VickySilver

I have avidly collected both mint patterns in off metal, and errors of same. These at one time were fairly inexpensive (such as a 1962 struck on penny planchet) but have gone up now in value by an order of magnitude. BTW, a blatant spam, but if anybody has redundant predecimal OMS please do PM me.

I'm wondering in general how the usage of half sovereigns was. They seem to have been used in commerce but that the full sov was utilised much more frequently, domestic and overseas. Not quite related but several of the half sovs in EF or better are really quite scarce and yet not respected as such, coins such as the 1879 London half sov scarce to start with evidently and then even far fewer saved aside - exhaustive collections put together over decades such as the Terner did not even have one (admittedly he wanted only mint state pieces).

Ah, yes a bit of a weigh in from me: I have never seen a record of an 1854 half sov for sale, and have not seen any record of anyone ever having actually seen one. These are listed is some old catalogues, but I have not always been that fond of Marsh (with all due respect).. 2015 Spink does not. I have not seen any value listed in recent times and don't recall even from old tomes either. As far as mintage listings for particular years - there is no reason to suspect the actual numbers, but as Rob has said, but there is no recording of which dated die was used and there is evidence that this is the case.

And has there been enough die study to rule out "hybrids"? His specimen looks to have the hollow neck with prominent sternocleidomastoid muscle and recess/space just posterior to the right of it.

I agree with that. Looks like a copper oxidation spot enhancing the bag mark and a bit also at the bust truncation...

I concur with the acid and have seen very similar effect when high molar acid is used (e.g. nitric, hydrochloric) and there is a more pronounce "boiling" effect of metal off the surface.

As PWA says, it is coins like this one that are truly inspiring and keep one in the hunt. That is natural colouring and know I was very lucky to get during the Halcyon days of Spink from the famous Spink Numismatic Circular...

Please help with the linkify from PCGS site verification number: 831328 I apologise for the lack of technical expertise on this. Click the image for a large size, I'll admit that its mine so don't be too hard! PS - I was told by a major UK dealer that it would do at best 1k quid at auction....Not for sale, but I think that might be a bit low?

And me as well if decent....Start an auction! LOL

Thanks Paulus. Got this off SNC many years ago. Don't recall seeing another 1869 proof farthing...

Sure looks OK from the picture, and second Rob's thoughts. I have one somewhere, can't quite remember at the moment...

A D = Anno domini = Year of Our Lord The reverse often does not strike up fully and the acorns suffer. I do think these have wear and qualify in the EF and gVF level as previously stated.

Snooze....Not much of anything though a bunch of Colonials trapped in lots.

Thanks Azda! The 1971 sets worth bullion only and found nearly on every street corner Rob! If you were to locate the tougher ones in these Caribbean sets, would be: Barbados 1984 proof set, complete 1983 mint set Trinidad 1982-84 proof sets, complete 1981 & 1983 mint sets Also - Papua New Guinea: 1984 proof set I actually have all the others but they do take some work and generally can bring well in excess of bullion.

Though not my area at all, I have often wondered about these siege coins in general. I understand die linkage, etc., but given the increase in counterfeiting capability wonder that there may not be quite a number of later "concoctions". I know that there have certainly been counterfeits of ancients struck on original metal but from melted salvage coins (in other words the newer coins are correct when metallurgy studies done) and dies taken from copies of originals. I would wonder if even this threat may eventually temper bidding...

Thanks, then. I only wish I knew more as I believe there were also quite a few colonial patterns and proofs, but as my interests were not there did not follow them. Another juicy bit is that I recall on offer as one lot for 16+k quid: All of the matte proof sets listed with two of the smaller denomination gold patterns mentioned, the florin not. I'm not sure either if they had a gold pattern half crown.

Yes, but then they had all the gold pattern proof 3ds and 6ds, evidently at least one of the gold florin 1922 patterns, and then all the matte proof sets (1927, 1937, 1950, 1951 and 1953), examples of the nickel pattern 3ds and shillings of both dates, and many more. That is puzzling to me. Also, I think that Dolphin Coins had something to do with the dispersion of these and not sure if others know more. Bernie, very nice coin there!

Yes, that is what I thought. Might you be good enough to share a picture? The Pretoria Mint had a good number of coins that I just can not figure out how came into their possession. Many were let go for a song, possibly in a bulk purchase somewhere around 1990 or so with majority government rule. These were bits struck by the main Royal Mint branch but [to me] inexplicably found their way all the way to South Africa; many unknown from any other source. Why on Earth would the RM do such a thing. I wonder how much such a coin, the penny, go for at auction these days?

Speaking of pennies, does anyone know the fate of the specimen 1922 (rev. of 1927) other than the one ensconced in set? Bernie perhaps?

Ah yes. Nice Unc. with full struck lion's snout and decent obv. are available but IMO should get a bit more of a premium.. Oops, sorry to derail thread.

No surprise about the 1923. Thanks, Rob!

Ah, well, yes, an average set with no major problems other than the caveats. I don't think I can say the crown absolutely not ever cleaned, but at least not objectionably so. A rough and liberal math for value might be: crown 200, half crown 125, florin 125, shilling 75, 6d 75, maundy 160 (plus 20 for the extra). Think I would want another 125 off on price, what say Dave et al?

May we be boorish and ask price?

Harsh critics we are, but I agree. I am a bit leery of the colouring about the lettering on the crown - has this been cleaned with something leaving residue? I can't seem to blow these pictures up much to help. The florin reverse appears to have like lines running from 2-8 o'clock and the obv. bust perhaps having finger grease residue. Overall, from pictures appears to be about average and not exceptional but not awful...

Agreed. I think with the picture provided this is in the 350-375max range. That story brings back a favourite line from "Forrest Gump" (a must see IMO): "Run, Forrest, run!"