VickySilver

Without naming names/posters, the one with a Scotish nomen (okay, Mac- something or other) seems to back this coin up and reference a toning table that is ludicrous - it is a blatant attept to rationalise toning IMO....

Wow, a few dissenters on the PCGS site about this coin, notably Rob with the original poster getting quite testy even when the "opposition" was very mild. Hilarious! I posted several attacks on those a horrible neon Morgan toners over there before and was roundly attacked - even by one individual that supposedly is some sort of "surfaces chemist". Given up that line of reasoning as it was trying to extricate pigs from the mud...

And I have just obtained the 1999 set. This has the milennium crown and the complete set of [ugly] National Heroes. I can see why these were not popular. The 1997 set remains elusive and am still unable to confirm if a 2002 set was actually minted by the Royal Mint.

Oh, and of course it never happens in real life - not seen too many locked up recently.

Pictures of greatest value, if you can. Smith Pattern obverse?

Yes, will have to check them out as I had given them up for "Dead" for grading some LONG while ago.

Sixpences, perchance? I did not get any GB coins through their sales, and only a single at DNW - for which I paid too much in the excitement of competition on-line. BTW, I would have expected to pay LESS for it in a Heritage sale interestingly. Some of their (Heritage's) Thalers, etc. went for very cheap. BTW - I was quite disappointed by the late milled in Spink, Baldwin & St. James's.

Sticky mattress? Uhh, being ignorant of the term, I think I might have to leave that alone & was a bit concerned with it mentioned in the same reference frame as newlyweds!

Plain old VF seems a bit harsh when there is still some apparent lustre about the devices on reverse which is also much better in my opinion. 28.5 sounds a fair price there.

Speaking of the 1869 penny, and not to pirate the thread, but what do readers think of the price at near 10k USD? Seemed a bit high, but that was a nice piece and after the shock (at least to me) of the DNW Vicky prices - esp. silver maybe it was not so high. I just could not get myself to put in that last bid but I think another bidder would have caused a rise in any case....

Ah yes, I do seem to recall the earlier piece! LOL Thanks for that Derek

I know this sale has served quite a depressive effect on my collecting (ok, well of the nicer bits)....I guess there won't be an upgrade of my 1854 florin for a good long while!

Wow, the 1863 florin went at 14k! I think I want to mount an expiditionary and get mine taken by my ex-wife!

And how, pray tell, would a dealer buy any of these and sell them at a profit? Or are they all leaving for Japan?

Absolutely, I just find I don't want to add coins at these outrageous prices and am glad I went out and splurged some years ago. The 1849 LD was a perfect example as it used to be a scarce but affordable at the GEF level. New playing field for the better bits so we have to get used to it if we are going to "play".

Wow, 1841 halfcrown at DNW went for 4400! Glad I have mine; the 1849 LD which I could obviously NOT see went 1450 (should have upgraded when I had the chance!). Tomorrow may be a blood bath as Coppers alludes....

Yikes, that is a bit ugly there...I agree with the assessment that this coin will come up for "auction" at LCA before too long & think it showed top price already at 3k for that specimen. Good job Nick on pointing out the packaging - photographs pretty well but I have not seen it in person & somehow think I've seen it before at another venue. Is there a 26ME that is worth 5k? Shame about the grading services which seem to really miss the hammered and early milled especially; I think the hammered may be due to "technical grading" wherein the coin left the dies and may not have been touched much but was a bit raggy of a strike and original fabric as an example. I have a slabbed 1849 shilling by PCGS in "62" which is nearly pristine but was docked for micro polishing lines- it was but these were in RELIEF as it was polishing of the die as opposed to the finished coin. So maybe it works both ways. I suspect that despite all the talk of equity that the consignor may also have a bit of influence on ultimate grades. I think it a bit of a conflict that the grader, either CGS or David Hall of PCGS sells coins that they grade or have graded.

As Nick says, a nice '53 6d to be sure, though sadly not a proof. Always have to watch the rub as well.... Must say, better than I've ever done at a show just looking through stock. Nice job!

Bit of a premium there though! Britannias can be bought for 5 quid over spot silver I seem to recall...

I have weights listed variously for Jamaica penny as 9 gm and 9.34 gms. so not sure if that is the source for this Victorian penny that is worn (? ~10 gm. starting weight??)

What 9.6 gm CuNi coins were being struck by the Royal Mint in 1901? Halfcrowns of post 1946 date should be about 14.1 gm +/-....

Oops, I think that is the one I was talking about Bernie...

I don't know about the estimate. It is a penny, but the Nicholson CuNI 1920 halfpenny struck to a specimen standard with the countermarked "N" sold for 800 quid. I purchased a 1922 CuNi penny of the Royal Mint (obv. and rev. unfortunately of 1922 for about 300-350 by memory) about 3-4 years ago.

Yes, good point, but it was the second high bid that determined the sale price - and I think (s)he and I knew the fair "collector price", and I was prepared to go even a bit higher. When the estimate is closer to true value of the coin, it does not prompt me to still bid multiples of the HIGHER price. Overall, I think the lower estimates catch interest initially and make a bidder feel like he's going to come through with a win at a relatively higher percentage price. I know as the relative estimate rises - and I have seen this on occasion as well - that my bids are much closer to estimate and I take the loss rather than go very high.

I know that I have bid as much as FIVE TIMES estimate to secure choice and rare bits....Took more than just me to do it however! I try to get them low, but really in a topline London auction of a rare coin, do any really believe there are low priced bargains to be had?