Peter

I think that the most useful description is exactly as you describe: "small edge knock, otherwise UNC". Okay, so it would still be considered to be a UNC coin then, albeit with an edge knock I have no problem with that.Although the above would most likely be less than VF money. I vow never to buy another coin with a noticeable edge knock.I don't mind good honest wear. A coin may also have a marked scratch and be Unc.The same will apply. However with hammered I will suffer a bit of clipping.Of course everyone wants a nice full round flan. I have a few hammered shillings (esp CH 1) which are ragged flans but unclipped.

Typical....4 London dealers

Yes I display it away from my collection with my 1676 & 1693.

I bought a Liz 1 from Ebay.It was cast so I returned it and got my money back. I also bought a 1775 1/4d from an antique fair knowing it wasn't currency.The stall holder became quite hostile when I said it was an evasion/copy.So I punched him on the snout,he fell over and broke some of his ming vase's.

We've got 2 daughters and an English Springer (& a domestic cat/mountain lion cross).You would be suprised what men will do to get rare gold coins.

I'm looking forward to a step by step guide in laymans terms for each metal composition.

The numpties that bought them for £300 are the ones suffering. I don't understand anyone who trys to sell one for more than £75.I think they will drop to £15-£20.

Yeah, the poor bugger who bought it from the LMO in the first place - and they only paid £30 for it! It is worth diddly though.

If they are fakes PCGS/NGC will tell you.If they are real they will be given a unique nr.Encased in a detailed transparent plastic case(very difficult to break out)and will become extremely sought after in the US.Do not even consider selling until this is done.If you want to keep them they will be well protected.It may take a few days to authenticate(3 experts study them and agree on a grade). I'm sure the TPG (THIRD PARTY GRADER) will tell you exactly what to do. I'm married but can always accomodate another wife

Apart from gold being very soft and easily damaged/marked the oils in your fingers will leave fingerprints on the coin which will detract and potentially lessen the value.Just put away and leave well alone.Get them safely wrapped and send insured to a third party grader.Contact them first and they will give advice on how to package/send/insure.A badly treated coin in this instance could potentially loose £'000's.I would send all the gold US coins you have.

Everything is on the RM site http://www.royalmint.com/Corporate/MintageFigures/circulating_coins.aspx

This poor bu**er got well and truly scalped. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Double-leopard-gold-coin-/140697853157?pt=UK_Coins_OtherBritish_RL&hash=item20c23edce5

These look like valuable US coins.I wouldn't always advise this but get them slabbed (third party grading) by PCGS or NGC.Under no circumstance touch with bare hands apart from the edges.DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAN.

I've tried Acetone(well nail varnish remover) and it doesn't seem to do much.Has anyone tried the Lindner coin cleaning kit? The best results I have had in "tidying" a coin is with a softened tooth pick which can remove the gunk between/in lettering or the base of the relief.Just be very carefull.DO NOT USE THIS METHOD ON GOLD...IT's TOO SOFT.

I think everyone has ummed and arred on whether to buy a coin or not. Should I,shouldn't I? It is the guilt.However,if I ask Mrs Peter the chances are she will say "no problem" I would never put strain on finances and if push every came to shove I would sell. I want a selection of 10/11C coins.I could go and buy the lot tomorrow but that to me isn't collecting. I like the hunt to know exactly what I'm buying and getting the best for less if that makes sense.

The verdigris will just leave a dark patch.It will need picking over with a softened(water) cocktail stick(very gently). It will never make a good coin but it will improve it. I use the olive oil strictly for unreadable Roman grots.Green milled coins I bury in odd places to confuse future finders

Personally I prefer a tight woman....I get that free as Mrs Peter controls my coin funds.

That is what I do.The felt is removeable.You can use what pen/pencil you like on your tickets.

How can eBAY produce results like this. It has a bad bruise on the obverse at 12 0'clock There is wear...look on the reverse.Fingers,G,base of shield. Nice strike but..... Maybe a £5 coin at a push. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPLENDID-1901-FARTHING-1-4d-TONED-UNC-LUCIDO-8-COIN-/290665824976?pt=UK_Coins_BritishMilled_RL&hash=item43ad0882d0&autorefresh=true

As well as British Silver, I also collect pre-1965 US silver (and some Nickels), though try to aim for fewer, but better condition coins. If you have any nice Walking Liberty halves, Standing Liberty quarters, Mercury Dimes, Buffalo or Jefferson War Nickels, then I might be interested, though! :-) I also collect pre-1965 US proof sets, which can be obtained sometimes for not far off the spot value of silver, at least for the later sets. I've got all of those but not in great nrs. I wouldn't say nice (between Good and GVF) I also have a nr of Barber 1/4's,liberty head nickels...and washington 1/4's. I went through a phase of buying a lot of US coins after picking up a box fulls from local antique centre in Suffolk (Mildenhall and Lakenheath nearby).I also started putting a cent collection together in high grade & also a load of Indian heads and large cents. I also got several examples of all denominations from the 19C.Looking at my Redbook some are worth a fair wedge

An eBay seller with just 4 sales to his name, who claims to have dug it up in Lincolnshire ... Hmmmmm not a good start there then, but saying that, we've seen higher FB sellers selling shite, but a mere novice is a little more iffy for me. Have you spoken him regarding the issue with the coin? I assume you've already left FB for him? At least tell him he has been rumbled and if he persists report the con artist.

Nice coin if it hadn't been cleaned/dipped in the past.

It would be madness! The devaluing impact clipping has on coins is far far above any pennies 'literally' that you would make from a few microgram of trim. I'm sure Tom (Richard) is currently in his shed trimming his shillings.

For some of the really horrid pre 1920 I take it to a man on the local market who gives me cash there and then @55p/g.No postal worries and cash.He will pro rata 50% silver and USA 80%. If the coins are reasonable say NF+...eBAY. Keep in mind that US silver coins are 90% (not 80%) before 1965 (1964 being the last year for circulation 90% silver coins) but Kennedy half dollars dated 1965-1970 are 40% silver. US "War Nickels" (1942-1945 with a large P, D or S mintmark over the Monticello on the reverse) are 35% silver. If you guys have any scrap US/Canadian coins http://coinflation.com/ has a good chart on the intrinsic values. Also, if you are willing to sell coins abroad (via eBay or a similar means) coins that in British coin collecting is only worth scrap, American collectors will pay several times the intrinsic value, even for coins that (in British numismatics) have a high mintage. Even common date silver dollars will also sell for a modest premium over intrinsic value to a US collector with most Carson City silver dollars (CC mintmark on the reverse) selling for well in the three figures even when well worn. Personally, I have a coin dealer/precious metal dealer/jeweler that buys and sells fairly close to spot and has been very fair dealing with me with coins and scrap jewellery, last I checked they paid ~22-23x face for US scrap grade coins (intrinsic value at about 25x face) and sold at 26x or 27x face depending on the amount of inventory they had. But really, if you have any silver US coins even if they are worn down to nothing, check eBay, its silly what some American coin collectors will pay for worn specimens. For example, look at this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1872-SEATED-LIBERTY-HALF-DIME-RARE-OLD-COIN-/170777254093?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item27c31e18cd Not a low mintage (712,600), not in good condition and a coin the size of a threepence, yet its still selling for $17+. When it has an intrinsic value of ~$1 and honestly isn't that old. Thanks for that.I won't be too rash.I'm reducing all my coin collections and only keeping the best.I do have an oldish Redbook so some may now go on eBAY.

Don't forget all the rubbish that is being turned into ingots will have an effect on the future availability of coins at the thicker end of the wedge.