Coinery

Probably typed in 'king willi or bag marks' Scott!

I have tried it all, boiled egg yolks, bleach, liver sulphate, and have had some brilliant results. However, I've had many more rubbish results, without changing any of the obvious variables, so lord knows what's going on there? The very best I've had was from a natural re-tone, achieved when living in our caravan by the sea! I could turn a coin very nearly black, just by leaving it on a high shelf. Strangely, though, as you point out, some coins just wouldn't budge, and some would tone quite nicely, but the tone would smudge off with a thumb, whilst others would be a permanent and good quality tone. Equally, some would tone black, and others a brownish colour, almost like copper??? Not helpful, unfortunately, but, whatever you try, make sure the coin is decontaminated with acetone first, then the surfaces have a chance of toning evenly. Ps I did buy some silver ageing 'juice' used by creative jewellers to make antique-effect jewellery...I wouldn't advise it, it was very unpredictable in its action and outcomes, mostly leaving a brown/grey surface that, more often than not, would wash off! Good luck with it all! Something I haven't yet tried is burial in a plant pot, with various mediums and moisture contents...I reckon a formula could be found there?

Well, it's going to be a sixpence, maybe groat, for Liz, then! You won't get an overly decent shilling at the money you propose! You could, of course, buy a top class Halfgroat or penny for that money...but few seem to like the smaller denominations?

I'm the one on the right. Oh, really? Who'd have an anchor tattooed on his chest, me or peck! Peck's the one on the left!

Dave, if you're on a PC, do put up that image I shared from FB!

I don't think anyone troubled to assess it for authenticity, Paulus, I think it was taken as read that you'd already covered that one off? Well done seuk, and well done on getting a full refund...was this a recent acquisition then?

Oh, Josie!

excellent!

I'm not going to read the other comments yet, as I want to give you an unbiased opinion. For me, the 1818 is a clear winner. It doesn't have the scuff striations on the obverse, as the 1819 has. The reverses are probably level-pegging, as each has areas stronger than the other, but I like the legend better on the 1818. Same as, then, Peck! I really couldn't live with the '19 obverse at all!Someone made a remark about dipped '18, I never really picked this up from a casual look at the images (plus, Paulus' images tend to be quite blue), but that may be quite true! Maybe get rid of the pair and sink the money into something in the up-and-coming??? Try and get there if poss.? Bet you wish you'd never asked now?

No contest for me either,1818! The other looks hairlined to me, Paulus???

It's exactly what the forum is all about, Simon! People on highs and lows of their finances and coin journeys, still finding any which way to take numismatics seriously! Thanks for raising the topic, it's been a great education for me, if only I had the time to explain why!

Keep it for me, Chris (premium a must), I'll have a browse over the rest of your stock in the next week/10 days...sorry it's so unprofessionally delayed, but we are in the last two-week struggle to get aboard our new home!

I usually have a few! Any that are ugly (I mean even uglier than normal), excessively bag marked, scuffed or just not right, all get paid into my Natwest account at 25p face value. Does that mean if I spend a bit on some other stuff, you could sift me a nice one out?

The fakes must have come from the CGS coin, however (if it truly is the real deal)! All the weak regions/legend letters are exactly the same! Another point of interest is, what does CGS compensate for, in the event of a fake coin being uncovered? Their valuation, or the amount you paid?

Wow, take a look at the reverse, that's majorly suspect! What do you all think? Edit: I've just taken a look at the CGS images AND valuation of £375!

What is interesting, though, is all 4 coins, including the CGS coin, show the same weaknesses of strike, pointing at the CGS coin as being either fake, or the pirate coin itself from which the copies were made? Is it for sale?

Grrrr, took me a whole hour to get online tonight! Anyway, here's my example (top left) along with the CGS coin, forgery Network coin, etc.! They all look to be from the same die, which either means CGS has slipped up, or the H7 groats from this die were the most numerous and one was copied at some point, leaving a potential pile of fakes from this die, as well as a number of the originals from the original die, complicating things somewhat! If it was my CGS coin I'd rip it out under video, weigh, tap, measure, and silver test it! However, it definitely looks better than the other 3, but it's not a significant difference in quality, I have to say! Having said all that, mine's very obviously thicker, and I'd expect CGS to be at least THAT good, as much as it annoys me to say so!

No, I think you're absolutely right! (Sorry not to give you a good argument...) Having said that, most of the designs aren't attractive enough in anything much less than UNC. The halfcrowns, florins and sixpences especially look rather shabby as soon as they start to wear much, same with the obverses. Oh I agree that they go 'off' very quickly. That's why I'm happy to collect in EF and upwards, but I'm not too concerned to go for the nirvana of UNC. I'm primarily a collector and so value/investment is secondary but not completely ignored, and for this reason I can see that Liz II coins in particular are very unlikely to command investment prices in my lifetime, even in the top condition. Hence, I don't see paying top prices for a common and unremarkable coin, even if it is unusual for that date to be found in UNC.For me it's always about pushing the boundaries and, if you can't keep an eye out for the TOP in E2 coins, then where else can you put together a quality collection?It totally depends on your focus and, having agreed the E2 coins go 'off' with barely a rub, I can't see why someone wouldn't want the very best? There are few monarchs where you can pursue this at such little cost! As I said before, for me at least, the E2 coinage is a happy drug, which still gives the buzz if I'm compiling it diligently, and without compromise! I mean, why would you spend one pound on something ordinary, when two pounds buys you a bit of jazz? Just my anal, pedantic, perfectionist self, coming on...it just wouldn't interest me without this detail and focus! To each their own! Happy daze!

Look like similar dies on a quick scan! I've actually got one of these, will get on the PC later!

Saxby's is forever listing the humble E1 penny and Threehalfpence as the rarer and more expensive threefarthings! The seller is a numismatic joke! Unbelievable fraudster OR genuine simpleton, take your pick!

Just taken a look at Chris' image of the Churchill! The problem with the overall design ( from the point of view of finding a mint circulation example) is Churchill only has to rub a surface for 20 seconds to show significant marks, such is the flatness of the design. Another shocking thought occurs, and that is this is a 50 year old coin next year!

Hah, yes, indeed! But I can 'just about' make the excuse that I'm simply collecting the Elizabeth coinage, at least until I can start properly lashing out on a top-end E1 collection that I can keep!I've done the ground work on E1 but, in the mean time, I'm just keeping myself interested with a bit 'o' Liz! Incidentally, it's this little E2 foray that has had me note the Churchill Crown is not so 'top-collector-grade' common as we'd all like to think it is! All good fun!

Join the que. I don't think they even left the mlnt like that. The nearest you will get is a VIP proof.This is what I was thinking, Gary, even the most commonly coin has its rarity! I'd seriously like a quality one, though, if anyone has such a thing?

Just as an aside, what did CGS value it at?

I think it's a radical coin too! Anyone got an unblemished BU out there? No rim nicks, or digs, nice lustre? I want one, please!