Paulus

lol I couldn't resist!

And the fact that these are widely copied, no weight or provenance was offered, and less than 1000 were genuinely minted

That would make sense. Batches submitted (in my experience) always have consecutive UIN numbers. The numbers 1001 and 1002 also coincide with about 10 years ago, soon after CGS first started.

Yes that's exactly what the UIN number means ... funnily enough the highest known in their pop report is 0001002, this has no relation to the grade, but does mean that the higher grade coin was either submitted by the same owner in the same batch, or is a total coincidence!

The 1902 HP LT was offered for auction on the Facebook group at 99p start by a VERY well known dealer - but I cannot mention his name on here!

So very true! Many times offers come up for coins outside my main interest at very good prices which I might buy to sell on, or expand my collecting interest. Just another avenue, along with dealers' sites, personal contacts, traditional auction houses, coin fairs, internet only auction sites (check Catawiki once a week), general auctions via The Saleroom et al, and so on It's totally buyer beware if buying over Facebook, unless paying by Paypal G&S or high value by credit card (rarely offered)

CGS 85 is the highest grade in their population report at the moment (for what it's worth)

It will! Without doubt!

I wasn't looking for one but at the price it was just too good to pass on. Delighted to have won it now and will be keeping it!

They are often 5% proper collectors and dealers and 95% change decimal collectors who have little clue or serious interest in pre-decimal. Our very own Chris is a member of many of them (in fact I bought something off him the other day via Facebook),as are many other members on here. The best one is probably "English coins for sale and wanted" but as I say there are many posts about decimals and territories and non-coin stuff so it takes some time, and unlike this forum it is difficult to search or use as a resource.

Snaffled it at a bargain price on a Facebook Group auction Worth joining some if bargain hunting, time consuming though and as much tat as eBay!

It's slabbed by CGS as 60 (EF) - I would go aEF but I am getting more and more strict as the years roll on!

17% all in is a very competitive uplift on the hammer, many are 20% + VAT so 24% (add a quarter for ease) However the need to either attend or submit max bids by email, phone or snail mail prior to the auction severely hinders your chances of getting a'bargain' (unless you attend) imo. One of the auctioneers at DNW will leave the item unsold if there are no bids for less than 20% under minimum estimate (it seems) - and I guess the estimates come from them. And if you place a max bid surely that will influence how low the auctioneer will start the bidding (let's say yours is the only bid at this stage) There is a chance that the auction will start at the maximum pre-auction bid, in which case you will win if yours is highest and there are no in-room bids - leading to suspicion that yours was the only bid - seen this happen many times. Don't submit a pre-auction bid you won't be entirely happy with if you win it, is the best advice I can give!

Yes, I have won a few at less than my max email bid. But I have always been left feeling that I'd be better off (as would the seller and LCA (i.e everyone)) if they had live on-line bidding though (like all the other big boys)

Nothing like as interesting or impressive as Rob's, but acquired today (low tide)

"absolute proof" - LOL

Fascinating, so this would have represented 1/200th of a pound, rather than 1/480th?

Another I had not seen before, please excuse the ignorant question, but what relates this to the Victorian decimal 'trial' ?

Thanks Rob, I'll take a look

Here's my type example, lions aren't too bad

These kind of posts are what keep me inspired to widen my knowledge and collection, thanks yet again Rob, I know I will not be the only one to appreciate you sharing this info and pics!

Refreshing to find an eBay seller who states that their item has been cleaned and points out digs, very often they hope the buyer will not notice (and they often don't)

With the coloured rabbit effort, the RM state this: Issuing Country: United Kingdom Metal: Solid .925 Sterling Silver Weight: 8.00 Grams / Diameter: 27.30mm Quality: Silver Proof Issue Limit: 15,000 Worldwide. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- are they then allowed to exceed the production of 15,000 for that self same coin?

It can be difficult going by pics alone, unless you have pics of a known fake with the same post production digs, edge knocks, dings, etc Al lot of the modern Chinese ones from the likes of Ali Express are the wrong weight (being made with no silver, or the wrong silver alloy). Ali Express sell them clearly as copies but some of them are pretty good at first glance. Many I have seen are mid grade (like this one) and have a dull brown tone, but of course that is not conclusive. It's a problem.

There's a lot of Chinese copies of these around, if you were considering it (personally I wouldn't, low on eye appeal and grade), you would certainly want to know the weight (which should be 28.3g). It wouldn't look all that majestic alongside your 1927 example (which is a bit unfair I know, your 1927 being a very high grade proof!)