Sword

The tampering of the CCTV to catch Matt Hancock was undoubtedly illegal and a security risk. It was the government's job to find out who was responsible. According to skynews, two people were suspected but there was not enough evidence to charge. https://news.sky.com/story/matt-hancock-insufficient-evidence-to-prosecute-two-suspected-of-leaking-cctv-kiss-footage-12589378 With regard to the other photos, they could all be legit as far as we know. Some might even be taken with full knowledge of the people concerned. One reported photo supposedly show the PM holding a can of beer towards the camera during his birthday party. He is said to be standing next to Rishi Sunak in the image taken by an official Downing Street photographer. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-birthday-party-beer-photo-b2008215.html I hope we won't be too shocked when the photos come out after the investigation. Enough political diversion for me for now, and I will go to the other threads

I agree that his wife's tax status or holding a green card when Chancellor are not resignation issues. I doubt there is any need to apologise to anyone for those things. Nevertheless, they were political errors in the sense that they have cost him something with regard to reputation. Partygate with the Prime Minister is a totally different issue. For him, it wasn't just an isolated incidence. We all have our own views on what he ought to do now, and I don't want to be dragged into a debate on this one. I will just finish with a light hearted joke: "Grandpa, how did you cope during the COVID lockdowns?" asked one of his grandchildren. "I was fine, fine, fine" replied Boris. "Your grandma was fine too. In fact, Downing Street was fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine fine fine..."

Obviously, one partner has no right to "order" the other to do anything. IMHO, the question is not about her judgement but with his. He was married in 2009 and it is questionable whether he should have entered politics in 2014 if she wanted to keep her non dom status. People only have to look after themselves prior to becoming politicians. It can be viewed as an error of judgement (solely on his part) for him to accept appointments as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and as Chancellor if his wife wanted to remain non dom. Similarly, holding a green card even when Chancellor would also be viewed by many as another error of judgement.

No thanks.

They are asking £100 for a proof 1977 silver crown!? Around 400% profit margin when sourced from eBay?

Except the victim is turning out to be a (very) tough kid in a fight. The bullying might eventually progress into the phase of breaking into his locker and stealing his homework.

I bid minus half sovereign. 😁 I too have seen the video on bbc news. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-60796417 Each phone has 0.04g of gold apparently and is worth about £1.5. Hope the extraction is actually economically feasible rather than a gimmick.

They are under "THE TYRANTS OF THE THAMES".

I guess the rejected coins can be donated to the "reject box" and the contents are then sold for charity?

Let's just pray that Russia doesn't want to risk a world war either. The situation with Cuba was even more dangerous and the world avoided a war even then. I am not certain if one could have replaced NATO / Warsaw Pack with something meaningful. Russia is already a permanent member of the United Nation Security Council and would probably want some form of veto in any such organisation. Incidentally, they are actually the President of the Security Council this month.

Guaranteed $12 worth for only $10 😆

If it took selling off all your books (and coins?) to rekindle your interest, then it was worth it! Love to get a decent Elizabeth I at some point myself.

You won't even have the right to look at the coin in person. Hence, it is even worse than buying a souvenir plot of land ...

Mint State as some would say. Weak striking and flan issue doesn't affect technical grade but would of course make a big difference to price.

Surely you meant "P.M. Party"?

My goodness! Such superb toning has even succeeded in making the Bull Head look good.

Over £40 using the BoE inflation calculator.

nFDC I assume.

Younger people are so precise with their age ... 🙂 (Not that I am much older) Hey, you weren't quite telling the truth with the second sentence. I have just checked and it was Stuart (Coinery) who replied to your first post. Peter was second. By coincidence, it was Peter who replied to my first post and Stuart being the second. I even naively mentioned that I had slabbed a few coins with CGS in that post... but Peter was surprisingly OK with that.

I think you are just being diplomatic and I think the word is "won't" rather than "might". Any toning on bronze and copper coins is considered by collectors to be negative, and an untoned example with full lustre is much more desirable and expensive. Let's use the 1970 proof set as an example. They have gone up quite a bit in price during the last few years and are now selling for £15+. I have finally got round to buying one quite recently and it was difficult finding one with untoned bronze. Once a set is opened, it will start to tone for certain. Proof coins can easily lose their brilliance and appear misted. Don't get me wrong. I like love coins with eye catching toning. But great toning can take decades to form and it's much more likely to happen in the original case or in a cabinet than in a plastic flip. Our ideas of what good toning looks like do change as we become more experienced. From a money view point, it doesn't matter much if you do split a 1970 set. (But it would be a real shame to split one with untoned bronze!). Lots of them got split and are sold separately anyway. There is no shortage of 1970 proof set for sale on eBay. 129 are on offer now.

I meant it lack the intricacies of the traditional designs which we admire. It doesn't come across as cutting edge or innovative like a good modern design should be. The reverse is a poor rip off of the William IV half crown. The obverse is a rip off of the 1977 silver jubilee crown. I won't pay spot for it either. In fact I would much rather own a bullion bar than that coin.

Doesn't do it for me. I think the design has somewhat fallen between too stools, and is not particularly inspiring. It doesn't look traditional or modern.

I think it is best to store proofs in an air tight system to maintain lustre. 2x2 self adhesive coin holders appear safe to me. Many 1927 sets have been split already. If stored properly, I don't think there is any great risk.

I had a quick look at the lots and quite a few has been "wiped" in addition to a those more harshly "cleaned". I can understand your frustration . One thing which has always surprised me is that Davies (English Silver Coinage) mentions that "surface grime can be removed with a clean piled cloth, gently rotating the coin between the cloth and fingers until the original toning is reached". This is something I have no inclination to try.

They are on sale on etsy or eBay for a few pounds. But that doesn't stop some from trying.