting in the late 70s. His comming out of retirement in 1975 maybe only to help make cabinets for museums, royalties and friends but not on a industrial scale. I don't know, its all a guess? I never own one of Rob's cabinet so difficult to comment but they look nice. The RM is offering them for sale but until they uses them themselves and also in museums that is were the endorsement really count.

Has anyone own a Swann cabinet? It frequently turns up in auctions, unsprisingly not as plentiful as Nichols because Swann seems to have stop trading long ago. Apart from a few details online I like to know more. Has anyone ordered cabinets from Tim Swann? I read online that he came out of retirement in 1975, became cabinet maker to the Queen in 1988 and died in 2007. When did he stop making cabinets alogether? Unlike Nichols cabinets which I have got use to seeing many and can make a good guess on when they were made but Swann had me stumped.

All dealers are business people. If I buy and sell my coins I also become part that circus. Trial pieces were experimental coins. Victorian patterns is were artist showing off their designs. I wish I got this one when it came out. Its a homage of a coin that came 200yrs before. It now rocketed in value and pretty hard to get hold of. I guess I dismissed it as another modern RM fad that only worth its bullion value🤔 https://www.chards.co.uk/2017-gold-sovereign-sovereign-piedfort-proof/2924

It is unlimited as long as people continue to order until sometime before the end of the year. Assuming most people who ordered are not selling and some made multiple orders to sell it is very likely the surplus of these coins available in the market are a lot fewer than the numbers of coins available if they were released in circulation with a limit even to that of the Kew Garden 50p. The Snowman 50p BU is no longer made for sometime, its a 2018 coin and a production period of only a few months. Victorian Pattern were a niche product back when they were made and so is modern RM offering. Unless you are Marty McFly you would'nt know whats comming next week let alone 20yrs🤣

I live near there👍

There is limit of 3 per household. Mine has arrived, no203 of 225 so if that reflect numerical order of sales then 90% soldout

I know what you are saying, commemoration none curculating coins generally don't havs appeal of circulated ones. The difference here is these are legal tender official coins of the year. I see them the same as those Victorian pattern proofs albeit a bit more legit. RM in in recent years has issued many novelty coins that went into circulation and all with a few exception could command respectable price. So I think its a good move to make official coins but lower the mintage figure not aimed for circulation but you can still use it if you ever find them in your change.

So people who likes snowman should build one instead of buying a coin with the Snowman? Strange how its all sold out and costing an awful lot more in the secondary market

Design with popular culture such as Paddington and Snowman tend to go up in value and desirability as long as mintage figure is low enough. Some royal weddings and other event celebration coins still sitting there despite its low mintage figure. Wedgwood is popular being its first coin and also their design has inspired "proof" coins or was it the other way round? https://www.wedgwood.co.uk/content/be-inspired/royal-mint/

I don't often buys modern commemoratives but I have a soft spot for this Wedgwood coins and the low mintage that I placed an order for a gold and Piedfort. Its already hit 60% reserved for the gold £2. London Coins is already asking £1250 which is most likely the immediate selling price after it is sold out. Its a no brainer for me.

If there is a secure place at work it might be useful to leave your collection there. Our university has a museum that might come in handy for me.