Peckris

You could add, why is he only selling to the UK only, too? Nobody in their right mind is going to pay more than a quid for this whether slabbed or raw. "Hmm. No takers at £35. I'll try again at £20. ♫ ♫ Let's limbo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o! ♫ ♫ ♫ (How low can you go?)"

Speak for yours-- ||||||| --OOOOOOOOOH

Hmmmm, slab cracking this one i'm not sure about as i bought it for the bay and in it's holder it may attract more potential buyers, so will probably leave it as is Very wise. As for the coin, it has nice detailing (EF!), but I wouldn't care for that scratch, and the obverse has quite a few flecks. Good luck with it though.

I did see a Edward VII gold two pounds that had been worn as a jewellery item, it's edges were very much erroded and rounded. It did have obvious mount-marks however. For the edge of this coin to be rounded, it couldn't have been protected by a ring mount. You absolutely can't write it off, it could have spent some time in a sandy/beach environment, anything's possible, the weight's in your favour. I think, as peckris said, that it needs an in-hand appraisal unfortunately. What we need is a good die-study of all those coins with known fakes haunting them. Where 'modern' milled is concerned, we are back to the provenance thing again. If I was ever to buy a Gothic Crown again, it would have to come with some substantial paperwork and/or catalogue history that predates these arses who are bombarding us with all this tat! Thanks for all the feedback. I think that I would like to get an in hand appraisal. I live in macclesfield, but spend alot of time in Scunthorpe and Newark-on-Trent. Can anyone suggest a reputable place I can get the in hand evaluation? Regards Someone once posted here about a guy who you send coins to, he appraises them, then sends them back to you with his opinion - for a fee. I couldn't remember the details, still can't, but someone recently reminded us who it is. He has a website, and is completely independent. No connection with TPG companies. Remind me again?

Sorry, I don't know very much about the Middle East "problem" except that it was rife in the 70s, but as Peter says it pre-dates that even. The coin has a 'blurry' 'rubbed' look about it, which could be an indication of a fake. Or it could simply be that it was mounted and worn as jewellery. I think it would need an expert eye to look at it carefully. It could be quite an old fake from what you say, but it isn't necessarily a fake, though the 'unknown' legend error is a bit of a poser.

"Turnip, Baldrick, turnip. Or shall I put you back on a diet of voles?" "That reminds me, Sire.." "Yes, Baldrick - what is it?" "You know how sometimes there are turnips that look like a thingy?" "Ye-e-e-es?" "Well, I've got a thingy that looks like a turnip"

I'd be fine if the coin was 25 year old, but it's a 300 year old plus coin, so surely they should get things right? Oh, "very fine" surely Dave? Seriously, I don't think the age should affect the accuracy of the grading. The amount of circulation the coin has had is relevant whether the the coin is 3000 years old or was minted this year?

Don't buy Photoshop, buy Elements, which is 80% of the software for less than £100.

In the first post I described the edge as milled which I thought was the pattern on the perimeter of the faces.Following your comments I now realise that it is the actual face of the edge of the coin - this appears fairly smooth apart from what looks like general knocks and knicks. The thickness is 1.1mm in the centre and 1mm at the edge. I believe it's starting to look like something that has been in the family for many years is not what it seems?!! Regards How many years, if you don't mind me asking? I only ask because the Chinese fakes are comparatively recent, but there was a great spate of Middle East fakes of gold coins in the 1970s. If it goes back a long way, it is less likely (though far from impossible) to be a fake. However it could be a counterfeit which would make it of historic interest, and of course the gold value is not to be ignored.

Modern "bronze" is just copper-plated steel. You have one where the copper plating has not taken, yes. Interesting curio, so hang on to it if you like it. (Don't make retirement plans though ) nice 1 but a shame i cant retire yet hahaha. thank you for the info. any chance you would know the value of this coin? 1 penny, I think you said?

I'd rate that between VF and EF to be honest

A grade should mean what it says (i.e. "for wear") but with any imperfections, damage, cleaning, weak strike, scratches, etc, to be pointed out clearly. Sadly that old-fashioned value is dying out.

Modern "bronze" is just copper-plated steel. You have one where the copper plating has not taken, yes. Interesting curio, so hang on to it if you like it. (Don't make retirement plans though )

This is what a 1696 Crown in VF should look like (or very marginally less) : And you should judge the George I shilling on the same basis.

When it's up on eBay (hopefully with a FULL list of what's there!) you will give us the link to it?

coins will not have a tobacco coloured toning Like it matters on coins of that quality

What's the relevance of "non-smoking household"?

Your first task is to get rid of the verdigris, which is far more of a disaster area. Two options: 1. Soak for months in olive oil (which might help a bit with the toning too?) 2. Soak overnight in a good vinegar - this WILL lighten all but the green which will have been converted into dark patches But don't dip. It only works on silver hence its name!

The definitive work is still ESC (English Silver Coinage). I'm not sure if it's still in print but I should think a copy is readily available e.g. from eBay. (And of course you have Davies for 1816 onwards - to be honest there isn't a great deal of silver coinage before then, though what there is is a patchwork worthy of a book in itself, from Spanish countermarks to BoE dollars to limited editions of 1787 to those oh-so-rare shillings).

I had to take a screenshot then reduce it in size to see it clearly It's a weird one (pun intended). It seems like neither a Roman nor Arabic 1, in fact it looks quite a lot like a capital L. It doesn't look as though it was cut deliberately as a Roman 1. But it will be interesting to hear others' thoughts.

Not at all, I have little idea about such things! I have bought it as a nice grade 1825, the wonky 5 is just added interest ... Michael says on his web site that others have suggested it may be 5/3 but that seems unlikely/impossible! So I thought I would throw it open for debate Nothing is likely or impossible in coin collecting Jedi Knight wants to be does Dave - enigmatic he is.

Good spot, Generic! I've admired ancient coins - especially Greek - for a long time but I've never seen those double inverted portraits before. You live'n'lurn..

Sorry, but I have to agree with Rob 100% on this. If it could be demonstrated clearly to be a 5/3 then it's of interest. If 5/5 - with all due respect to Michael Gouby - then it's of no interest whatever (to the general coin market, I mean - clearly it's of interest to you and Coinery!). As Rob says, double-struck digits or recut digits in the 19th Century are virtually the norm rather than the exception, and I really don't think Spink have the scope or the will to include such micro-varieties in the Standard Catalogue. Sorry to rain on your parade, but unless you can get confirmation it's 5/3, then I believe it's of personal interest only. Having said that, and forgetting the date issue, it's a very nice coin and I envy you it

The last item does say ISTRI in Greek letters. The first two, with inverted double portraits, don't seem like either Greek or ancient, in my opinion. But someone may prove me wrong!

One man's bargain's...