VickySilver

Nice strike to be sure but quite a few contact marks and a rim hit on reverse of some note... BTW, closed at 425 USD..

Yes, a basement slabber & well known as such for some while. Beware.

OK, what do all think a fair price for this 1844 - 500-600 USD maybe?

Although it looks to be worn from use, I don't think it has the appearance of being well struck - transfer dies perhaps? I agree with the thoughts about it being a gaming token or such as opposed to Royal Mint project.

Small update: the 2002 Crown showed up in solo form (not with the set) on ebay last month and that it indeed did have the World Junior Track and Field Championships commemorated complete with an ugly rendition of a female runner. No idea how many were actually made, as with the sets. This 2002 set remains elusive....

I did manage to get this set thanks to Webcents above. The difficulty in getting the following years suggests there may have been far fewer than the advertised minting maximum of 500 sets: - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 The 2001 was quite tough as well, and I am unable to confirm the 2002 set, even though the separate crown does exist.

That electrolysis is very dangerous in that the lustre can be lost and occasionally the surface to deteriorate slightly - easy does it... Hard to tell from the pictures what the surfaces actually look like, but appears overall improved to me as well.

Not sure if they are selling "like hotcakes" at those prices though...LOL. Full retail at 1500 is quite fair, 1700 very nice for this coin IMO.

As the Boards are a bit slow, I thought I'd toss this out there: These pennies, especially those of 1918 and 1919 are often stated to be scarcer and even rare in well struck and better preserved state. Perhaps members would like to comment. IMO, the 1912 H can occasionally come poorly struck but is readily available with excellent strike and lustre. Might be a bit overpriced even... The Heaton coins of the latter two years are usually panned for quality of strike and thought to be scarce. In my experience, the 1918 is indeed usually poorly struck with mushy details and recall there being a hoard of such coming to market in the latter '80s. Overall, the most common of the latter group of four. Somewhat scarcer in "full red", is pretty scarce well struck. The 1919 H, is IMO decidedly scarcer yet in well struck form and when of good alloy. Many times what looks to be perhaps a nicer specimen is spoiled by metal composition issues, directly or indirectly as there can be unpleasant toning which I have seen on the obverse especially. In my experience, this date in truly top condition may be as scarce as the 1918 KN. The KN issues generally come slightly better struck than their H counterparts, but a bit worse than London issues (which may also come poorly struck). Both the 1918 and 1919 appear to be overall scarcer in GEF or uncirculated condition than the Heaton pennies. Overall, I sure haven't seen much interest in these or the later 1926 ME penny, but appreciate them... PS - I don't seem to be able to post the example of the 1918 H penny on www.northeastcoin.com that is MS64 but of the usual poor strike

Ah yes, I thought you were referring to George! And yes, almost always is due to strike and not wear as has been discussed.

I agree, 1700 a very good price. At 1200, I'd be a buyer.

Yes, a slippery slope...I began with Wreath crowns, worked my down to 2/6, then florin, 6d, 3d and finally penny....Then started the works with Victoria at 2/6 and threw in a few farthings also. Now, almost nothing to collect again but that took 20 years!

I'm interested too. "Punched in face"? Sounds bad...

Dipped, not polished IMO. Do you have a picture of the Colin Cooke bit?

Ah yes, there is also the 1857 and 1862 with their variants. Forgot about them for a moment....Proof 1842 somewhat difficult as well. Azda, which two?

Welcome Stephen! Congratulations on a currency 1853 and the pattern (?) Victoria 1837. Can't speak for the plain edge 1838 (proof?).The 1853 proof is not easy to come by, but does seem to appear 1-2 times per year at the major auction houses. There are quite a few overdates as you are likely aware with IMO top grade 1847/6 perhaps the hardest to come by...

Uh, this "character" is renowned for overgrading of coins.... I have gotten bold and really do naughty slab removals (grab the slab with two pliars and twist). Do NOT do this as shards of plastic and coin may go flying. Hacksaw away from coin generally works fine...

True is that. I just prefer absolute date rarities in top condition. Maybe not so strangely, the micros remind me of the infernal "condition census" people with the slabs on the American side of the Atlantic - make a rarity out of something that possibly is NOT to the majority.

As would I. The surviving number is likely more in the 25 range however. Very nice find, I really must say! Please do NOT scrub on it any more, but you likely could start something of a bidding war right here; a trip to Baldwin or Spink IMO would not yield a very high offer...

Funny how micro/hyper varietals rule the roost in the Bun series, but relatively major variants such as Regnal years in the Veiled Crown series go unloved and mostly unnoticed.

Not to break into the thread, but how does one get prices realised from Baldwin's post auction without waiting months?

I have no quarrel with GBC as they have quite a listing - admittedly much of it dross - but have gotten some nice pieces from them and they have on occasion been amenable to bargaining. I got not long ago the very nicest 1847/6 groat I have ever seen, something I had been looking for these many years. That is a lovely play with the "Tower of London" bit there....

Ah, Robert, no travel for me other than Baltimore/NYC axis as I must watch after my son sans assistance these days and mercifully not too many Vick pieces to go. BTW, I think mine is the Colin Adams specimen and like the '56 date in general. There was a proof of one of the types batting about for a while a couple of years ago - did you bag that one?

Looks Great! A bit of "cartwheel" lustre on the reverse?

Cr-- and more cr--, great. Well this bit is not quite as crappy....LOL. I'm quite glad others are attracted to these narrows and wides, I liked the well-shaped myself.