1949threepence

Often poor in the case of 1906 and 1907, the reverse of your 1907 looks really nice.

"and why not?", as Barry Norman would have said.

Indeed, although when a coin is advertised as "shows signs of old cleaning, now re-toning", you know that long past occasion will have been anything other than a careful act of cleaning. I'm not sure what the distinction is between "cleaning" and "conservation". Maybe the same as between "slabbed" and "encapsulated".

Courtesy of Richard, an 1862 Freeman 39A, 8 over 6. Very pleased.

I'd grade it at aVF. There's distinct signs of wear, although the shield lookd reasonably intact.

Same here, Jon.

It's the most obvious clincher on an ME. Instantly visible to the naked eye.

Precisely the point I raised in the other recent thread about Michael & Rendell. Their photography is dreadful. As I said at the time, I can do better than that just using my tablet under a bog standard incandescent bulb. They have a huge stock of coins, yet still cannot get this basic skill under their belts.

Hasn't it just. Looking forward to the warm days of Summer.

Catalogue now on line. Highlights for me are the 1877 Freeman 90, plus the exceptional 1918KN and 1919KN pennies, as well as a high end 1926 ME.

You could be right, Pete.

Probably the only factually accurate things in the Mail are yesterday's midday temperatures and the football results. The irony is that their website is very popular and with just a bit more truth and realism, as well as dropping the jingoistic xenophobia, they could be really good.

Being from Chelmsford I'm an East Anglian lad. I'm pretty sure the radio commentator is an old schoolmate of mine.

Well done you !!!

Lost out on my two bids. Never once bid successfully at a March LCA in several attempts.

Definitely F7 - sea reaches linear circle to left of lighthouse. Making it reverse C.

Maybe because it wasn't flagged as an ME by the vendor, and only some bidders realised what it was. Of them, perhaps not all were 100% sure and so gave up more easily when the price started going up. ETA: Yes it does seem to be true of most high end coins on e bay. They usually go for a lot less than at a standard auction. For example, I got my 1895 2mm in a/UNC for just £231 in 2012. As for the forces at work, I'm not entirely sure. Maybe standard auctions such as LCA, dnw, Spink etc, attract a wealthier and more international clientele. Not saying that is necessarily the prime reason, but it may be one reason.

No problem. Knew what you meant.

Very easy way to tell a 1926 ME from a 1926 regular - the lower colon dot after "GRA" is much closer to the A than on a regular.

Same here, beauty.

Postponed 2 weeks ago on account of the snow. Takes place this weekend instead, amidst a forecast of more ruddy snow !!!

A mystery solved. Thanks Bernie, and thanks to your friend who goes back all those years.

She's nearly 92, but on banknotes looks about half that age. Not sure whether this question has been asked before, but just wondered if anybody knew.

He was very funny. No doubt about that. Didn't have to listen to him long to have a good laugh. RIP Ken Dodd.