£400 for a Penny ?

I prefer 'Strict' myself. Accurate is not really a helpfull word in this context, it's open to debate. I use CGS a lot and it has turned me into the grade fascist that I am today, which I'm grateful for.

We all agree I think. It's a bit like DIY, you always know where the mistakes are and that's all you can see. I'm not saying I don't get it wrong sometimes, 'cos I do, but after a while one realises that it's better to wait and buy a diamond than go for something which is not quite there. What's a Peon ? Rgds,

Any chance of a pic of the 1915 and 1934 please ? My 1915 is AU and I've never seen a quality 1934... I recall you said you had a 1933 before, wasn't sure whether you were joking or not ? If so, which one of the 7 (8?) is it ? Rgds,

Point is my friend, it isn't about price. If it isn't perfect, I don't want it. And this one isn't perfect, confirmed by the forum (thank you) so I will just have to continue to pace the corridors of time waiting, waiting. I hate waiting.

Yes, I've been circling this one for over a year (which in itself tells you something I guess). It's just not quite there is it.

Any input on the possibility of verdigris on the reverse chaps ? Also, if you look at the two tiny 'pinheads' on Vicky's neck and in the field at 8 O'clock, they exactly match one by the trident on the reverse of my '91. Almost like they are bubbles ? I'm just beginning my (reluctant) journey into Bun Heads, does one encounter these bubbles often ? Not seen them before.

Thanks Red. Yes, that's pretty much where I come out too, the Obv. is a little bit too knocked about for me. I see we are of like mind. Oh, hang on, does that mean.....

Whilst on the subject of matters KN and now H, could you do me a favour and have a look at the 1912H in BU up for sale on Colin Cooke's site (I won't put up a link as it's another dealer) and see what you think ? I'm happy with the reverse, but not sure about the King. It's up for £195. Thanks in anticipation.

Brain going a little blancmangey is it...?

Blimey, Seems like you have already been busy. I'm afraid I can't add anything to what you've said, maybe someone else can and will, we shall see. What I can suggest though, is that you talk to the British Museum. I have asked them questions in the past and found them to very friendly and helpful, and frankly, what they don't know about anything between them all, isn't worth knowing. http://www.britishmuseum.org/the_museum/departments/coins_and_medals.aspx You might also like to contact Spink http://www.spink.com/home_page/index.asp# Between them, I am sure they can set you on the right road. Sorry I couldn't be of any more help - come back and let us know when you finish the story ?

Well, short answer, no. Longer answer, CCGB has them down as £400 and £300 in EF and £100 each in VF. You pays your money and you takes yer choice as to grade, but in either event you would have to say that £2,200 is a touch ambitious. Mind you, wouldn't be at all surprised if someone pays it, there is at least one nutter at large in the penny community if you remember the Tony Crocker sale at Colin Cooke ? I liked Red's description of him at the time as having the resources of an Ambramovich and a blancmange for a brain. Excellent word, blancmange, sounds like some nasty tropical disease, not a pudding.

A picture paints a thousand words Tani...

The onset of Verdigris. It's sometimes called bronze disease - it's bronze's equivalent of what rust is to iron. To my eyes, there is one quite green spot and a few others that may have been treated. We will have to await the verdict of finer minds than ours.

On a nice coin like this, I prefer to say lightly struck. I remain a bit concerned about the green spots though. Hopefully someone will be along in a minute to reassure us.

Oh, and sorry, forgot to say thanks Scottie.

It is, it is, but it's a generally very frustrating period to research as the Luftwaffe pancaked the public records office in 1940 and a lot of records across a wide range of subjects from the late WWI period are missing. May get away with it, might not. I'm not volunteering. You'd have to think that after all those portrait revisions, it has to be something to do with the machinery striking too hard hasn't it ? Perhaps it was calibrated to strike crowns (did ghosting occur on crowns ?) and when penny planchets were struck the force was just too much ? Maybe the mint workers of the time were drunken, howling maniacal fools - hold on, or that could be me, I have lunched comprehensively......

Don't wish to appear rude or disrespectful to Mr T.Humphry Paget, but I am more of an admirer of Thomas Brock and particularly G.W de Saulles and Sir Bertram Mackennal.

Any chance you could put up a pic of your 1935 Scott ? I've tried to find it on the other thread, but cannot. Usually, I'm not jealous of other peoples coins, but I do think you have an important coin there. Proof really that the ghosting issue never completely went away despite the various ammendments to the portrait. I also personally happen to think that after George V, portraiture on British coinage went down the pan and if must have something to do with this issue. Anyone know if other countries had ghosting problems ?

Which perhaps makes one wonder, if the machinery used in the strike is the cause, not the dies and certainly not the planchet. Particularly wondering about the ferocity of the strike ? I've long been interested in why the WW1 strikes are so poor as well, maybe it's to do with the power available ? OK, could be down to worn dies etc, but maybe it's because the electricity is deployed elsewhere and wartime pennies are lightly struck ? War over, power restored, Bam, the ghost is back. Just a thought. Not a new concept, the Boer war medals suffered from this nearly 20 years before.

No, you're not making a fool of yourself, the only people who do that are the one's who don't ask the question. Yes, this is common and is behind the gradual reduction in size of the Kings portrait over his reign. It's referred to as 'ghosting' and is basically caused by the Kings portrait being in too high relief, so that it uses too much metal during the strike and 'sucks' metal away from Britannia, leaving the outline that you've noticed. The mint never really conquered it it, I believe someone (Scott?) even foun a 1935/36 penny with ghosting.

CCGB quotes it at 1500 in EF. I also sent the pictures to a dealer in the UK and he said it was worth between 1400 and 1600 in its grade It's early. Well, if you can get him to pay that then you have done well IMO. As we have said many times before, it is not an exact science

CCGB quotes it at 1500 in EF. I also sent the pictures to a dealer in the UK and he said it was worth between 1400 and 1600 in its grade

Didn't know that. Never looked in to it, but I guess that explains why one sees odd maundy pence offered for sale.

Thank you. sooo, it's definitely not a sellers market in VF at the moment and Spink is always a little bit 'toppish', so I'm going to discount Spink by 20% = £600. Anyone want to argue violently with that, please do. Rgds as always.

Not having an recent Spink, I can't comment Sir. What does the good book say is the value of this coin in VF ?