VickySilver

Although hopefully more excusable, I more recently purchased a 1932 in MS66RB for about 140 USD....

I think the problem with this one is that even AFTER I had carefully designated the coins with references, they then made the error. I then photoed their own valuation tables with their own designations and THEN photoed each type of coin from actual examples and carefully explained in simple Queen's English what the concern was, and then they ignored all of that and sent it back to me in original slabs AND CHARGED ME FOR THE EFFORT. In basketball, that would draw a double technical foul with discharge from the game!

As per above, but I have seen a number of these and agree again with Rob in that it looks to have been cleaned in some way and then retained which gives the apparent surface of the coin a somewhat artificial look. As always, the caveat "seen best in hand" of course applies. I would avoid such just because better are available, if they can be afforded.

Yet I have caught them out on some coins that have designations on their own site, and they (plural supposedly) were not able to discriminate. Shameful really, and this after I pointed it out to them with pictures and citations.

All true. The Glens of the world are fewer and fewer. I don't know how to post this and I have once before (?), but this 1839 currency half crown was bought from them about 20 years ago as an EF. Maybe this is a case of them under grading in the past?? PCGS number: PCGS 121002

Good luck on that. Some are rather crazily priced as you point out. There are also the earlier "MODEL" coins whereon the obverse or reverse is struck with the opposite side blank save the MODEL designation. I believe Joanna Tinsley sale had quite a few. There are a number of trials issued in the 1960s as decimal coins were being anticipated, and then a number since then. There are also the MONETA types with Britannia sitting at a bench striking coins by hand... No real reference book dedicated to such that I am a ware.

I give more weight to the obverse. Pictures really hard to judge detail and can't really separate as per above. The orb below cross has an inverted "T" by memory on it that should be detailed on a fully struck up example. The bottom pic seems to show some edge wear or handling?? A big deal for me is also flower stamen detail and separation, but this is more a strike than a wear issue IMO. The biggest deal on obverse is G5's cheek, brow edge and mustache detail/wear/weakness to the right... I have seen many wreaths in slabs (P&N) that grade "64" or even 5 that I would drop to 62 range based on issues in these areas. Can't say I've seen enough wreaths, let alone '34s to guess LCGS grades though.

It does look as the lower obverse field has been (test?) scratched. I broke through plating by scratching the edge of one. I do have a number of OMS pennies and they tend to have similar weights as Rob says, but get a weight in any case. Some have. Even hard gouged that damaged genuine coins ! Uggh! Host blanks have occasionally been halfcrowns and vice-versa. Plated coins if done thinly can be deceiving but there is a certain flatness to the fields as on this coin as I think I see from the photos. Anyway, hard to tell from just the picture unfortunately. Likely best seen in hand by a reputable dealer - good luck!

PLEASE DO NOT RUB! Acetone will not remove oxidized fingerprints but will remove the grease and oils from skin/prints that have recently touched the surface. A quick exposure to acetone (I use Walmart over here in the States) of 100% purity is mandatory - not nail polish. You may see in other posts that people LEAVE coins in acetone; I do not suggest that, but rather use of the cotton bud or nap of the clean white cotton towel to tamp the surface of the coin. This method has never left any objectionable problems to even extremely valuable proofs like VIP Record proofs...

Clean with pure acetone by a simple immersion or by dabbing (NOT RUBBING) with cotton buds. Even a wash with mild dish detergent and then a liberal wash with a tamp down courtesy of a high nap white cotton towel is a good move for stabilizing the surface.

Nice price!!!

The specs according to law for a sovereign are to be within 0.051 gm, or roughly 0.26 gm for a L5. Do they have XRF machines nearby. I have seen one at a show but can't seem to find one hereabouts & they would be reasonable accurate on a non-plated piece.

As in Forrest Gump (the movie): "Run, Forrest, Run". That surely sounds to be a faker. To my recollection, the Lebanese fakes of '60s and '70s were of good gold however....

Wow ! A 2014 Gold Five Ounce Britannia (I think a 500 Pound Face Value coin) went for 37,000+ US Dollars last night at BowersMerena Galleries Auction last night at the NYINC. Many of the Brit coins went for large amounts as well. The small six coin gold set of same year went for 10k or so by recollection. This 2014 Britannia seems to have achieved a life of its own and even the lesser silver brethren do pretty well on the secondary market.

Without being able to be specific, it just seems that St. James have slipped also - compare their last catalogue or two to the original five or so auctions....They have become a bit of a dumping ground on some things and will see for example slabbed coins from America that have been on offer there and not sold.

I have to disagree. NGC backs themselves up and says their opinion correct but then no rationale is given. On an unrelated coin issue I have absolutely blown them out of the water on doing this (backing up their own original erroneous opinion, although still ongoing as they have requested the coins in question back a THIRD time now). IMO that is not a genuine looking coin from the pictures, though admit to not having seen it in hand. BTW, otherwise I am generally alright with them - NGC.

Very nice find there! I am sure you exhausted the area looking for more! Well, a common date as far as Jub half sovs go, but still think you have gold value & maybe retail 100 quid or so....

In basketball, that would be a technical foul!

I don't have Bull or earlier ESC with me at work now, but there are some rare varieties in the 1879 shillings, but generally for coins of higher preservation that then show the differences more prominently as well as being more attractive to the collector.

Yes, I would imagine if you look at the www.londoncoins.co.uk that you might find some decent photos archived there. Dave, of course, is spot on.

Not seen any of them - I agree a beautiful coin, both obverse and reverse. I hope you have a nice matte specimen!

Gaccchhhhh! Have you a spare 8k in change laying around, and want a rare coin with 100 or so mintage? The Royal Mint Have The Proof Bullion Queen's Beasts for you - a Five Ounce Gold Chunk is only 8k! Or Hockey Puck 10 Oz. Silvers at only 1/10 that price. Also, just in case you missed the bullion Lion 2016 issue of the same design, they can now be had with the 2017 date as well as a "newer" bullion with griffin which will also be dated 2017 & surely proof versions of that to follow with only another EIGHT Beasts to go! Perhaps someone better at math than I can calculate how much a full set of all ten in both metals will run the "collector"?

These are very similar to pieforts, which is what they appear to be. And very "proofy" as well. In other words, sim to size of the 1 oz Britannias in size but twice the thickness.

Hard to tell from pics but generally LOOKS alright , if a bit scruffy ugly. That is a bit of weight difference but I might be ok if btwn 28.0 and 28.5 gms. The rims and devices as well as lettering appear close though I am viewing on iPhone.

Absolutely. I have seen cases where I had not an ax to grind and was shocked at how "good" the outcomes were! Buy this is not always the case, as I had at one time pointed out an example: Cheshire 1854 6d UNDERGRADED in my opinion at "63". Virtually all the marks were clash...