Paulus

Second coin, had to get this authenticated given the high quality Chinese stuff that's about, grade guesses?

Got a small batch back from CGS today (finally, 9 weeks) First coin, my keeper for this type, what grade did they assign to it? And for a bonus point, what variety is it?

aUNC IMHO ... Fred is it?

I use a pretty simply method of embedding Photobucket (PB) images in this Forum: In PB, under 'Share Links', with your image displayed on its own, click inside the 'Direct' box - PB will say 'Copied' In your Forum message, click on the 'Image' icon and paste (Ctrl + V) the URL and click OK This is quick and straightforward to me, and it doesn't link people to your PB! Clicking on the image simply pops it open in its own small window

I have a mint, genuine, 50 Trillion Dollar bank note - any offers?

A very warm welcome Hazelman! This Forum is particularly great for its expertise, honesty, and frequency of posts and replies, in my opinion! For shilling varieties I would recommend 'English Silver Coinage since 1649' by Seaby / Rayner, and 'The Identification of British 20th Century Silver Coin Varieties' by David J Groom (a member on here) And I wish you all the luck in the world, do you have a 1905 shilling you are happy with yet?

As Rob says, the photos aren't that great, but my grade based on those pics would be no better than GVF. The 1787 shillings and sixpences, with and without hearts, are very common in high grades, and 'relatively' inexpensive. Please feel free to run potential purchases past the forum members before you buy, I know sometimes you may feel there isn't time to do that, but you may be surprised how quickly we respond!

Thanks Richard, probably top of my list for this year is a quality milled Liz I or Chas I ... English though ...

If only ... it wasn't bent and didn't have a bite out of it ... but then of course it would cost a lot more ... link

I expect it's one of these, sold at London Coins Auctions recently: Auction 146 Lot 1694 Fantasy or Imitation Una and the Lion a massive 85 mm diameter weighs 288 grammes and 9 mm thick BU and eye catching, in a presentation case

I think Rob has said that Ilchester is one of them?

link

I echo these anniversary felicitations

Each to his/her own of course, but personally I don't see any appeal whatsoever in collecting so-called varieties that are simply the result of ageing/damaged/clogged dies, which must surely affect most of the coins we already have, and want to acquire, to a greater or lesser degree? Isn't it a bit like saying 'I want an early strike of this type, and one that is from a slightly worn die, and a third from a really worn/rusty die that makes the 'A' look like it is unbarred, or the Trident look like it has 2 prongs?' Definitely not for me, these 'varieties'! Edit: sorry if that ruffles any feathers, or perhaps if some of the varieties I have cited are more than just die issues, each to their own! I like spelling errors on early milled/hammered

All posts are welcome here, whether they are related to UK or foreign numismatics, pre- or post-decimal ... it is fair to say that the bulk of the expertise will be in the pre-decimal UK arena

What years do you have/are missing Christoph? I believe Bill Pugsley (a member on here) has every 20th C Maundy set - and they will be high grade - you could try PMing him?

lol

Exactly Stu, and with a small population like CGS have of under 40,000 graded coins the 'Finest Known' accolade can change hands quite frequently, and is still up for grabs for many many types!!! At least there is a finite population out there to collect ... until another hoard of Tudor hammered is discovered, revealing some Liz I sixpences with an Aardvark privy mark!

The whole thing has got a bit ridiculous ... oh, the Eurofighter, WHAT a machine!!!!!!! I never tire of it at air shows! The very best was Bournemouth a few years ago when it was a gorgeous August Bank Holiday weekend so they could do what they wanted in the skies ... then later in the afternoon a few wispy clouds appeared and this total Top Gun Maverick show off gave it all he'd got ... with audio commentary on the tannoy, after his diaphragm-challenging aeronautics, he finished by corkscrewing vertically up through a cloud leaving a perfect hole in his wake ... an audio-visual image I will never forget

It's not a grading description I use myself, but it appears to be in common usage! Maybe it's a term that wrangles in the same way as 'almost unique'?

Would that it were so, I am still on a steep learning curve but still enjoying the hobby immensely! The likes of Rob have probably forgotten more than I will ever know (although perhaps Rob is a bad example, he seems to have an encyclopaedic memory!) The problem of the 'perfect' grade is analogous to the competitions I mentioned - if you give someone a 9.9, and then later on someone else is even better, what do you do?

Again, I agree. Much like I feel about perfect 10's in gymnastics and perfect 6's for Torville and Dean (I won't mention televised talent competitions!) However: I have a NGC MS70 coin (non Proof)I have 2 PCGS PR70 coinsAnd going back to my FDC question, you have for sale an 1882 Maundy set that you describe as aFDC, but I presume they are not proof (they would be a bargain indeed if they were!) - do you make an exception in grading descriptions for non-proof Maundy (perhaps because they are not minted for circulation)?

NFDC is equal to 12. On the basis that BU is as good as they come, then that must equal 100. The rest follows. I totally agree Rob, BU should be the top grade of 100 for non-proofs on the CGS scale, and FDC for proofs, equally with a grade of 100. To my mind they have confused the 2, suggesting perhaps that Proofs are always a better grade than circulation coins (but they are a different type so you can't really compare them)A circulation coin cannot achieve a grade of 100?

Ok, how about Ilchester, Cricklade, Shaftesbury, Malmesbury and Winchcombe? 1 right. lol Ilchester eh? Not today sir, no.

I know, I know, how can a non-proof coin be better than BU! Their table says 88 = BU - NFDC But then of course proof is not in itself a grade, and I don't necessarily see why non-proof coins can't be described as FDC ... Out of interest, does anyone know the history behind the adoption of FDC (Fleur de Coin) as a grade, seeing as it does not conform to the rest of the traditional grading abbreviations?