VickySilver

Weyl = private pattern & nada to do with Royal Mint. This to me at least, and this probably not popular, represents an earlier version of the Patina and INA "attempts". Esoteric, but even a dyed in the wool Vicky fanatic like myself leaves them alone. BTW, the Spink auction to which I refer which you may want to look up is the November 15, 2001 Sale which has many, many proofs of ythe Victorian period.

Uhhh, I like the Young Head iterations! Esp. in the copper penny format! My favourite may be the 1839 proof penny if well preserved. That Jub. crown looks like something that belongs on a little girl's birthday cake....

Last I checked, I had a couple and not "metro". LOL Welcome to send cute daughters this way! Ha ha.... I just like Victorian coins as Dave said. I found a "mechanical error" by PCGS on a 3d coin, and will not yet reveal what I have in mind but will try to catch them out if I can.

Ha ha....They are all business at times & britches get a bit big...I'm going to jack up one of the graders pretty soon & will notify of results...

A call might suffice, especially if you have submitted before. They generally are at least personable. I never try to put my opinion above anybody else's and do have to state that I have not held the coin but would say that yours would very likely be a proof despite areas of softness. In general the surfaces appear immaculate and despite the reverse softness presents with an excellent strike - far above the very attractive NGC MS65 I know (which is the very nicest true currency strike I've seen). IMO, yours is superior to the Baldwin specimen overall.

A trip to the PCGS headquarters in Orange County, California might be a nice trip if you call and ask. Maybe a tour??? I have had some disagreements with their main grader as they have missed a few types and even grades for that matter. Nice holders though, LOL!

Rob probably knows the sale, but Spink in around 1998-2000 or so had a sale with numerous Vicky proofs and the later 1880s dates, though of a slightly different type had somewhat similar strike appearances.. My money on NGC grading it proof - and this from pictures alone...

I looked at your lovely 1850 2/6 again and think it likely a proof with what has sometimes been called "aluminum foil cameo" and note that though dated 1839 that I have seen a Deep Mirror Proof Cameo that was somewhat similar & that even for a proof coin, this in very nice state of presentation and better than most proofs. Can we ask the origin, at least in general terms? PS - If you look on the PCGS site under population guide, Great Britain and then look up Victoria milled half crowns there are also some very nice bits: I like the 1839 currency, ex-Gendinning and the 1862 CA proof, ex-Spink that is also very attractive amongst a number of others...

Well, I always like to think that enough money could shake loose a coin but some are rather favoured and we do like to hold on to them. I can not tell if the 1850 is a proof, but give much credit for a beautiful coin - I need to find my way out with saying it needs to be seen in hand. I have seen a "65" that is as well preserved but does not have the lovely cameo yours does. I would have to say it is the nicest I've seen. Not that you would but I think I know somebody (wink, wink) that would probably be a buyer...

For sale? Looks nice there....

Not to derail the thread, but one story I have always wondered about is how Dolphin (Bob I.) managed to get those Pretoria mint proof and patterns - apparently had nearly all of the Brit specimens at one time?!

I hope it does not offend anybody, but that AMR coin is quite a dog. Started "modern" life as apparently gVF or so and then was cleaned and brushed to its current state. Waaaaaaaay overpriced and at least double its real retail value IMO. This has appeared some 17 times in LCA auctions since they kept records according to their site and does not include appearances in lot combos. Some of the recent auctions have gotten a bit heated, but the lesser graded coins simply don't generate the same fight - same has held for the 1854 florin (which above VF I would rate a good deal scarcer).

Oh well,I love the Victorian sixpences, but will confess in my turn to them being a bit boring. I liked that 1854 in the Cheshire sale that was under graded IMO, and the same year shilling on sale at that time as well for that matter. There certainly is some enjoyment in "completing" a series, but a bit sad as well with no more important bits to collect or only those with stratospheric prices left.....

I recently tested a pattern 1920 shilling, and the metal content came to: Silver - 51.67% Copper - 39.57% Nickel - 7.36% Manganese 0.28% Arsenic (!) 0.015% The George V standard was in 1920 evidently" Silver - 50% Copper - 45% Manganese 5% By 1924, this was at: Silver - 50% Copper - 50% Any comments or interest???

I rather know these coins & have seen more than a few. Remember that though this is a scarcer date that it is on a "log" value scale with the price escalating rapidly as condition increases. I am definitely in the 1-1.5k crowd if you can find the right buyer. Now if you can pull it up to GEF status, you'll really have something. Don't get carried away by comparing to coins better preserved

How about their three coin Britannia Proof set? It's only 45 pounds, so that 's a bargain, right? Well here is what you get: 1/10 oz silver 1/20 oz silver 1/40 oz silver!!!! Don't think I've seen any bullion coins that small yet from anywhere. Silver value has got to be at least 5 quid....Well, maybe not at a 3 spot, I should imagine.

Wow, Peck, if you can find me a G5 florin of currency strike of ANY date with that rim and device detail I would be an instant buyer at your price! I possibly have a bit of background on this series, and have never seen a currency with that much articulation of strike.

Yikes, this thread is turning an adult rating now! I like my favourite bits staying unpopular and more reasonably priced bits. Halfpennies still don't catch my interest, but thought until recent months I had 6d, shillings, and florins to myself. Oh, well..

Not so much that they are found there but rather that grading is many times nicely conservative and prices reasonable.

I'd accept that as a proof, G5 has some nice detail there - wouldn't accept that into my collection. Wait for a bit nicer specimen as they certainly are not rare. You might do well as has been suggested by finding (with some work) a well struck gVF specimen of the currency. If a few extra quid get you a much nicer bit, try for it. Interestingly, I have seen some conservatively graded bits on ebay from places like New Zealand.

The Royal Mint has been known to release "proofs" not up to the standards of Royal Mint proofs!

OK, I guess I've been left behind like all of the other old fogeys, but I was absolutely shocked yet again by prices fetched in the recent Heritage Long Beach Sale: Examples (all in USD) - 1853 6d proof65 1938 but, wait.......1839 6d proof66 2350! 1845 Crown MS62 7050! Worse to come...... 1887 Jub 2/6 proof66 4112! 1887 Dbl florin proof66 4700!! 1887 Jub 1/2 sov proof64 Ultra cameo 4406 1893 Currency crown Regnal LVI MS66 2232 same, in MS65 1468 1893 crown, ordinary proof63 4993!! 1902 crown matte proof62 5287 1937 5 pounds proof66 16,450 same, in proof65 9,450 same, in proof64 8812 I am absolutely astonished at these prices, yet again. I actually have bought from Heritage in years past and got an 1893 Regnal LVII at 600 USD net, and an 1887 1/2 sov in proof63 Ultra Cameo at 545 USD (only 3-4 years ago)... What say readers about the implications of these sales? I just can't take them 100% seriously, but I believe they are. At the least, I would imagine that these type of sales will create something of a vacuum on the market.....

Yes, I think this phenomenon just a market reality that can not really be ignored, and we have to scurry about for lovely bits with just a bit more energy and diligence. I have a few odds that I have been thinking about selling and am back and forth about the venue. Sometimes, as has been pointed out, they don't quite get the attribution right and/or a significant rarity slips through....

That is really one of my points - this may be a draw on the market pulling coins over into "their clutches". Quite frankly I think it likely crazy not to if you have,say, a higher grade 1893 proof 5 pounds to NOT consign to them, but better have the slab grade. Like it or not, this does create a market force; I think it will gradually squeeze most of us out of many of these coins. Not that I collect big gold, but just saying....

Ooops, the 5 sov.