VickySilver

Yes, that is the '84 set but I don't think that is a valid site and don't think there has been an update for 5/6 years. He had some other very nice sets and coins from around the world but never responded to my inquiry. I question the listing even its original form as there were some mistakes in it. Shame though, because I'd jump on it otherwise. As one example he has a set of EIGHT sovereigns for 1200 USD!

Absolutely none gone through in sales except the individual crown in proof about two years ago. Never seen this set as I've said but I believe one collector in Jamaica has said he has seen one (but didn't have it) along with the nearly equally "unicorn" of the 1984 FM Specimen Unc. Mint set.

Liking Vicky silver as you might guess, this is an issue that is much more difficult & seems to be not an absolute entity. That is, opinions vary from one person to another and also over time. The best IMO one might hope for is a general consensus about a particular date or dates and condition. On reading that, I suppose not that helpful but it is a difficult one. Pricing volumes such as Spink give value that is only relative and on occasion a bit inaccurate but are at least an attempt to give an idea based on price which is naturally the intersection of the supply and demand curves.

Ouch! Don't like that one bit....Well, I'll look the other way as others get happy.

OK, I'll have to look at a couple...

Or even figure out the coin is a specimen strike.

I will see what I can do later this weekend. The '37 and '52 putative VIP crowns were NOT struck in finer pure silver or even sterling standard. Unfortunately the VIP proofs are not all struck with heavy cameo effect & some "ordinary" proofs do have it. The halfcrown you have just shone is probably properly termed Specimen and is typical of these coins in the 1942-44 era - although there are noted exceptions. I have what are likely specimen coins that are not proof of 1947 and 1951 in 6d and shilling denominations. Spencer wrote a very nice article in the J. of the ANA in about 1982 that described the process and his division schemes in some details. The Sale of the Norweb Canadian coins by Bowers and Merena 1996 also contained some discussion in the intro..... PS - the evident lines in the fields of the posted 1943 half crown are die prep polish lines & not wear. Then of course you could sell it with the latter impression to me if you'd like. LOL

Absolutely, save your money. But look for the nicer cameo specimens WITHOUT the ubiquitous hairlines in any case. I'm glad I figured that out before I popped for the "VIP" some years ago & didn't have to learn the hard lesson.

As it turns out, I have learned a few things over the years. This 1937 date, as well as the 1951 and 1953 Crowns come in "regular", "cameo", "deep cameo", and ??VIP Proof. I think that some received special treatment - aka VIP - at the mint, but at least as far as I can tell (and Steve Hill might back me up on this) there is no essential difference that someone could divide VIP and deep cameo (or even some plain old cameo). I am not at all sure that the TPGs are able to distinguish, and in the case of the Wreath Crowns IMO are not able to figure out what is proof and what is not. Even though I believe that I can generally tell, I will say there are some quite borderline cases that are tough calls. My suggestion: Don't get your panties in a bunch & lump the DCs in with the VIPs, provided you can agree they are DCs. THe coin in the OP should be about 500 USD and not more - about a year ago I bought a PCGS 65DC as well as the English REv shilling of that date for that in total. I also have a graded 64DC that is IMO superior to the graded 65DC, so please judge the coin in hand as best you can...

Maundy?

Well, no news to report and nothing has shown. I would have to guess even the solo crown has got to be VERY scarce. I hesitate to guess a number, but I would guess less than 50. This is about the number of single proof 1984 Jamaica proof $10 silver; the copper nickel PL version of that coin is probably 10-20 or less.

As above, IMO about 400-500. They are still 100 high on this price.

Despite my nomen, and having a bit of experience in the field, I must confess to not ever seeing or knowing certainly of this coin. I am lucky to have the proof, but have never seen this coin. It reminds me a bit of the 1854 half sovereign. The 1853 currency 3d is quite rare and almost always available from Maundy sets and NOT currency.

Wow, that second 3 looks pretty bad there, even under the encrustation.

Oh, ok, then you meant the earlier sale. I nearly went for a bid at your piece but let it go as I wanted the higher grade. Hard to believe disappointment at the prices, these are after all only lowly groats. I had mentally predicted them at 5k and 2-2.5k. Love 'em anyway. I wonder what such a price would mean for coins such as a truly uncirculated 1854 florin or the currency 1839 half crown in MS64? Or the 1893 Jubilee 6d in like grade?

That seems a reasonable price in today's market. Not a lot of these floating around. I bought a "version" of this in 2006 as the RM sold one to honour the Queen's 80th B-day on a necklace or key chain that was evidently a struck piece that recomprised this pattern. Was about 20-25 quid! LOL

What did the DW florin go for? IMO, second best of the series after the wonderful PEACE crown.

I had thought there might be some issues so did a trial run to see if I could get into auction 8, even though I did not actually bid. Evidently the electronics remembered that I had bid with them before so experienced no grief. I guess you will have powder dry for tomorrow? No Love in the Brit section, but I bid on a couple of lesser bits in the British Honduras section - proofs there from Vick through G5 all basically went for 4k+ & left them alone. I had always wanted the 1913, but after winning the currency 12H did not have the steam to go 1500 plus the juice for what is a nice piece but not exceptional. Had to go high for a couple of the late date currency bits (esp the 1960 25c currency which is a BEAR) to find fully uncirculated.

Was that the sale just past? Good, as I would have been bidding on the '37 for sure...PM me if you like as I am interested as to what it went for? I am starting to think rarity for proof Vicky Groats is something like from most to least rare and based on the last 20 years or so: 1857>1837>1838>1862>1853>1842>>1839

Just wondering how their sale was going yesterday and today, and also what the atmosphere of the London show in general was. How enthusiastic was the bidding? As always, I like to follow the Victorian silver. On a personal note, have to say I was "targeting" one of the sixpences......

Hmm, late milled patterns perhaps??

Oh, very sad to hear. Thanks though.

Rob, not quite following you on why DNW will be a "project" this year and next. Can you clue me in?

When actual oxidation sets in, copper nickel is VERY hard to "adjust" with cleaning. I have a very valuable half crown that has what appears to be a couple of spots that look to be secondary to fingerprints many years ago. Previously I had some luck (and even a little on this one) by diluting ammonia 1:1 with water and lightly tamping the surface with softened/soaked cotton buds. Very problematic

IMO, I don't like either of those and the "3" in date with even more corruption. I just can't get my eye to follow the truncated curve of whatever is descending from the crossbar of the 7, and come to either a 6 or broken 8. I could almost make the unlikely case of a broken 0 as well. I don't know, I think the null hypothesis is that it isn't anything [but a diebreak(s)] with bits of loss and loss of defined edges to the datals.