Accumulator

Don't know if this photo taken through the slab will help, but it should show that the "inverted Arabic 1" is indeed a properly formed numeral overlaid completely on the I below and standing well proud of it. Where's a microscope when you need one?

I appreciate the input and actually consider the hammer price worthwhile for a good specimen of this date plus curiosity value, if nothing more. It's certainly a good coin for sparking debate! The problem is arriving at a reasonable explanation for the manner of the die repair. If it is a re-punched 4, where is the evidence of the remaining 4 below, other than on the vertical upright? There's no 'shadow' to the serif or on the remainder of the number. In fact, prior to repair, the damaged die would appear to have read something like 1871, but with the serifs at the top of each figure 1 missing. The repair was then to punch a full 4 and add the missing serif to the 1 using the lower bar of an Arabic 1. I know that sounds contrived, but I'm not sure what else fits the physical evidence. And don't worry about my parade, Chris. I bought it for fun as much as anything.

To a point I'd agree with you Chris, but in hand the inverted smaller '1' is very clear over the normal 'I'. Also, if it was 'invented' it was by CGS (yes, I know that's also London Coins) as the info is on the slab ticket. Other potential buyers were obviously uncertain, probably based on the relatively poor catalogue photo, because it sold at the low end of the wide estimate range.

I'll be going on Sunday as there's a couple of lots that interest me. Is anyone else planning to attend?

Obverse: Edit - Ooops! I meant to post this in the confirmed unlisted varieties section. Is it possible to move it?

Two of my best buys have been in the March auctions. It could be that it's March that's the problem. I must admit the results were variable. Some more expensive pennies (eg. 1843 & 1856OT) didn't really make big money but, to me anyway, were poorer than the photos would suggest. On the other hand, lot 2168 (1860 Satin 1, Gouby BP1860A1 Obverse A1 with R of REG rotated) with a guide price of £700-£1,000 sold for £2,300. Which was £200 less than the commission bid placed on it Someone was keen! Interestingly, after the auction of this item Stephen Lockett made a rare comment, that the buyer had been trying to find an example of this penny for many many years and was determined to get it!

True. Interestingly, the dangers of mercury never stopped it being used in amalgam fillings though!

Wow, that's a high risk strategy Dave! To sell one's collection and then expect to be able to buy it back at a cheaper price in the future. Even with the money available, it takes years to assemble a decent collection. Some coins virtually never appear in the market and to lever them out of the hands of other collectors is likely to require a significant premium.

Bear in mind that modern proof sets average around 100,000 issued, and you can't give them away! What does "you can't give them away" mean? The modern proof coins are legal tender therefore valid money, isn´t? Two nations separated by a towel on sunbed war It's a figure of speech, not meant to be taken literally. Like irony and sarcasm, it probably doesn't translate well into German. You're right though, you could give them away, of course. You're probably even more confused now!

Two of my best buys have been in the March auctions. It could be that it's March that's the problem. I must admit the results were variable. Some more expensive pennies (eg. 1843 & 1856OT) didn't really make big money but, to me anyway, were poorer than the photos would suggest. On the other hand, lot 2168 (1860 Satin 1, Gouby BP1860A1 Obverse A1 with R of REG rotated) with a guide price of £700-£1,000 sold for £2,300.

Sorry Rob, I didn't record that lot (was having a beer and sandwich prior to the slabbed pennies!) Did you happen to record 1877,1900 & 2210? Regarding the max postal bid, of course these will be pre-sorted and the auction will start at the maximum postal bid as at the start of the auction they will be winning the bids. The floor will then get the opportunity to bid up from that point until the highest postal bidders max is reached or exceeded. Hi Gary, I can certainly tell you about lot 2210 as I bought it! £150 hammer... no other bids! Sorry, can't help with the others as I only really watched the pennies.

It looks like a low grade penny which has been silver plated.

That's true, and really the only clue. Of course I know it must be altered but even under a scope it's impossible to see how.

I couldn't possibly comment

How could you possibly know that? I did say 'appears'. I noticed that, in most cases, when the sale of a lot was started with a postal/email bid that was then outbid in the room, there was rarely a counter bid from the initial bidder. This suggests to me that the maximum bid was used to kick-off the sale. You might interpret it otherwise? That does sound odd, but I do know from personal experience of London Coins that I have won many absentee lots below my maximum. Fair enough. I don't want to suggest anything other than that the process is far from transparent and that, by being in the room, I feel in control of my bidding.

Sorry Rob, I didn't record that lot (was having a beer and sandwich prior to the slabbed pennies!)

How could you possibly know that? I did say 'appears'. I noticed that, in most cases, when the sale of a lot was started with a postal/email bid that was then outbid in the room, there was rarely a counter bid from the initial bidder. This suggests to me that the maximum bid was used to kick-off the sale. You might interpret it otherwise?

A reasonable day spent at Bracknell (4 coins) but a few disappointments over grading. A couple of the 'big' coins just looked much poorer in hand than their grades/photos would suggest. I also noticed again (or so it appears) how often the top postal/email bid is used to start the bidding, so that absentee bidders tend only to win at their maximum price. These two reasons alone justify taking the time to attend.

Any excuse to post a pic:

You mean, why is 1933 also the date of one of the most sought after British coins too?

They're ahead of you. Philip Skingley's foreword to the 2012 Spink says, "It is our intention for the next edition to split the catalogue into two volumes, separating the decimal coining into its own stand-alone volume." He goes on to say that this will allow both sections to expand. Good news for those of us with only a passing interest in decimal currency! But not for those of us whose interests cross the divide. Just get a copy of Check your Change for the new tat I don't think you'd find gold or even silver Britannias in your change, though Exactly... so why collect them? They may strictly be legal tender (nominal £100 face value for gold) but are never used as such. To me they are just medallions.

They're ahead of you. Philip Skingley's foreword to the 2012 Spink says, "It is our intention for the next edition to split the catalogue into two volumes, separating the decimal coining into its own stand-alone volume." He goes on to say that this will allow both sections to expand. Good news for those of us with only a passing interest in decimal currency! But not for those of us whose interests cross the divide. Just get a copy of Check your Change for the new tat

I think we all missed this... If you are proposing to post, please feel free to do so, whatever the day. If, however, you are posting to propose then I'm afraid, 4 years it must be!

They're ahead of you. Philip Skingley's foreword to the 2012 Spink says, "It is our intention for the next edition to split the catalogue into two volumes, separating the decimal coining into its own stand-alone volume." He goes on to say that this will allow both sections to expand. Good news for those of us with only a passing interest in decimal currency!

I'm in two minds about going, it would be Sunday though. I've got three lots in the auction so please bid freely, I mean feel free to bid. I'm looking at one of your lots as a possibility , at least I assume the F176 is yours?