Paulus

Personally I think it is 'Sellers beware' on eBay, tons of protection for buyers, and sellers dread negative feedback ... beware high grade coins without lots of hi-res pics, expensive historic coins without provenance, anything from China and certain other known replica exporting locations, and much more to be found on here. There are still bargains to be had for sure.

I can see a faint suspicion of a stop between the shoulder and the A - could be a filled die? There's a faint amount of wear on the shoulder, but it's certainly GEF I would say. Unfortunately, my Spink is 2005 and way out of date, but that gives £1500 in EF so I'd say it should be £2k - £2.5k by now, but with an added premium for its being so good. ---------------------------------------- Despite what Dave says, it's certainly possible to post good pictures here, even with a 150k per post limit. Use an image editor : 1. reduce the resolution to 72 ppi (you don't need more than that on a computer screen) 2. reduce the size to around - e.g. - 600 pixels square (pictures don't need to be the size of dinner plates, just a few times larger than lifesize) 3. save as a JPEG and compress it to medium quality at best (it won't deteriorate after one edit/save) - the result should easily be within the 150k limit. Actually, your Photobucket image is only 300 pixels square, and when I brought it into Adobe Elements and saved it as a medium JPEG, the file size was 48k!! In other words, you've got plenty of room to work with. (Chris P - if I do a full post on how to do this, can you put it as a 'sticky' in one of the forums?) This is such an important forum aid, that's so patiently written about, over and over, that it MUST be worthy of a sticky post, surely? Hear hear!

I echo all of that, are you specialising on collecting any particular coins?

Paulus was talking about TRIBUTE bands, not originals, Dave. I haven't seen the Australian Floyd, but they are supposed to be the best, like the Bootleg Beatles, and - rumour has it - Fred Zeppelin I think one reason tribute bands are so often so good is that they work hard to reproduce the band's recorded output note-perfect, where the original bands who are still touring, or who have reformed and go out on tour, usually don't give a stuff about being note-perfect; in fact, they often take pride in reinterpreting their own work, confident the fans will still love them. The best tribute band I ever saw was Talon, who cover The Eagles. I knew it was going to be a good night when I took my seat and counted 18 guitars lined up and ready on the stage! They did an acoustic half, then an electric half, and managed to fit a version of "Hotel California" into both!! I completely agree! I used to poo poo them but having seen Aussie Floyd and The Musical Box (early Genesis tribute) many times I am an absolute convert! Can get a perfect view near the front at the gigs too!!!!

Welcome Nicholas!

Interestingly "no defevcts", unlike the description. There's your added value. That explains the price, thanks Rob!

I paid less than this 2 weeks ago for a perfect piedfort one of these, this one isn't even proof!! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-UNITED-NATIONS-50TH-ANNIVERSARY-TWO-POUND-2-COIN-2-POUND-UNC-/261145704737?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&autorefresh=true&nma=true&si=lwoW94bIzNFaHgBs%2BW1cUSuae4I%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Hi Jay and welcome to the forum, it is the best I know of for English coin collecting (but not investing!) An important distinction, and I am posting to reiterate an important adage, that is not to try and combine investing with collecting ... we are all guilty of it to one extent or another I suspect, if only in the sense of (when collecting), 'is this a bargain'? 'could I resell it for more', or (especially if close to bullion value), 'will it appreciate'? - this doesn't necessarily apply to dealers of course, who are acquiring to resell for profit, but many on here are both dealers AND collectors, and many more buy and sell, often on eBay. The way I look at it, I can't afford to collect without some regard for the value (present and future) of the coin I am acquiring, so both aspects come in to play, it's a case of what takes precedence, and for me it is collecting.

Yes indeed, welcome to the forum and I hope you keep collecting and posting!

Great coin Mike I am after a high grade one myself!! Lovely present!

Hoping a stonking time is had by all, I will still be stalking the internet highways and byways in the hope of a good snipe, when I get the chance!

Afraid not (it went for £51 in the end), but it is my mission to snaffle one that you would like it your collection!

There are so many fakes on the Pre-decimal website that it makes me wonder whether Chris is the 'M' behind it all! Are you watching that Maltravers farthing Stuart?

Now that's intriguing, I've just bought two forgeries from this seller (listed as such), so what's going on there? I think he has uploaded an incorrect photo (or two!), quite which coin you would be buying I have no idea!

Looking forward to it too, definitely a learning experience!

Count me in too! Better get it at the 10% discount!

Hope you have a good Christmas Nicky!

My guess was MS62 and given that Heritage have an auction estimate of $1250-$1750, it is well off my radar too. That's crazy, is there not significant wear to the hair or is that me?

Sure is!

The ones that are actually described as "replicates" (sic) are pretty obvious fakes, to be honest. The most worrying item there is the florin. Good work Seuk! Yes the florin seems the least unconvincing, here it is for anyone who wants to avoid visiting this horrible site and having nightmares! Obverse digs in the same place as Dinsdale's!

Me too, Sword! AbsaBloodyLutely!

Most experienced collectors would spot the tell tale signs of a coin that has been dipped, as the "lustre" appears flat, and does not radiate from the surface in the same way that natural lustre does. Interesting article here Many thanks for the article 1949. I don't think I am experienced enough at the moment to distinguish between the different types of lustre but I prefer toned silver coins in any case. Nice photos by the way, Azda. Last year, I brought a matt proof 1902 crown with a really nice golden tone. (The coin is not quite FDC because of a tiny contact mark on the reverse which was almost invisible in the original auction photo. The tiny bits of grey in the photo is due to reflection of some kind and is not seen on the acutal coin in hand). If nice toning like this can potentially lower a coin's grade from FDC, then so be it in my view. FDC or not FDC, I still prefer toned silver coins. There are lots of sweeping faint lines on your photo of the coin Sword, what do you put those down to?

Okay I will, thanks Dave, Stuart, Peter! I have laid out the princely sum of just under a tenner so far, so I don't feel I should have done it earlier!! I have about 10 books so far but none about hammered specifically ...

I may, can't justify the outlay just yet! Strange 'J' in 'Jaco', or 'I' for 'J'?

The 12 days of Christmas it is then! 'On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, a partridge and a Lennox E30c Very very nice Stuart! Where did you get that one from?