Sword

I think the definition of the term "cleaning" is somewhat imprecise. If cleaning is about removing loose surface contaminants without damaging the coin surface in anyway, then it is of course perfectly acceptable and is usually the correct thing to do. This can include removing deposits on dug up coins, or dipping a coin in acetone for example. This can be compared to cleaning a valuable oil painting covered with dirt. It is absolutely correct to remove the dirt so that we can actually see the painting below. We want to admire the painting and not the layer of dirt. However, conservation is a different thing as this is about altering the actual surface of the object in some way. This can include removing a mount, a mark on a frosted portrait, and yes, in the strict sense removing bad toning or tarnishing. I don't think it is chemically possible to turn a toned object back to its 100% original shiny untoned state. Whether this removal of toning is obvious / not obvious / exceedingly difficult to detect is another matter. Giving a choice, who wouldn't prefer a coin that has not been "conserved" over a "conserved" specimen. Removing dirt off the surface of a painting is cleaning. But chemically turning the pigments that have discoloured with time back to the original colours is conservation. Such conservation is often very acceptable for paintings because each painting is unique and you will not find another better specimen. I think IanB is correct in that it is not necessarily true that all bright / untoned coins over 100 years old have been cleaned. There are bronze coins over 100 years old with full lustre but are admittedly rare. By sheer coincidence, coin surface can perhaps be protected from toning by picking up / developing a layer of "substance"? If the layer is thin enough, it will be invisible.

I think the "seller" only wants to get information on his teddy which is sentimental to him. A price needs to be given for an advert on Ebay and a £10k price just mean he doesn't want to sell it. Nothing sinister in that. Likewise he is only after information on his coin I think. It would be different if he had artificially toned the teddy a pale golden colour (which I understand can be a very rare colour), sew a button onto the ear to pretend it is a Steiff, make up some story about it being the favorite teddy of Queen Victoria and get "assistance" with the biddings.

I think the standing Scottish lion is just a hybrid between a man and a lion. It is also well known that the crowned lion on George IV shillings has a very human looking face.

Great to see you back !

Unsold of course and relisted. It's now withdrawn (for the time being) after a couple of bid retractions.

I think it is not that likely she will get the £98 for it. The buyer O***R(16), placed bids on 175 items in 30 days! Her interesting items have a habit of being relisted after being "sold".

With such a terrible tone and other relevant factors, the "item" is already found wanting. It's not even worth the trouble to weigh it in the scales.

An old article I came across. Something that eBay sellers and buyers should be aware of. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/apr/20/ebay-seller-convicted-auction-fixing

Marleybob1 started the bidding at £40 because " I CAN'T LIST IT AT THOUSANDS OF POUNDS I CANT DO THAT.. THAT WOULD BE DISHONEST AND I WAS BROUGHT UP BETTER THAN THAT.. .BUT I CAN SHOW AND TELL YOU WHAT THERE IS." Now she has started the bidding at £25k. Reason: "I have been looking and i have found something else about the man Robert armitage and he wasn't just to do with coal like I thought and 11.11 wasn't his birth date . And this came from where I said it did so on that basis I have increased the price."

Described as "1921 Maundy set, verdigris to one side of all coins, otherwise extremely fine." by auction house. This must be the worst case of verd on 0.5 silver coins I have ever seen. Somewhat made my stomach cringe just looking at the photos. Anyone care to bid?

I wonder when will the bids from n***y(162) and 1***z(1) kick in. They have 100% bid activities with her but do not appear to have brought anything.

Yes, a speck of "foreign" verd on its own might not be enough to cause problems. But verd, like other forms of corrosion does not develop evenly across the surface. Spots get bigger with time and would suggest that it is easier to form further verd on an existing spot rather than a clean surface. If a coin is stored in less than ideal conditions, it is not improbable that a verd speck could trigger off the process. These are all just speculations of course.

Told you so. Some people are so predictable.

I honestly don't know but can imagine that a speck of the green stuff can catalyse further verd development.

Yes, but you might also turn a shade green if your best coins get infected by those things. Looks like the verd is dropping off readily onto the background piece of paper.

No doubt. The estimate is £60 and there is no chance it will sell for that.

Indeed. You don't want them in your house for fear it might "infect" your other coins.

He probably came up with the £65 BIN by looking at the year of the coin. People like that are fairly harmless on a practical level. He hasn't ever sold a coin and probably never will because of his insane prices.

I was a little tempted by these cuff links which are quite tasteful but bit too pricey at £100. However, the photo of their models wearing their accessories put me right off. Come on, choose people somewhat younger than middle age to sell your wares! Let your younger customers retain some dignity!

It's blank (last photo on eBay). It's also very strange to have a hyphen between "Winston" and "Churchill". Let's just hope the thing wasn't made in the UK.

"and it remains one of the most beautiful and rarest coins in the world." Many collectors would consider that statement a misrepresentation. "Piedfort" commission 🙂

Still two more e-mail addresses above not yet removed.

She sure would :) . Queen Victoria herself was proclaimed as Empress of India only in 1876, a full decade later.

I find it almost impossible to believe he is honest. Just too many fake coins on his site at ridiculous prices. His 1866 King Edward VII Hong Kong One Dollar Silver Coin is particularly amusing. Asking price of £475.