Sword

Wouldn't it be great if it were a real story. There has never been an US Senator named Rudolf Schmidt though.

This is the item in question: If it is up to me, I will put a "pressing engagement" into its diary.

I think they have made far too many pointless commemorates with the Queen on the observe. Eventually, you would associate the Queen's later portraits with these less than tasteful items. I rather like the earlier portraits myself.

Good images of famous characters require a lot of time and skill. Images of a car or a bow tie and tuxedo require much less effort. I am not impressed with most of the modern RM designs. The Brexit 50p was really bad.

Information from Google. "George III brass 'spade' guinea card counter. 1790. Rev. C.W.B. & Co. Birm. Neilson 6910. The standard 'spade' design along with a spurious date is given. The legend reads: .C.W.B.ET.CO.DG./I.REX.F.D.B.I.R.M.1790. This garbled legend actually gives the maker's name, C.W.B & Co. (Charles William Bagnall) and the place of manufacture, 16, Hockley Street, Birmingham."

This was sold by Baldwin's in 2018. PF65 at £700 hammer.

In addition to the grade, only buy a coin you like the look of unless it is very cheap. (It will be somewhat different if you ever graduate to collecting rare pennies). A VF penny is collectible, but I won't get one with that gunge on the head. If it is a common penny, then you will see a better specimen soon enough.

The NGC photos are below.

Yes, I think it is a bag seal. You can find images of mint bags with seals on the web. The seal do show a crown like yours.

No, it is not fine. Couldn't resist the pun. 😀 I agree with Peck that it is Fair. I think you are starting the hobby in the correct way. Getting some inexpensive coins in low grades is a good way to learn grading.

A little better than Fine I think.

Thanks. That all make good sense.

A result! But if the provenance of a rare valuable coin (not that I have one!) has already been established, would it then be OK to then take some photos of evidence and get the wax removed? It's history, but only relatively recent history and the coin has spent most of its life without the wax deposits. The alternative is to remove most of it leaving a bit behind. Then again, if the wax doesn't cause any damage, I can understand the the arguments for leaving it.

Traces of wax help to establish the provenance of a coin making it more interesting. Did PCGS respond to your e-mail and did it make them think again?

But an "old rare" coin is often worth over £100 ...But, yes it does look like that something like an Old Head penny would be covered. I think the RM's latest definitions of money and valuables is fair. A package containing current legal tender is more susceptible to theft and is is only covered by special delivery which makes sense. The T&C for tracked delivery states "If you breach this obligation [of sending valuables which include current legal tender] then you do so at your own risk and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we exclude all liability to you such in circumstances (and, to avoid doubt, we will not pay any compensation to you in such circumstances). Hence, I think it is hardly reasonable to expect any compensation when you are posting a modern coin using tracked delivery.

There will be no shortage of doctors if we start training man's best friend for the job.

Old established toning is safe. It is reassuring and has stood both the tests of time and light.

Brilliant uncirculated standard coins were struck twice and made at speed of 100 per hour which is much slower than currency. They are worth more than "50p" when they were first made. To be honest, how often do people lose things in the post? The very occasional loss of a low value item is very acceptable and can be factored into selling prices in in my view.

But they will probably argue that the BU 50p cost you £10 and the packaging came f.o.c.

Unfortunately, it is in the T&C that you send valuables at your own risk and no compensation will be paid. They further define valuables as to include money and coins. On the Royal Mail website, it states: "If you’re sending valuables, money or jewellery in the post, you should use Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed®. This lets you to claim compensation if the post is lost or damaged. Valuables sent using any other service aren't eligible for compensation. Our definition of money includes: coins & bank notes of any currency which are legal tender at the time of posting ..."

I think you were lucky to get compensation last time. The 50p pence pieces are definitely current legal tender and no compensation should be paid unless posted by special delivery. However, they are probably not worth enough for special delivery and the hence it's an acceptable risk to post them by ordinary post.

There are not many fishmongers around either unless you live by the sea. Most people again buy from supermarkets.

The percentage of vegetarians or vegans is low but the number of butchers stores has been declining every year apparently. Most people would appreciate the freshness and quality of meat from traditional butchers but then supermarkets offer much greater convenience and competitive prices.

I think light can increase the speed of toning and that's the reason why some people leave cleaned coins on window sills. It makes silver reacts faster with gases in its vicinity. Silver bromide was used in photographic plates. It darkens in light as it breaks down to give silver particles which causes a darkening effect. Not sure if this has any relevance to coin toning though.