VickySilver

I think those may have been die polish marks - the piece is graded PCGS 64 (may be under graded at that?) and very colourful with real and natural toning - not a coin I could touch nowadays. The apparent marks on the rim are from the original planchet. Colin Cooke very much was enthusiastic about the coin and I still am. These days I have to plan VERY carefully on purchases. This is coin # 121002 on the PCGS site.

I would say that I agree but have occasionally made exception(s). About 16+ years ago, I bought the superb and very rare currency 1839 Halfcrown from Glens that was sold as EF "with light hairlines and cleaned some time in the past". Because of rarity and having one Colin Cooke to look at it, I bought it with him as agent - this coin even under severe magnification and lighting showed no hairlines and nothing but original and pleasantly toned surfaces. I would imagine the coin would be likely as nice as one could ever find, including museums. Moral: you can luck up on occasion but do your research and if the coin is worthy do what you can to see it in hand or have someone trusted to have a good look.

I guess maybe if you are there in person and can see it "in hand". That is a nice price Peck...

Richard - his cleaning appears on the photos at least as rub, and with an abrasive cloth or some such. Spink had a sale about 4 years ago where many if not most of the coins were cleaned similarly BUT NOT MENTIONED! I purchased a few that I regret but not at high prices....

Or is that the evil eye? My main memory of those Italian museums as a boy were the outrageous bronzes that had phallus emerging from phallus and any other body part. Grandmother used a bit of Shakespeare (about other topics) something to the effect of: "Methinks he doth protest too much" . And I believe psychologists would have some interesting opinions about such....

Not a coin for me, but the point has been made before that on such a coin, that is IMO probably the "technical" grade - there is much lustre (original minted surface) showing on both obverse and reverse. The obverse is softly struck with some, but not a lot, wear. As I understand it, the grade then is based on the amount of wear and evidence or residual minted surfaces. So not a problem with the technical 50 grade in my book, but a problem aesthetically with the lack of detail - also for a coin of this date I question the slabbing. Price? Mehhhh....

Hmmm, I don't think that 13 of the bids would be won at maximum out of the 18. That doesn't compute well. Maybe three to five at most.

Hopefully not the 1551 version.

Wow, way too many gold and bullion recent issues. I just don't get the absolute madness over the rehashed Three Graces and Una. Would hate to be trapped into them for big money. Where are the numismatic issues? I saw precious little of currency Vicky silver of quality and actually "nada para me".

Hmmm, the perils of micro varietals.....

Three months later, not hide nor hair of the 1984 Jamaica uncirculated specimen set. I did however just purchase an hitherto unpublished but catalogued as existing 1976 (U) prooflike Guyana uncirculated Ten Dollars with hero Cuffy on the obverse. The coin appears to have come from a bag, and can only speculate as to its history. I think the original plan was to actually strike these prooflike coins for circulation. They also struck this coin in the Matte quality, and these were made as the "currency" counterpart for the moneymaker proof coins and sets. As best as I can put together, the original mintage struck by Franklin Mint was sent to the Central Bank of Guyana where in all probability they languished; in 1976 this very coin had the purchasing power of One USD and was 45 mm. Nowadays, the purchasing power is all of FIVE CENTS (USD). Strangely, the pot-metal value of the copper nickel alloy now likely exceeds the face value of the coin in Guyanese Dollars. I really wonder what happened to all of them. The 1976 matte coins are very scarce but the prooflike are probably very rare. These currency coins for Guyana and other countries struck by the Franklin Mint are quite a challenge and thankfully not pursued by many thus keeping them affordable. I found that I can post pictures off my iPhone and will try tomorrow if I get delivery of this coin by then.

Looks a bit like it could be a 3/3/3 with a broken 3 punch (at top right) as one of them.

As I watched the sale this morning, I must say I did get blown out on the two lots I wanted, the "1551" 3d and the 1853 proof groat with later bust that with commissions each went for well above 3k. I ended up getting just the 1853 3d. I noticed that with the blown up pictures of lots that IMO quite a number of the 1840s-1860s 3e (not all) were what has been termed as satin Maundy issue and not actual currency 3d.

Yes, just a standard one type only to the best of my knowledge. At one time there was rather a shortage of the 1915 in uncirculated (OK, GEF for the oldies) and it still IMO merits an "S" although some arguments for an "R". Not an R2 however. I really meant to get the latest Bull to see if he corrected some of the shortcomings, esp. the so-called VIP proofs of the 1920-1966 period; I had talked with Steve Hill and he was in agreement with some of my thoughts on these...

True. Maybe that will drive some bidders away?

Uggh, don't rat us low life out! Well there are a couple I will likely fight pretty hard for (whatever that means in today's inflationary times). I really like the 6d-florin silver a bit better, but there are a few I am obligated to go after.

Happy Easter! A very nice example

Uh, I will confess to getting the Adams 1860/59....And 1550 was the price on that as well.

Recently, a 1911 Five Pounds Proof coin sold for 99,000 USD and there has been a bit of a discussion albeit with few participants over on CoinTalk. I almost put this up in the TPG discussion but it does apply more generally to the phenomenon over the last five or so years whereby we have seen the value of proof 5 sov. coins of the 1887-1937 vintage seemingly go through the roof, so to speak. Personally, I don't particularly care for this development, but here it is.I can not help but imagine that such prices will encourage more such pieces to be sent into the TPGs and put up for sale and I don't blame the sellers as I would do the same despite being a terminal collector in all senses of the term....I will use iPhone to post the citation to follow:

I love this date nearly as much as the 1849 when truly mint state. What I waited for was an example that had the breast to left on Britannia struck up. I too wonder how many were struck and survive; in the era of internet they come up rather more frequently than in previous times...

Yea, not sure about that price! Love the Halfcrown series but not sure about that as a value. But with the prices that have been reached by other coins, maybe that is the new value/price! I think it might be like Nick that now is the time to sell....

I had no idea they had gone as high. I like the date so much that I have several that are likely "65ish" in RB with nice strikes. I just like the date and was trying to match the ME (which has sadly lost a bit of the mint red lustre after 20 years!!). Not to derail, but the coins in TPGs that simply must be seen are the 1918 & 1919 H (especially) and KN issues as the actual coins will vary greatly in colour, strike and overall appearance...

Yikes, strike issues as per normal on these two with the first much better in AUish IMO grade a 55/58. The second soft with wear and tone and rim ding that might merit a "details" grade but net VF35 or gVF....

Obverse surfaces a bit granular but unfortunately even the real items are in similar states of "softness" or wear....

Tony do you have an update on mintages, and how did you manage to get these figures? Nice job.