Diaconis

Thanks Rob, most interesting. I later found the following table which Earle Caley drew up to compare various contemporary scales; Mionnet / Leake / Dickeson / Prime and Head scales. Can’t recall seeing the other scales mentioned in old catalogues though. They didn’t seem to enjoy quite the same popularity as Mionnet😉 Scale Number Mionnet, 1805 Leake, 1854 Dickeson, 1859 Prime, 1861 Head, 1887 1 8.9 I 9.3 9.5 7.5 9.3 2 12.1 II 12.1 12.5 14.0 12.3 3 15.4 III 15.3 15.3 20.1 15.3 4 18.1 IV 18.1 18.3 24.2 17.8 5 21.2 V 21.2 21.3 28.2 21.0 6 23.7 VI 23.8 24.2 32.1 23.9 7 26.6 VII 26.6 26.6 40.4 26.1 8 28.9 VIII 28.8 28.9 43.0 28.4 9 31.8 IX 31.4 31.3 45.7 31.2 10 35.2 X 34.9 33.9 48.3 34.7 11 37.7 XI 37.5 36.5 52.3 37.5 12 40.5 XII 39.7 39.0 55.1 39.7 13 43.4 42.1 57.8 43.2 14 51.8 50.4 60.3 51.0 15 56.7 54.9 62.9 55.9 16 60.6 58.7 65.8 60.1 17 64.5 62.8 68.6 63.2 18 70.9 68.8 71.6 69.8 19 78.3 75.9 74.6 77.0 20 83.1 82.1

Always on the look out for interesting information I can add to a ticket. I was just browsing through the Pembroke Collection catalogue and I happened upon the Scale of Mionnet. How have I done without it? . Very similar to the scale of Dubonnet if you ask me. T.E. Mionnet Description de Medailles Antiques. Paris, 1805.

I fully agree jasonsewell, that halfcrown is a real beauty, and though not my line of collecting I can still appreciate the DeS' busts, real works of art, and I do have a penchant for an off-metal rarity to boot. The reverse is of equal merit, beautiful work, one of the better halfcrown reverses I find, and in gold it is more impressive. Would be a joy to behold and hold in hand I'm sure. Above, I see two 'expertly' graded NGC boxes where, if you swapped the labels around, it might be closer to the truth (imo).

You're welcome DrLarry, somehow I knew that YOU would like it

Video may be of interest, hope so. I had a Firefly, now expired, was comparable with a Dino-Lite. Looking to purchase a new one. Might try one of these.

i’m not so optimistic i’m afraid. my money’s on pobjoy 😉

Hi InforaPenny, Interesting, thank you for enlightening me Diaconis

It looks like an aged fake to me, the wear, on obv. and rev., is not consistent with the relief, the effigy shows several differences in both shape and form to the Freeman Obv. 1. The 'verdigris' and pieces of cake mask much. I'm no specialist in pennies, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Though not a ticket per se, I thought that it may be of interest to some, to see one of J.MINSHULL's Certificates of Authenticity. Rob posted an envelope earlier in this thread.

Henry Christensen Inc. New Jersey, USA.

don’t want to be pedantic mrbadexample, but i believe that it is CJ Boismaison👍🏽

Strangely interesting thread, not quite sure I can fully follow without the photographic justification but most interesting nonetheless. Valid point Peckris, Larry's hypothesis might then indicate a re-mastering of the mother matrix. Looking forward to the images with bated breath DrL.

I rue the day we become a totally cashless society. It's bad enough as it is imo (nuff said). With disbelief, I witnessed first hand the distressing effects on a couple of Greek friends with whom I was working in the US in 2016. The financial crisis hit home and from one day to the other they had no access to funds, their bank accounts were frozen and their credit cards were blocked. Technically, 'someone' decided to render them penniless overnight. Luckily for them they were not stuck in Greece at the time where no-one could buy anything without cash. I see it as relinquishing power to someone who has no regard for who I am, in which situation I am and views me purely as a cow to milk. 'They' would have the power to sentence me to a life of penury without recourse. They could incite chaos and anarchy at the push of a button so to speak. No thanks. With cash in pocket we have the power to make at least some decisions and choices if the etherial pot of electronic money ever decides to go pop again. Call me paranoid, a Luddite, or more appropriately here maybe, a Ramage if you will, but I honestly believe that it should be resisted at all cost. That said, and in answer to 1949threepence thread question, Yes, I think we probably will.

Turn left at the double Leopards?

Quite right Paddy. It looks cast to me. Good filler if you can't afford or even find an original. That said, it still is a high price for a poor copy. There are but 4 genuine examples known (Henfrey double counted) , two in private hands and the other two in the Hunterian and British musea. One of those in private hands was sold in 85, (if memory serves me correctly) at the Harrington Manville sale for the sum of £10,000 (£30,000 today). The other privately owned example surfaced more recently in 2017 and was sold by Stacks. Interestingly, the location of the latter was generally unknown for some 140 years having been sold by a dealer to “a gentleman in America”, an unknown collector, in 1877. That particular example is also interesting and distinctive by the fact that there are traces of gilt present and this is also noted in several old sale catalogues prior to its sale to the American gentleman. I find the Simon sixpence to be an interesting subject, it's absolute rarity - why?, poor condition of all known examples - why?, etc. I half suspect that there is a box hidden or buried somewhere that is full of the beggars and we shall all be able to buy one for a more affordable price.

Buy with confidence, reputable company.

Thank you very much Rob, I really appreciate this information.

Hello Rob, Would you say that this is from the Boyd sale? Striking similarities in the handwriting. The GHC stamp in red is also interesting me, any ideas? thanks for any help Paul

RIP Geoffrey