Rob

Lighting has a huge effect on your perception. If you are accustomed to lighting from the top, then if done from the bottom, the relief detail often appears incuse until your brain has adjusted. Needless to say, that shifts the teeth half a position.

I think it is down to photographic quality. Spink's images are too saturated for my taste. As for the ebay listing, I too can produce lifeless images which don't bring out the finer detail. However, the surfaces in closeup look as they did on the original as far as I recall. The listed item still has a spot of red wax on the reverse at 5pm between the V and inner circle. This is visible on the original images. The piece of crud at the edge of the rays was also present on the original. I'm happy it is the same coin.

The only one I have had in recent times is this, which I think came from LCA. I had one 15 years ago, but wasn't good enough grade to keep the picture.

Looking at Gouby's site, the only obvious things to me at first glance is the top bar of the 5 which is thicker on the end, and the 8 is sharper, from a different punch. The 8/6 looks to be using the same 5.

Is it absolutely clear whether small/large date refers specifically to date with or numeral size, as the definition appears to vary from issue to issue? i.e small date might imply the numerals are used on a smaller denomination, but you also have situations where the date width determines the attribution. A third possibility would be a slightly different font resulting in numeral height/width differences.

The problem is yours and yours alone. As we all accept, there is no right or wrong way to collect because we are collecting for pleasure. If you can't live with it then get rid and upgrade as funds allow. If you bought it because you were happy at the time, then it is your decision if you are no longer happy, but you have to decide why it is no longer satisfactory. It wouldn't be a problem to upgrade as the coin is hardly rare, so it boils down to your priorities - and on that, the ball is firmly in your court.

Why do you think it is a fake? Looks ok to me.

Just found this. Breakfast at Zurich Hbf a few years ago.

Free postage. Offer a quid. Fair value.

I've got a Seaby 8th ed Std Catalogue (1969) available if anyone wants old pricing data. £5 delivered. Please PM if interested.

Gone

It is both parts hardbound in the original binding (blue this year). Celtic to 1968, and then the pleasant sight of only a single page of decimals

Collect Civil War pounds and half-pounds and you will have a ready supply of ammunition to hand

That's a large pot of gold cunningly hidden on the gate post.

I'm in Manchester, but could get things shipped to a London address in time. The only other option would be if I was in Bracknell for the LCA auction, presumably the Sunday, but I haven't had a catalogue yet to determine whether it is worth going down.

Ultimately I am in business and not a charity. Whilst I am not averse to helping out with the odd enquiry, the number of catalogues you would need to compile a comprehensive list is large. Even if you took all of my spares you would still need to find more. Plus, the cost of shipping 100s of kgs half way around the world would be not insignificant. It's the age old problem of everyone wanting the information, but nobody is willing to spend money on acquiring the knowledge.

Given the lack of wear evident, the AU55 is probably about right for US grading. I guess they try to be consistent. What they struggle with is eye appeal, which is a major component of hammered coins. It isn't clipped, or at least is unlikely to be so given the weight of 5.97g. The problem with hammered is that you can get a coin that is mint state, flat, but as struck. This isn't an issue for people who collect by numbers.

A good starting point would be where at auction were they acquired? The opening line on this thread saying they were bought at auction 10 years ago, but now you want to know what they are and how much they are worth, doesn't bode well IMO. Nobody inadvertently buys a group of coins worth hundreds without having a clue what they are buying.

Prior to the publication of Seaby's Standard Catalogue in 1962 you have to rely on the prices realised at auction or those listed in places such as the Numismatic Circular, Coin & Medal Bulletin or other dealers' lists. Seaby and Spink did produce a couple of books prior to that with prices indicated, e.g. Seaby Catalogue of Copper Coins and Tokens (1949) but these reflected their stock at that moment in time, so you are still better off with a broad selection of lists. I have a book from 1917 - 'Coins and their Values' by E H Courville which, as described in the preface, is an attempt to list the prices realised for the major pieces at auction during that year. However, this only addressed the larger ticket items. Aside from oddities such as these, your best approach would be to acquire a broad selection of dealers' lists, with an emphasis on Seaby's Bulletin and Spink's Numismatic Circular, as these two dealers effectively set the market prices. With auctions too remote to attend for many and no internet, people obtained their pricing either from post-sale priced catalogues, or these two publications. I have a good number of spare Circulars and Bulletins going back to the 1940s if of any use along with a broad selection of catalogues, some with prices realised. A full list however, would be a case of opening Pandora's box.

I suspect they are just as divided as collectors the world over.

Depends on what you are looking for. I have a few thousand spare catalogues and books going back to the late 19th century, not all of which I have had time to list on the site. You might have to narrow it down a bit.

My Adblock icon has reappeared without me doing anything, suggesting that FF have fixed this using old settings. Hopefully due to a peasant revolt.

In that case it could have come from PWP. After he sold his Saxon he collected gold and these were sold to Baldwin c.1938. Pulling out a couple random offerings - from the Bulletin in Feb 1941, a VF/gVF laurel was 72/6, and in the Jan 1943 Circular, an EF one was 5 guineas. 45/- would therefore be about right for a lower grade example, say approaching VF.

The ticket says Seaby 1962 ex RCB, so it isn't worth looking outside the 1959-62 range for a listing. The stamped numbers were only used on the last collection as far as I am aware. Bear in mind he sold his second collection through the Bulletin a decade before and then started again. It is possible he retained a few, though these are likely to be lost in the thousands he had. I suppose it is possible he could have taken back any unsolds from the second collection. I think the XI 460 is his cabinet reference. What is the coin?

Yes, a misprunt. Bull illustrated the date on p.153.