Sword

In this particular case, I think the cleaning is definitely the right thing to do. The uncleaned coin has very poor visual appeal. Although the cleaned coin is not lustrous, it is at least much easier on the eye.

Sorry, they are still selling CGS coins. The "choice English coins" tab has been removed but they are still selling at the bottom of their web page.

I have just noticed that LCA is no longer selling CGS coins on its website.

Some of the earliest members like Emperor Oli and Halfpenny Jon were kids when they first joined. Now in their thirties and have probably given up coin collecting long ago. I guess the hobby was a little more popular with children when the internet was not so big. I don't think there are any regular members younger than 25 (or even 35) now. I have been thinking about Peter too. Hopefully he is OK and is just taking a break from here.

The eagles certainly.

Users of LCGS have already reported that they are no longer in the business. (I too had an account from the CGS days. That ceased to work when CGS became LCGS.)

NGC has a London office. https://www.ngccoin.uk/news/article/6822/london-office-opens/

1699 Hungarian Thaler featuring Leopold I as Holy Roman Emperor:

Here are some of my examples of thalers: 1565 thaler featuring Augustus as Elector of Saxony

Thalers often feature impressive designs and I particularly like the cityscape reverses. Even 14th and 15th centuries thalers are usually milled and minted to a much higher standard compared to the hammered English coinage of the same period.

I wouldn't myself. When a coin is worn, tarnish / toning tends to highlight the remaining details. For example, you can just make out the "I" of honi thanks to the toning.

Yes indeed. A nice bold fine example to my eyes. A nice collectable example. And I disagree, I think it is very good :-) (grading that is)

Apart from the grading issue, I am stunned that anyone could say that "a coin will be selected at random from the chosen condition" for an asking price of over £300! I want to know exactly what I am getting for anything costing more than £10.

It was just an arbitrary decision taken by them in the beginning.

Authentication I guess. You might have a very rare variety with a minor flan flaw for example.

"Rejected" coins still get encapsulated (with a yellow label instead of white). In addition, a grade (UNC details, AU details, EF details etc) is also given but without a number.

I totally agree that a slabbing company should tell you why they didn't slab a coin. That should be part of the service and it's just good manners. However, I think it is right that they charge their fee even if a coin is rejected. You paid for their opinion and not for a favourable outcome. If someone do an operation in a private hospital, they have to pay the fee regardless.

You get charged the full fee regardless. The argument is that the company has to do the same amount of work regardless.

I think if a coin has retoned after dipping, then the original "cleaning" would be very difficult to detect (provided it has not lost its lustre after the dipping).

I think more than half the 1927 sets for sale in the UK are in leather cases. They do look rather smart. E.g. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203507359175?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=203507359175&targetid=1281240839185&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1007246&poi=&campaignid=12126078237&mkgroupid=117862863250&rlsatarget=pla-1281240839185&abcId=9300480&merchantid=116637687&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0cnSsOPW8QIVB-rtCh0O7g2AEAQYAiABEgIte_D_BwE This is a prototype box as the standard all have white inserts. A prototype box for a set of prototype coins make sense to me as the leather cases might only be available later on.

These cardboard boxes are genuine. The 1927 set was issued with a choice of leather case or cardboard box. Sets in cardboard boxes were issued at a price of 15 shillings. Sets in leather cases cost 6 shillings more at one pound and one shilling.

Information from the Royal Mint describes the 1927 box as "leather case" if it helps.

The movie features some heroic sacrifices which are questionable but worked out well later on. Hence the feel good factor. Most people probably thought it was dumb that the team did not escape in the tunnel at half time because they want to play the second half in an attempt to win. However, they did manage an unlikely draw against the biased refereeing. In addition, they managed a very unlikely escape justifying their decision to play in the first place. Pele's goal even got a standing ovation from the German officer who organised the match. That also felt good.

I remember the film well and can still visualise Pele's amazing goal. It is certainly a feel good movie.

Stunning.