argentumandcoins

I agree. Despite the rarity it would look totally out of place in an otherwise mainly UNC collection. Well bugger me with a rotating cactus...............I did'nt realise there was that many 1882 no Hs out there that you had to choose from. Show me those UNCs, real interested in those, or those in worse condition, fuck, do you actually have one? Don't hold back Dave, say what you really mean! Lol, sorry, but i'm thinking, if we actually left coins sitting on the shelf because it looks ugly then no collections would ever be complete because some coins just don't get any better than shite grade. You'll be leaving a lot of blanks and be very frustrated eventually. I know what you mean and I, for one, have some fairly poor space fillers (open 3, 1908 1*+C etc.) but this was a really rough example. We know from Bernie's 1882 that there are better ones around. As I look through my collection, especially on-line, I find myself enjoying the nice EF+ lustred or toned coins but just can't find a lot of pleasure in looking at anything less than VF, no matter how rare. Perhaps this is just me. I know that others, like Scott, enjoy collecting all coins and aren't put off by grade, and that's fine for them too. Horses for courses I guess. Myself and my Dads penny collection is littered with low grade examples and probably 6 or more will have cost over £1k each in poor/fair (some over £2k). Dave is quite right if shite is all that is available you'd best buy some toilet paper for your cabinet because shite will be going in there to fill the gap!

No, it was just as good as this one. How can you take it out of the equation if you never even saw it ? It's his grading that's out, based on the pictures. But this was a good pic and the UNC status was about right. You had best inform the Guinness Book of records of the time and date if he actually managed to grade one correctly then

Colin could only manage a GEF in 1903 and a 1905 that was as struck apart from a couple of reverse digs, so obviously if true UNC coins were outwith his reach they must be extremely difficult to source. I suspect they will be even harder to acquire now as it seems that 1905 has acquired grading all of it's own. Poor has become NF, Fair has become Fine, Fine is NVF now etc etc. I suppose if you have an UNC it will now grade as Gem Prooflike FDC perfect mint state or perhaps CGS would just give it a 100 score?

Ebayer bronzepennycollector won it along with another. His name is Tony Crocker and any Penny collectors will know of him! I certainly know the name, but surely Colin Cooke sold his collection some years ago? Yes he did Steve but that only took a relatively short time for Tony to compile. It looks like he is possibly back into the groove? I see you bought his better F15 satin. I meant to bid but forgot so I was pleased that it went to another collector. Yes, picked up the F15 as it's better than my existing. Still kicking myself for not getting the F106 from 'Fiona'. It could be a long time before I find a better one. Right now I wish I'd gone into 4 figures as it was a beautiful example. I think it made top money again. I only went £450 as it was just to upgrade from UNC to lustrous UNC. About £1k was a very good saleroom price on a very good day in my opinion/experience.

Ebayer bronzepennycollector won it along with another. His name is Tony Crocker and any Penny collectors will know of him! I certainly know the name, but surely Colin Cooke sold his collection some years ago? Yes he did Steve but that only took a relatively short time for Tony to compile. It looks like he is possibly back into the groove? I see you bought his better F15 satin. I meant to bid but forgot so I was pleased that it went to another collector.

Ebayer bronzepennycollector won it along with another. His name is Tony Crocker and any Penny collectors will know of him!

Nope, possession would be "theft by finding", although you would probably escape arrest as the only 2 remaining police officers in the country would be trying to work out how many extra years they have to work now to get their pensions. Yes, I thought that would be the case. Although I know there was some controversy over a winning lottery ticket that was found a few years ago. Thanks John. I assume your other remarks are an observation that Police officers can no longer retire early (or early compared to most others). It's a tough one because on the one hand a good level of physical fitness is usually required, and the ability to run, for example, may be lost by the age of 50 due to, say, painful knees. On the other hand, there is the demographic factor of increased life span affecting affordability. Someone who retired at 50 might easily be drawing their occupational pension for 40 + years thereafter. Actually, you don't see many actual police on the beat these days. I hardly ever see one, even in the town centre. I do see quite a few PCSO's, but they're not quite the same thing. A lad I worked on traffic with was due to retire in 7 years time at 48 1/2 having joined at 18 1/2 and done his full 30 years service. Due to one of the schemes advised upon by Mr Tom Winsor his service will now have to have 10 years added to it so that he will retire at 58 1/2 after 40 years service. Some may think that it is disgraceful that police officers could finish after 30 years on full pension, but, that was the case when I joined under my conditions of service, just the same as the fact that I received no rent allowance as that was ended the year I joined for new entrants. 30 years of constant shift work in a high risk/stress environment is more than enough and, as you touched upon, physical fitness is a key element required, as noted by HM forces who pension off the lower ranks after 22 years service. Add onto the above that the @rsehole is now advising recruiting fast track higher ranks from external sources and making it a requirement that PC entrants must be A-level qualified and the whole question of UK policing becomes an absolute nightmare. I worked with some PC's that were graduates and they were absolutely useless, good on paper but no commonsense or people skills. It was also evident that a higher proportion of graduates lacked the minerals to take on the physical aspect sometimes required in an arrest (maybe they were thinkers rather than doers?). How can anybody with a grain of sense ask a person to compile a report on an area of expertise in which they have absolutely none? I personally think that this country is absolutely finished. The current incumbent government are as much use as tits on a bull and the opposition are even worse than that. The financial climate is showing no signs of improvement and even less signs that they have a clue what's wrong never mind how to fix it. A kneejerk reaction in an economic slump is to cut everything to the bone that is paid out and increase anything else they can without riots ensuing. The benefits system is an absolute disgrace with some people unable to live as it is without taking even more cash from them. Nobody deserves a free ride, but some people do need a lift! Add onto that the fact that we are still giving economic aid to countries that "need it" and the whole thing really leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Rant over, I'm away to play monopoly with toy money so that I am suitably qualified to become a government think tank economist or I may just apply for the vacant HM Inspector of Health Services post (no experience necessary apparently)

Hello, I work for the UK Border Agency and I would like to meet you to discuss my requirements in person. Could you please bring a few samples, a wet towel and ensure that you arrive without socks on? Many Thanks.

Nope, possession would be "theft by finding", although you would probably escape arrest as the only 2 remaining police officers in the country would be trying to work out how many extra years they have to work now to get their pensions.

Well Harry, at $5000 you should of chewed his hand off. That was a very good offer for an 1887 £5.

norwich....nickers of ready when i come home............. beats swalk any day So what does City mean? It means it's a big town with a Cathedral Rob. I'll get my coat!

....and then, the next day the self doubt kicks in and you wonder whether you shouldn't have bid just that little bit higher C'est la vie! As I said earlier Steve £800 was to be my max and the coin was to replace a GVF in the collection. There looked to be wear to the high points which drags it down to GEF. At £1500 you are on very thin ice if the pics flatter the coin and the best bet with ebay is to bid at half a grade below what you think it looks like as that saves you from getting burnt. £1500 should secure a true unc in a major house auction.

I was out at £800. £1500 for that example was a vast amount to pay. I couldn't quite give it UNC but it has made UNC money and I think the second highest recorded price for an F7?

No, it is a die clash.

I have had the Mascle for a number of years now and am very pleased with it. My only (retrospective) preference would be to have had the option of an additional simple drawer-like tray, in which to put the coin tickets (either too large or square) and dealers' envelopes that came with the coins, but that don't fit into the usual round recesses with the coins. Cabinets also come up in auctions fairly regularly, but the advantage of a tailor made one is that you can specify the size of hole you want for your coins rather than just make do with what's supplied (usually a range from small to large). I've got the Mascle as well, Tom ~ but, man, those prices have gone up significantly since I bought mine in January 2010 I'm very pleased with mine too. There's more than enough space for what I've already got, and what I intend to get. As you say though, another drawer for provenance and other purchase related documents would be a good idea. For anybody thinking of buying, it might be worth asking Peter about this, although I think I may have heard that he was retiring. The address has certainly changed from St Leonards (near Hastings) to somewhere near Nottingham. Yes Mike, I think he sold up last year or late 2011.

OOOOPS, mistake on my part. I have checked the tomb and this one has been mis-identified by NGC (Not Grading Correctly). It seems they can all mess up equally as badly as each other Bob.

I only bought one of the halfcrowns and missed out on quite a few others. The one I won was a 1689 in a slab and listed as ESC506. Interesting thought I, being as though it is a second shield rather than the first. They had another that they had as 507 that is also a second shield. I think they were slabbed by PCGS (Pretty Crap Grading Services)

Happy Birthday Richard and Colin. Hope you both received what you wished for (rather than what you probably deserved )

Check the link on the post to the predecimal site and buy what Chris has to offer. If you want more coins or higher grades than he has there are several dealers on here but please give your business to Chris first as he is kind enough to give us the use of the forum. Well said, John. I think you said what everyone else was thinking.... Sorry, no offence meant here! Already spotted several I plan on ordering from the site before creating this thread. No offence taken, I just think that sometimes we forget that Chris actually has to make a living from this site

Check the link on the post to the predecimal site and buy what Chris has to offer. If you want more coins or higher grades than he has there are several dealers on here but please give your business to Chris first as he is kind enough to give us the use of the forum.

Uhhhhh, and all the pointers you indicate give the coins a prooflike appearance, sharp rims, high definition strike etc. Your "satin" coins are virtually impossible to distinguish and come down to a matter of opinion, which to be brutal, quite often rests with the value in most peoples eyes.

If it is the JS & AB Wyon medal it is BHM 2702 (believed struck c1872). Thanks John, that's the one. Presumably common and of little value? Having said that, I couldn't find any listed on ebay or elsewhere though - hence the question. Unfortunately BHM does not give rarity or value, only a descriptive and cataloguing aid. They are like coins and the value comes down to condition and desirability. 32mm white metal in EF should be about £20-£35 on your site (from my experience of selling similar).

If it is the JS & AB Wyon medal it is BHM 2702 (believed struck c1872).

Currency Stuart. The maundy Threepences are all "prooflike" and that is the easiest way to tell currency from maundy (particularly for the rare Viccy YH 3d's). I have a proof on the site if you want something to compare it to.

A happy and healthy New Year to one and all.