Rob

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2F9%2F97%2FDiscus_Thrower_Copenhagen.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FDiscus_throw&h=1944&w=1944&tbnid=2eg6y8xiypLk0M%3A&zoom=1&docid=S8sXG4HCLT7xLM&ei=c4AuVM6QHc_TaK7YgJgG&tbm=isch&client=firefox-a&ved=0CEUQMygLMAs&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=990&page=1&start=0&ndsp=35

That is what I was talking about when I said I got stung for charges. If you look at the ? it tells you that this is not a final charge and can be adjusted. Silly me assumed that no import duty or VAT on books meant they weren't going to charge it. If you apply import charges as they are due then it appears to be a bit cheaper than regular post, but automatically being charged for things you don't owe rubs a lot. Yep, it's a rip off for the buyer from all angles. I have instructed the wife to revoke the automatic sign up (coz we are caring people and don't like to see people being ripped off). I assume they will be making something from it because the postage element of the things I bought was slightly cheaper than for the individual. i.e. it wasn't done at normal cost, so you must assume they are making a bit from facilitating the transaction.

Die flaws happen all the time. As the die wears, eventually it will disintegrate with small pieces falling off the die. This gives rise to a raised lump where the missing metal is. IMO, people get too hyped up about something that is a natural progression in the life of a die. The coin isn't sufficiently off-centre to raise any plus points

I thought it was yet another acronym

Sorry, no wiser. Doesn't make sense anyway.

Normal variation. The dates are all over the place from 1822 onwards. Frequently double or even triple cut digits.

As I have said on many occasions. Museums save coins from the nation, not for the nation. Unless you are good buddies with someone inside the museum, the chances are requests for info will be ignored. The BM is less than helpful. My 1/60000000th share in it counts for nothing.

Normal

TDOG - meaning?

A post mint damage date error?

Doesn't look like a coin as it has no date, legend or denomination from what I can see. A medal of sorts is most likely. One side has St. George and the Dragon, but I've no idea about the other which is probably the side with the biggest clue as St. George is fairly generic.

The previously unknown (to the general market) strip of 12 in this week's Spink sale was interesting. Makes you wonder what the longest strip was. If they were punched out off centre, then that's just shoddy workmanship. If the two sides are not aligned, then that's faulty minting equipment.

It certainly seems about that in my experience. Or more! But then, as Peter says, if I find a coin going cheap myself then if a fair market price is double or even 10x that and someone is happy to pay ... I don't mind dealers making a profit. None would be in business long if they didn't. But I do object to prices way beyond what things are worth! Of course, like any customer I have the option not to buy. But if it's a daft price and I want it I'll try to negotiate.... The above is fundamental to business. Any business has a known purchase cost, but an unknown selling price. You try to maximise the profit and if you can make 10x your cost price you're a happy man. Some you win, some you lose. As Richard says, nobody is compelled to buy a coin. A previous coin of mine was sold in Spink on Monday for £1K less than I sold it 5 years ago to a dealer, so somebody took a hit. I've sold things for less than I paid too. We all make 'mistakes'. Every coin is different, so that excludes the 'standard' price route - something the TPGs in the US try to manipulate with their price/slab grade policies.

Great example of a crap coin though .

Now all is revealed. I thought my page was missing something. Happy birthday to you.

nope

Which is why I think it is a broken punch

Just a broken punch IMO

A you have seen, they do appear occasionally. Your best bet for these is to make sure you check the main London sales. DNW seem to have the most eclectic offerings and is probably the best bet. If you want images, the Royal Mint museum has a large number of dies which were listed in Hocking vol.2 (1910). No illustrations but it tells you the contents of the archive. I have a spare copy if you want it. When Graham Dyer was curator he would have given you all the info you wanted, but they are not very responsive these days IMO as most questions I have put to them have gone unanswered.

A problem with sovereigns is the entry cost for those on a limited budget, as the later pieces will set you back a couple hundred each and some of the early ones are quite expensive. There is also an issue with variety because you don't have too much variation in design. Gold doesn't tone to the same extent as silver and copper leading to a certain blandness in colour. I have a few gold pieces, but can't get enthusiastic about sovereigns for the reasons above. An example of each substantive type is enough for me.

I couldn't believe that figure, given it was obviously dug and slightly bent. Difficult coin to find, but even so has to be taken in perspective.

Can anybody narrow it down to more than the title? Weight is 0.53g. Thanks.

Given the lack of facial detail, DNW's grade was hardly unreasonable

Thanks Tom. Is that the ruler? Looking at my edition of Krause, there is no ruler with this name for Russia in 1606-10. It just says FedorII 1605, Dmitri 1605-6 and Michael I 1613-45. Having said that there is no mention of silver wire money for Russia either for the dates mentioned, only gold. The legend isn't identical either. Confused.

With global warming, an independent and geographically separated East Anglia is a distinct possibility. More hot air everybody, please.