Emperor Oli

The nuclear option, perhaps, but every time I logged on there were several topics queued in a few forums which were spam. I think most people who bother to find the site if they have inherited/discovered some coins wouldn't be dissuaded from posting because of registration.

Probably true

The second sentence "From the error 2p..." isn't a sentence. You need to scrap the preceding exclamation mark, replace it with a comma and make the "f" in "From" lower case. Shame on the rest of you for not spotting this. Teach kids Mandarin - I don't know! Geoff I'll just add that I suggested a change earlier but was brushed away. Something a little different, but a change nonetheless

I really don't think there are any alternatives. The Americans seem to have a better magazine in Coin World; that's weekly and seems to churn out better stuff that CN can in a month. Whenever I'm in the US (which isn't terribly often), I pick up a copy for comparison and find it blows CN out of the water. It must be noted that Coin World focuses on American issues and there is perhaps a larger base for their coins.

Well done!

Spink, I presume?

Ditto to that. I let my subscription lapse because I found I was just opening it, skimming through, then shoving it in a drawer. If someone could scan the article I too would be grateful.

It has begun. The news section makes for disturbing reading too; they have apparantly graded their 1000th coin on a - would you believe it - 100 point grading scale.

Kuhli has returned, that is good news!

I agree with you Geordie, but apparently each coin is graded by a few separate people who don't know the others' grading. I found this video on PCGS's website that shows the process of grading.

Just seen a picture of the cover of this year's on eBay. I think it's quite good! Don't know if anyone has got it this year...any big developments?

In the first paragraph: "The main aim of CYC is to inform the public about the special coins and banknotes that they might find in their change! From the error 2p worth £500 to the rare serial number prefixes for all current circulating banknotes." That second sentence doesn't sound right on its own to me, I'd run it on from the first or says something like "From the error 2p worth £500 to the rare serial number prefixes for all current circulating banknotes, a plethora of delights await you" ...but obviously better than that.

I've used postal orders before, you just go into a Post Office and exchange cash for them. They are as almost good as cash. Banker's drafts are similar; they are cheques drawn against the bank's own funds rather than those of an individual. For ease, I usually pay by cheque or Paypal. Cash by registered mail is an option, but it carries risk.

I would say post-mint.

I posted a reply to this a couple of hours ago but it's disappeared! Unless I just forgot to press the add reply button.... ANYWAY, I think for a first effort that is really good. You've captured the toning well, which I'm sure you'll appreciate is rather difficult without tilting the coin like you've done. I tend to use a tripod or copystand so that the camera is positioned perpendicular to the subject, but this makes it difficult to capture toning. The folks over at CU have some real photography buffs whose images are better than anything I could ever achieve!

I like the mottled peripheral toning on the obverse of the coin posted above, serves to highlight the portrait rather well.

That's what's known as a clip. I presume it looks like the picture below. Chris, the proprietor of this site, might be interested in it if you're looking to sell. It would most probably be mint damage (although there is an American seller on eBay "manufacturing" them) and should increase its value.

Linky

Though if I collected fake Vickies I'd have a bid in the assumption that was what it was. Up to £10 for curiousity value. Ditto. I recall Chris has a burgeoning collection of forgeries.

I read that yesterday on the site, first time I've ever read any T&C amendments!

I'd skip this.

From engravers to the airbrushers of "celebrities" today!

I'd go with that. Shame about the cleaning.

I wonder if that is too harsh for a relatively modern coin such as this? We need some product testing!

I'll second that. I think it's definitely worth spending the extra cash to get the "Classic" option with the bevelled edges. Gary, I am most envious! That was the one on Peter Nichols' site I like the best, sadly out of my budget. I can tell you enjoy it, it would be impossible not to.