VickySilver

Uhh, I think there may only be one 1933 that would even be remotely available so would have to rate it similarly to the 1954 penny.

Ah, yes, good work on this one AC. I pretty much have left the copper proofs alone, the same would not have been so a couple years ago...There was quite a lineup of Bun proofs, maybe as many as I've seen. There has really been quite a lot on sale this January! At these prices, I think at least a few of us need to really cone down our collecting focus.

Thanks, Rob. I even received hard copy of the catalogue but it was no better. For some reason I am getting a backlog of 1871s that are very nice but just not quite there. For the '69 to go for that there must have been (a) problem(s) IMO... Was peripherally interested in the 1962 proof as well but sometimes one has to play a bit conservative as I was saying.

Not quite on board with BRG's acetic acid bit, as IMO is usually a CuCl2 oxidation if I remember chemistry from 30 years ago! And Coinery you are right in that I suppose verd has to start somewhere. Maybe we are talking probability, and I certainly did not look at the piece but it does have the appearance of a few other bits I have seen. I sure would be tempted to try the acetone very briefly and maybe a mild detergent with very liberal wash and the obligatory white cotton tamp down sans "the rub". Rob, always amazed by the plethora of coins you have and show...

Had to hold back with limited funds of late... How did the 1869 and 1871 look, and how did they fare?

I think BRG is correct in that colouration is indeed a form of oxidation, but tends to be stable unless subjected to further heat & humidity - hopefully the slab will help at leas a bit in that regard. Verdigris is particularly worrisome when the reaction begins to proliferate - not just colour, but an appearance of bubbling which is microscopic at first. I don't see macroscopic on this, and he reports on his microscopic.Please keep in mind his blowup is quite large as well.

Wow, beautiful halfpence there. Really captures the look of the coin and reasonably well struck. I think it looks better that a mostly "red" piece. Those look to be IMO stable green mini-spots on reverse of copper chloride, not likely verd candidates and not PVC.

Darn, I was hoping the recipient got a better prize! Well, it is Saturday night after all....

No, they are just seemingly always available. There is two in one of the Sales on about now in Nuevo Yorke (ha ha, New York). In the last 5 years I have probably seen at least 6- 8 sales. The 1825 and 1826 proofs on up through gold are similarly available now and nearly always. OVERRATED! Another famous example is the 1913 US Five Cents Liberty Head with a mintage of FIVE, and only three in private hands. Never mind these three have been making the rounds and been on sale at least 4 times in the same number of years.

Well certainly better than the 1887-93 5 sovs going for 25-40k!!! I think we might perhaps agree that a magnificent '05 has a bit on the lowly '51 penny?? It really brings to point this bit I do not understand about today's apparent market: how is an 1823 2 sov, or the seemingly endless supply of W4 and G4 patterns and proofs able to hold their value. They may be ??scarce but seemingly are offered and so many venues and so often that they are certainly not difficult to come by if you have the money. Or for that matter, the numbers of Cromwell bits or Charles II broads and multi-broads? Or the above-mentioned Gothic Crowns? How about the 1831 Crown in proof at 10-12k quid? IMO lunacy of an order far worse than the '05 2/6 are these bits....

Shhhh, don't give away my secrets...LOL...When not collecting late milled, I'm in it. The currency strikes are scarcer in Unc. than the VIP record proofs of off years (like the the 1962 BCT two cents).

Hate to know their state of preservation though! I was in West Africa some time ago and the coins in circulation abyssmal...

Ah yes, but demand is there! If those Gothics can go for USD 50k in their plentitude (!), then demand can drive the '05 up. Econ 1 pounded those supply-demand curves into my head...

Actually, it was some earlier but later date Young Head shillings going for that money... The 1878 Dritanniar sixpences were all die #6 and it has been stated many times that the bulk, if not all were sent to the newly acquired colony of Cyprus where they endured generally quite a bit of wear there evidently. The nicest specimens tend to be in the VF range & the few at the higher levels obviously did not circulate. It is not known, but only speculated that these were specimens saved out and did not make the voyage.

The greatest was one sold by Spink in their late, lamented SNC about 4 years ago for 800 pounds and ultimately graded MS64 - and deservedly so. Love the Drittaniar and its history even more as I lived in Cyprus for a bit some years ago.... Funny thing is that I don't think an MS64 would go for big money and would have to be a "66" or so to get crazy... I do recall the truly graded MS66 1889 small head shilling going for USD 1900 last year, and it sold for basically what the common shillings in similar grade sold for!

Better collection than Colin Adams? That would be tough, I know of a few nicer bits as well from Victoria and later...

Ah, yes, I do seem to recall it - that is quite a job. Thanks for the post.

Gary did you like the result?

There are some doctors out there - I think we had earlier cited one in Kentucky, USA who is quite talented. Forget his name but a bit of research should pick him out. I have heard somewhere in the past that he takes in Guatamalan coins - many of which are holed and fills the holes and sends them out. Supposedly also a supposedly rare 1796 USA quarter dollar with hole that was later slabbed with number. Can't say I know this firsthand though...

Exactly - very scary environment to try to buy in! I noted 1893 florin in Proof went for 2600 USD! Admittedly higher grade, however. I think Heritage prices high, and the New York sale absolutely highest. It is my opinion only, but the prices for what is essentially dross - gold W4 and G4 proofs going for outrageous money. These seem to pop up like nuisance gophers, and are ubiquitous and yet the prices go high. Who is actually buying these? To flip? Doubt that....

Maybe they ought to get CGS involved in "hyper grades" and see if they can replicate the US market where there are flippers running rampant and selling First Strike 70s for multiples of the US Mint's issue price! How on Earth do the RM maintain their sales? I just can't see much repeat buying after their poor customers try to sell any of their prizes...

Yikes, looks like the fields have been run over by a few cars in the pictures....

March 19, 2002. Lot 2100. I tried to cut and paste but won't let me... I must say the pictures do not do it justice as the field surfaces are nearly reflective proof like (and no, not smoothed).

Rob, I will try to post the image, or at least where it can be seen. It was a Teletrade win as I said. In hand it is a VERY nice specimen (which I realise doesn't mean a lot, but will say it is amongst the best I've seen).

That is their higher grade "AU" but usually GEF if correctly graded (IMO).