wybrit

Unless the threepence is uncirculated (which it really can't be if it is mounted in a ring), it is pretty much only worth the bullion value for 0.0227 troy oz of silver.

From the Krause 2002 Standard Catalog of World Coins: F = $0.15, VF = $0.50, EF = $1.25, UNC = $10.00 Caveat: take Krause values with a grain of salt.

Even though gold is relatively inert, I would still steer away from flips made of soft plastic. If the copper content of the sovereign migrates to the surface, the PVC plasticizer may attack those local regions over time.

My thoughts, sympathies and prayers go out to the marvelous people of London and the United Kingdom in light of this atrocity. I lived in England for ten years, including five years in the London area. Even though there were threats and bombings in London while I lived there, I was never afraid of what terrorists might do. These extremists will not prevail.

You may want to check the prices realized at the Goldberg auction of the "Cheshire Collection." Some of the prices were surprisingly low, particularly in my opinion the 1893 JH sixpence, which was EF to gEF and hammered at $2,800.

I focused on lower denominations. I tried in vain to win the 1854 sixpence and I should have put a bid in for the 1893 Jubilee Head 6d, graded MS61 but actually should have been EF. Spink picked that one up for a measly $2,800 (versus a £2,000 EF Spink catalogue value). I'll report back on what I did win once everything is confirmed.

Toning is a touchy subject. I prefer white coins, but the right type of even toning is quite attractive. Here is the problem, already hit bang on the head by Rob - white coins are white because they have been dipped. At least, if they are 19th century or older coins. There is virtually no way given the environmental disaster that was the industrial revolution that, save for a very few lucky examples, silver coins could escape the ravages of oxidation and tarnish. One possibility of a miracle survival would be that coins were brought to a dry, outdoorsy climate such as ones found in deserts or high plains like those in Colorado or Wyoming. Coins do not oxidize as quickly in such environments.

There was a thread posted about him over at CU some time ago. Look at the neg issued 11/6/04. I monitored that transaction - it was a copy of a gothic crown. The seller canceled the bids of several bidders, leaving the poor underbidder shown as the "winner." He won himself a neg for telling the truth.

There are some 50 lots I would like to purchase. Actually more, but I had to close up the catalogue after 50. The Una and the Lion piece is fabulous. If I had the quid for that, I would take it. I am going for one lot in particular, which I will not reveal until after the bidding is over. I have a series of second bests that I will bid on if I fail to win the one of primary interest. The most I could win is 3 lots.

Thanks for moving the topic over, Sylvester. I have missed quite a bit of action here. I nearly bought an EF 40 slabbed gothic florin....but I couldn't see it past a VF/GVF. This is about the right conversion. American EF is most definitely an inferior grade to British EF. British EF is more like AU58 or even in some cases, MS61, 62 or 63. I think varieties will become THE vogue amongst serious (milled) collectors....especially with the advent of Digital photography,internet etc. and sharing of information....recent thread on JMd's collection !!!!!! This is where slabbing might have more of a home.....although not in mine. I agree with point #1 - varieties are becoming very popular. That said, I don't see slabs penetrating that area anytime soon, unless a British slabbing outifit becomes prominent. Those learned in British varieties do not work in American slabbing companies. Peter is absolutely right in his point about US slabbers not knowing "where to start." To close, the accuracy of what is written on the slab insert is debatable, especially given the relatively limited experience and access to examples US slabbers have. A cleaned coin is still a cleaned coin; a problem coin is still a problem coin; the better slabbing companies (PCGS, NGC) know how to get that right.

Interesting how on this forum i'm much more in tune with common opinion than i am on CU forums where i'm yet again the odd one out seemingly to most members swimming in the face of all common sense. It makes things more interesting that way. We enjoy your opinions over there, keep them coming! Now, the CU US coin forum...all they do is talk about slabs and micrograding. I don't have any interest in that rubbish at all - I think we could agree on that!

I think wybrit hit the nail on the head when he said "slabbed coins more than return the investment made to grade them if and when it is time to sell. I have yet to meet a British Numismatist that is interested in renumeration. " That's an argument that I have often made, especially when I was younger. Alas, reality must set in at some point. (1) There are loads of "British numismatists interested in renumeration." Unless you received your coins as a gift or an inheritance, you wouldn't have the quality collections you do have without these numismatists. The ones I have met desire to sell at a profit or at least to cover all expenses, including food and shelter. (2) I, like many British numismatists, buy upgrades on coins I own and sell the previous bests. Most of us have to do that or we would run out of money quickly. I saw a very nice 1903 halfpenny up on ebay just recently from one of the members of this forum. Is he not a British numismatist? (3) As much as I would like to hold on to my collection unto death, I do not want my heirs burdened with the task of selling the coins (unless there is geniune interest on their part), so at some point I will have to sell (quite a bit sooner than some of you will). Some of the more expensive ones will go into slabs unless someone makes me a fair offer. When I do sell, I will want the most I can get. I doubt anyone here would do anything else at the same point in their lives. more collectors prefer raw coins, and investors prefer slabbed coins. I can't dispute that point. That's the main reason I personally dislike slabs. I don't buy coins as an investment. Coins make a poor investment choice except for the very (usually, lucky) few, in my opinion. Unfortunately, one must adapt to changes and the environment he lives in. I live in the US and the internet is my main coin pipeline. If I still lived in the UK, I would ignore slabs too since there are plenty of raw British coins about to look at.

I am one of those American idiots of which you speak. In fact, I live in the numismatic wasteland that is known as Minnesota, where I am lucky to see no more than a handful of quality British coins on display each year. This means much of my purchasing is done over the 'net. Like you, I view slabs as plastic tombs. An overwhelming majority of my coins are and will remain unslabbed. When I am at shows or in shops, I will buy any coin I like, because I can look at it first. Just because a slab has some high grade on it does not make it a good coin. In fact, many slabbing companies are still learning how to grade non-US coins. There is one problem, however - buying coins on ebay. Many online sellers have turned to the tactic of cleaning/whizzing coins and then passing them off as "brilliant uncirculated" or "toned" (actually retoned). Pictures fail to capture cleaning or artificial lustre problems unless the coin is photographed at the proper angle. Well over 50% of the coins I bought online in 2004 were cleaned or whizzed, including those I purchased from UK sellers, even some "reputable" ones. No one offers refunds of wasted postage finding this out, so I am out a lot of time and money making returns. I also had some returns go "missing" on their way back. I got fed up with it all and vowed that with few exceptions (such as Colin Cooke or members of the CU forum), I would buy only slabbed coins from ebay sellers in 2005. PCGS and NGC do not slab cleaned coins. Another fact, whether one likes it or not, is that slabbed coins more than return the investment made to grade them if and when it is time to sell. It appears that others besides myself, including many British buyers, have more confidence in a slabbed coin when the selling venue is online. Posting good pictures is necessary but in the end is only one of the factors in making a decent sale. Anyway, slabbed coins can be cracked out of their holders.

Does it have a numerical "1" on the reverse? It is just over 1 cm in diameter? If so, it's a silver maundy penny and believe it or not is still legal tender, now at 1p (I wouldn't spend it, of course!).

If you are planning to sell the coins to a collector or dealer, I would advise that you not clean them. Cleaning diminshes value by 50% or more.

I like the darkened farthings 1897-1918, especially with full lustre.

Not surprising. The firm is still in good hands.

There is a scarcer variety of 1887 shilling. If the "shuttlecock" between the 18 and 87 in the date points to a rim tooth, you have the scarcer version (referenced from Chris's very own Collectors' Coins book, page 42).

Interesting to see how little the modern (e.g., 1940) prices have changed over the years. I noticed the same for the 1951 penny. It was way overvalued then - and even though the price has not changed a great deal, it still is overvalued today. Of of the top of my head, gold was about $35 per ounce in the early '70s. Coming off the disastrous Jimmy Carter era in the White House, gold was trading at just under $700 because there were few other places to invest money. British prices for gold had a similar pattern. That would explain much of the change in price of those sovereigns.

I want to thank Sylvestius for posting this news over at CU. I did not know Colin, but had exchanged several emails back and forth. He had few peers in the coin business and will be missed.

I remember the ditties they used on the beeb to brainwash the population - still. "Use your old coppers in sixpenny lots" "Give more, get change" And then there was the lie: "In the long run, neither you nor the shopkeeper will lose!"

Another 1869 penny has surfaced in the Goldberg auction of the Cheshire collection. It is not as nice as others that have been offered and was rejected by NGC for cleaning. Still, it is a high grade example. Many of the rare dates that are being offered are simply incredible.

As I mentioned in that other forum, I used to get bun head pennies and halfpennies in change. The best and most readable date was an 1878 halfpenny. Veiled head Victorians were quite commonly found in change just prior to decimalisation.

Do they simulcast you on the internet?

By the way you describe it, the Edward VII piece is a coronation model half farthing. Not official coins of the realm, but nonetheless very interesting pieces. It would be best to let someone else address your question on your George III piece.