Sword

I think they are saying that they do not take any responsibility for any problem which become apparent after a coin has been slabbed. They are saying that a slabbed coin might change due to the environment which it is stored without admitting the obvious that there might be potentially harmful chemicals on the surface prior to slabbing.

This is literally true as meat is sometimes packed in an atmosphere of argon (or the less effective nitrogen). Yet, TPGs are not doing that yet as far as I am aware.

I once made the mistake of buying a 1937 proof crown based on the CGS photos as the auction house photo was very poor. There was a carbon spot next to the nose of the king which was not present when the CGS photo was taken. It wasn't an expensive coin of course and so not much damage done. But to be fair to TPGs, I still think the chances of a coin deteriorating inside a slab is somewhat less than a coin outside a slab, at least for the less advanced collectors (i.e. those of us not bothering with humidity (thanks Stuart) control etc).

It is your loss if your slabbed coin has deteriorated inside its holder. With regard to the question "Does that mean the coin is still the grade assigned to it or not?" Not to someone sensible and you won't expect to get the same grade if you get it regraded. (Then again this can happen even if there is no change to the coin) One must assume that the slabs are not air tight. From PCGS website: "Coins exhibiting environmental deterioration. The PCGS Guarantee does not apply to coins exhibiting environmental deterioration subsequent to PCGS grading and encapsulation. This deterioration may include, but is not limited to, spotting, hazing, PVC contamination, changes in color, and corrosion. IMPORTANT: Because the color and surfaces of copper coins can change due to environmental factors, including weather and improper storage, PCGS does not guarantee against changes in the color of copper coins, or against copper spotting subsequent to grading and encapsulation by PCGS." If holders are airtight, then you don't need to worry about humidity of the surrounding air.

Yes!

Such wonderful sarcasm. :-)

I do rather like the Yale reverse but would just prefer if the creature has not caught measles. Seriously, does anyone know the significance of the spots? Images of the Yale don't always have spots unless it is used in heraldry and I think fur looks better than spots.

I don't think it is about luring collectors into the fold but just desperate attempts to make some quick money by sponging off any popular character / event. Putting the Gruffalo on the back of a 50p was just wrong. It is simply giving Magic Light Pictures free advertisement in the hope of making some money by using their image. The Gruffalo is not any more deserving than characters in Harry Potter or James Bond movies or a pot of Colman's mustard or a Pukka Pie.

SH would probably have found it funny. But imagine the Brexit coin designs after that. :-)

A portrait of SH in his trademark wheel chair would indeed be a more powerful image than a stylised representation of a black hole in my view

Not only is the design beautiful, each coin was struck multiple times and so all the details are sharp. Many examples have no contact marks or tiny rim nicks at all as they were put aside and never entered circulation; the odd hairline or slight wear due to handling and storage in the last 200 years. I can't think of another currency silver issue minted to such high standard.

I wonder if this mean that Hawking is not going to be on the back of the new £50 note?

CGS photos of my crown where the hairline is not visible.

Yes, that's a shame. And there is also the ding above eye and mark on the nose. My type example has a hairline too which is much more obvious in the photo than in real life. Interestingly, the second one in the date is missing the bottom right serif in both mine and the colin cooke coin.

Generally speaking, I think past cleaning is always a possibility if you have a bright coin with hairlines. But personally, I think it is more important to ask yourself how you feel about the defects of a coin (such as hairlines, surface marks, carbon spots, wear, non matching observe and reverse toning etc) than how they were caused. Obviously, absence of defects would mean a higher asking price.

Might be that's what we should do with high quality forgeries. Make them into watch faces!

God no! Drilling a hole in a nice Elizabeth I shilling would be a terrible crime. (And I have not yet brought a nice example)

Very nice. Although I think it is something that would appeal to a gentleman rather to a lady. This is the example I seen at the British Museum. Looks fantastic in real life.

I like it. Looks like he has gold plated the coin which is a very good idea.

Perhaps a significant percentage of the 52% have already changed their mind? If not, then Leave will win again and leave we must (with or without a deal). A Leave win will at least ensure Brexit without opposition from the Remainers. A victory for Remain in the 2nd referendum will of course result in bitterness and turbulence for years. But at least this painful process can come to an end for now.

I heard on the radio this morning that the amendment would "pave the way" for a bill if it pass. However, Labour has just announced that it is prepared to back a new Brexit referendum. I think it is looking likely now that Cooper / Letwin vote will pass and a second referendum will happen. Personally, I think this is the least bad of all the options. Labour has also missed a trick I think. If they were prepared to back a new referendum before the no confidence vote, then May might have been toppled. A Corbyn led Labour government is .... 😱 😢😭💀

I am not totally clear with the of Cooper/Letwin vote. If it is just an amendment, then isn't it true that it will not be legally binding even if it gets voted through? Or are they trying to get it through as a bill so that it will eventually become legislation?

"MPs to have final vote by 12 March, says May". https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47348610 Truly frightful! And if May is defeated, there will be just 2 weeks to sort out a plan! Then I guess no deal or 2nd referendum will be the most probable outcomes. Hardly any point in an extension unless one can put forward a good reason why the extra time would make any difference.

I too lost the use of my dvd drive on my old laptop after an upgrade. My current laptop doesn't have a dvd drive.

Looks OK to me. Carbon spots are less distracting on the reverse and they are not in focal areas (except the single spot on Britannia's hand). And a coin always looks better when it didn't cost very much :)