1949threepence

Bit disappointing, as is the June LCA. But there is another "Noonans" coin auction on 15th June, so relatively hard on the heels of the 24th May event. Hopefully it'll be a bit better, penny wise.

yes, that's all you get when you type "Noonans" into search. Amongst other current shortcomings related to the new website, really unprofessional on their part.

From memory (went there in 1999) isn't that the cathedral in Palma, Majorca? I may be wrong. Either way, I do hope you had a great time. Thanks as ever for the info Ian, and it appears I owe @oldcopper an apology as he was right all along about the bronzing being done post mint. Obviously Peck is a huge tome, and it's easy to miss very relevant bits. Oddly enough the thought that there might have been a deliberate attempt to bronze post mint, to make them appear as proofs, did cross my mind. Actually, the 1839 bronzed copper proof is one of the few Victorian copper specimens I haven't yet been able to obtain. I keep looking out, but the odd ones I have seen weren't in especially good shape, and they were being sold at what seemed exorbitant prices. Maybe they were worth it, and it was me under estimating their worth. Not sure. Haven't got any of the other proofs, but counting 1839 nominally as a regular year, as the proof is the only example from that year. Probably still worth collecting one or two bronzed examples as of historic value. Adds another chapter to the story, as it were.

I think we can be pretty much certain that there was no mint gilting of copper after George III, but we know for a fact that official mint bronzing definitely continued for proofs, and did so well into Victoria's reign. By logical extension, therefore, I don't think we can rule out officially bronzed versions of currency issues.

Well he didn't with the bronzed ones mentioned. Are we to assume they were bronzed post mint as well?

At page 408 he mentioned the gilded coins, alongside the bronzed versions, as though they were official Royal Mint issue. If you'd missed the earlier point on page 391 (not difficult in a book that size), regarding no officially gilded copper or bronze, post George III, you could be forgiven for thinking he meant they were from the Royal Mint. It's the way it reads anyway.

Should have noticed that the footnote in question continues over the page into 408, to include the 1858/7, the small date 1858, the 1858 no ww (and the 1859 copper proof, which isn't a currency penny). In the same footnote, Peck also goes onto say that there are gilded specimens of the 1841 no colon after reg and the 1853 OT. Although that somewhat contradicts his comments on page 391 where he says: "Gilt specimens of the copper and bronze coins of George IV to Victoria are occasionally met with, but these are only current pieces which have been gilded after leaving the Mint: no gilt specimens have ever been issued by the Mint".

Was it flagged up as a bronzed piece, Richard, or just sold as date only?

I'm going to keep a look out for anything which might be a potential specimen. Like so much of the pre 1860 copper series, it's been somewhat overlooked.

Keep us posted.

Richard - if all else fails you could also perhaps try ppm@dnw.co.uk - which I received in March 2022, when Peter Preston-Morley, Associate Director at "DNW" replied to an e mail of mine on a totally unrelated issue. Organisations tend to be much slower altering personal e mail addresses, so it's probably still valid.

@alfnail Ian, In a footnote at page 407, Peck states that bronzed currency pieces exist for 1841 (no colon), 1853 (OT), 1855 (PT) and 1857 (OT). This is something that I've ever noticed, or seen referred to anywhere . May I respectfully ask whether you have ever come across any in your extensive experience? If so, should we regard them as scarce? I'd imagine they would only be noticeable as such, in very high states of preservation. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the tip. Appreciated.

I often do Richard - but I need to master the art of getting the two cropped pics the same size. Something I've failed miserably at so far. ETA: the 1831 now cropped using photoscape. Note the difference in size:-

Yes, a meaningless, self imposed, arbitrary deadline. We get those at work, labelled as "imperative". But guess what? If they're broken, the Sun still rises and life carries on as normal the following day. Sorry Sword, not your fault. I'm afraid my recent experiences of ludicrously tight deadlines has annoyed me somewhat.

Yes, this is the one that's at the top of their home page. Not nearly as effective as the old one IMO.

The special collections aren't working. Just tried clicking on the Laurie Bamford sale - as you say, nothing. They should check every last function before going live, using a staff member working at home from their own personal device(s) if possible. But clearly haven't.

Agreed. They were changing the name. They didn't actually need to alter the site functionality at all. Bit of a dog's dinner now.

Managed to get an 1831 proof penny (the commoner type with the reverse inverted). It is true to say there is a small but visible edge knock on the obverse side, but that apart the coin is immaculate.

Imagine if they'd gone with Dix....

Well indeed, as the vast majority of enquirers will have no idea about the change, and still be searching for DNW. They'll also have to alter their logo, which is a pity as the one they have now is neat and effective.

Many times. I've even had coins with writing on them, as have others. I don't know why, but it often seems as though very rare coins seem more than usually afflicted with such graffiti and also signs of cleaning. Here, for example, is my Freeman 30, 6 over 8 penny, where it looks as though Britannia has a club at her side. I assume, the result of deliberate action:-

To cut directly to the chase, there would be far more negative than positive, probably in the proportion 80:20. It was ever thus, and ever will be thus, whatever happens.

Can't see the point personally, as we've all got used to the conveniently abbreviated "DNW". Not many would actually say "I bought my coin at the recent Dix, Noonan & Webb auction". If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

A choice piece of a coin which is rare anyway, but in that high grade, very rare. Really nice, well done. The PT 1853 is even rarer still with an italic date. You might be interested in Ian's post from January 2021 regarding stats for 1853 pennies - here