VickySilver

OK, a bit OT but here is one for the graders in the crowd - sorry taken through perspex: And what would a CGS grade be? I have my opinion but up for grabs OK, horrible pictures. Actually the coin has residual lustre but is softly struck as officianados of this series may appreciate. Does the date catch a break? Not quite as nice as Platt's....

Well, this is NOT a popular topic! Will note that a 1996 Jamaica proof set just sold on US Ebay recently. Damn! Now I need that one as well. I wonder which other years might be out there? Still no confirmation of the 2002 set. Might a 1997 be out there as well?

Hi all, has anybody confirmation that Jamaica proof sets of 2002 exist? They are listed in Krause, but Bank of Jamaica and Royal Mint where they should have been struck do not offer information. I would be interested in information or even purchase.

Yes, they do exist. I have two 1967s, a 1966, and a 1965. Love them. Is yours for sale? Mine were struck on florin blanks except for two I believe... As you likely know, the mint was up to much "sport" in the 1960s with seemingly little quality control in effect on any of the denominations, what with off-metal strikes, multiple errors, etc. Some of this madness seems to be recurring if you read these boards as well. I also have an 1982 penny struck over a clearly dated 1953 sixpence, etc., etc. There were eve a couple of pennies and halfpennies struck in gold!

Uhhhhh, guilty.....Well, I did go to an English school in Nicosia and my mother is a retired English Literature Professor. Don't hit me too hard, not the enemy!

9k for an 1839 halfcrown? Surely you meant the crown? The currency 2/6 maybe?? I think the prices are set low supposedly to attract more bidder interest. I am not sure that is the case. I recently bought an item at DNW for 700 pounds hammer and the total price sent to the States was 899! OUCH! But I calculated they would perpetuate such and just make sure I really do want the lot at the eventual total price I might have to pay - much as young Rob has suggested on these boards before. Thankfully I am not trying to resell because I can not imagine trying to bet on making a profit after such "business".

Well, no, saving mine. Still like to see them hold their value...

Uh, well, that is their M.O. I have had to pay 500% of estimate for pieces before! I was hoping nobody spotted that 1863 florin - after my ex- wife left I discovered that the one I had bought from Mark Rasmussen about 7-8 years ago was GONE! Yikes, and that one was 2750. BTW, this is not that specimen but had to look (well pretty sure). Those Eddy 7 2/6s may be "bell weather" pieces.... No competition from me, so no worry; won't say why LOL!!

Sorry to bring up a dead horse, but I was thinking this morning that I do have a bit of a problem that CGS apparently grades ALL coins as though they were on the same scale (i.e. an 1838 shilling graded on same standards as a 1967), when in fact minting methods have changed drastically in the interim and they might require different approaches. What does the grade represent on a coin, numeric or not? Should a coin that is perfectly as it leaves the mint with NO post mint damage, handling, or marks be considered perfectly mint state - MS70 or 100? Technically, I think they must be. Aesthetically, the coin may be less than desirable. So a hammered coin may be quite ugly and mint state at the same time I would think. In fact a CGS78 coin, as I understand it, may be quite a gem uncirculated coin technically but then be a bit less than appealing for other reasons - this seems to lack a bit of sense IMO.

Rob, I think PCGS and NGC have largely now cured this malady if you check the mountings in the holders now...

BTW, it seem that if you look about that a PCGS 58 is valued by many more highly than a 60 as the former is usually a superior piece lightly circulated while the latter is heavily bag marked but not circulated and may not be as attractive.

Did anyone question the "mattieness" of the 1950 matte florin? It just did not look like the '51 or '53 mattes I've seen...I did not even bother to bid. 900 for the 1880 florin? Why? Must be a micro-varietal, is all I can figure. I love these florins but can not see that price at all.

I have one that has but a single letter "overstruck" on the edge though, so that is a bit odd. Also, the lettering order of the overstrike is not in order. So interesting problem here...

Yes, did however make a few steals the other way around as well. LOL.. Might come looking for me if I was to list them. I agree though, seldom do we find much in the way of bargains, even collectively, on ebay. As far as grading, I am going to try (heaven forbid!) to post another picture, this of a Gothic florin this week - let's play again the Guess the Grade again if I be successful with photography. Can you Senor Peck show us a picture of the '03 - I think you did before, but my memory seems to fade a bit here and there.

Thanks Gary, hadn't seen that so will look for another specimen maybe. I have a 1953 that has the whole edge overstruck on the edge with garbled legend that looks to be mint done as opposed to post minting damage....

Wow, it rather is nice in appearance I would say to the contrary. Perhaps a photo to follow in the next couple of days....

Darn, somebody was rather pesky on that bit...LOL Gary, how does the edge read on your 1951?

Wow, who had looked at their edges on their 1902 crowns ??? And were the proofs ever effected as that is not in Spink and assume not. I would fight for one if it came for sale....

Although NGC do have a spectoscopy device that CAN measure exact composition of a coin be it Brit, American, Russian or whatever...Wonder if it was run on this coin? BTW, with that device, it would put them rather a leap ahead of CGS...LOL...Just thought I'd ignite the fires here a bit.

The first with a bit of soft strike but I would rate as unc./GEF. The second has way too many scarfs, scratches, etc. and should be values IMO at 50% or less of the first.

Wow, fair only, and authenticity??

Despite occasionally supporting "slabbing", I tend to agree as well. Possibly self-slabbing by putting a coin in a better holder that is removable can at least protect the coin from the hamfisted if not rendering a grade or "guarantee" might be an option. I still think they are a good option for the more valuable later milled bits.

1949 3d - I think the pictures on the Heritage site are fairly good as far as shooting through perspex plastic. What say you?

And of course, what has been hinted at before - what would happen if some of these coins were cracked out and sold to Lockett/LCA/CGS wholesale and were to be slabbed by CGS, and then sold through LCA - would they hold their grade or then somehow (LOL) find their way to an average of a higher grade? I think this distinctly a possibility because of the obvious possibility of conflict of interest, and that is a euphemism most certainly. I think as our own Rob has said, the foibles of slabbing may leave opportunity for the astute collector; know your coins and grade. For the dealer, similar except that it would be with regards to the commercial advantage of buying a coin that is possibly under graded as opposed to what the market may allow.

Funny thing is that I have seen much worse OUTSIDE of holders and that the irony is that holders should help to prevent future such damages. I really must say that at least in my experience a fingerprint on a "red" copper or bronze piece has in fact dinged the grade a point or two on the Sheldon scale...