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Third part is up and its a cracker. I never get tired of Chris's enthusiastic style. Part four is in preparation. Unfortunately I can't seem to copy a link so please go to www.jncoins.co.uk then click articles and select from the drop down menu. Kind regards Mark

According to Peckris (Chris) Die wear. Read the full article on www.jncoins.co.uk Go to Articles at the top. Its the second article for GV period. Third and fourth in prep. Mark

Recently bought an Acer Ionia and a Nova think pad. Have no problems with 8.1. Can live without all of the apple apps I didn't use. Once you realise that the option is to run you device as a pc or a tablet it becomes easy. Love the superb resolution. My think pad costs £279.00 against an IPad price of £400.00, its a tablet and pc all in one. I'm really glad I made the break. Mark

Hi Dave, Yes I take the point about GV being in the millions. However there is defiantly a hardening of prices imo of the highest grades. Also of course a lot more people collect them. Mark

I think Tom's point of view is interesting on a number of points. Tom you are far too self deprecating. If you are not a numismatist then I'm not sure one exists. You would be my first point of call on C1. What I think is happening is that Tom as a collector is reflecting the market. In the last ten years money has rushed in and with the shortage of rarities these have been pushed up in price. Now eye appeal is everything or nearly so. This is a point that Spink catalogue introductions have been banging on about for some time. You know what, their right. Actually I think its rather healthy. For George V and later where there are more coins available at realistic prices with good eye appeal. Of course that will change as they are chased. There not bad from C1 to GV in a couple of sentences. Mark

Are these the same graders that grade for CGS? Mark

Unarguable I would have thought Rob. Which is why, what is arguably an alternative approach to grading with some merit, is nothing more than a marketing excessive. Mark

Dave, I think if you underestimate the value they will ring you so that they can make an extra charge. Mark

Neil, Anyone that has bought from you knows you grade accurately and fairly. I dont think your response is unreasonable at all. It is only when you get the coin in the hand that photo's are clarified. Anyone who has tried taking accurate pictures will confirm that the camera can lie. Your point about magnification blowing small marks out of all proportion is true also. I for one would like to see you post on hear more often. Your experience is very much appreciated. Kind regards Mark

Colin Cooke graded near FDC.

I think that it's impossible to state whether it has been polished unless seen in the hand with this coin. Gothic crown pics can be very misleading. If it has been polished it should show easily under magnification. Paulus what are the high points of the legends like, any obvious signs of polish there? Always a good give away as you probably know. Dave I'm fascinated as to why you grade GVF, no more. There does not appear to be much wear at all. Are you grading down because of the blemishes? I think Vicky is pretty near with his assessment. It has some obvious blemishes, but then the price reflects that. Mark

I'd personally leave that technique well alone to be honest!Well like most I agree that cleaning is best left alone. Does come back to my point, when is cleaning, preservation rather than just cleaning? With OzJohn's example, granted not a hammered coin, it was a definite improvement. Mark

Coinery, As a rule we don't clean coins, however I did try OZ John's suggestion on an old worn coin. The point is that by leaving it for just a few moments it didn't lift all of the toning. In his example he was able to improve the coin without stripping all of the toning. Mark

I would also suggest you read a very interesting post by OZ john a while ago. Bicarbonate of soda, a little salt and tin foil with near boiling water allow for a controlled removal of deposits without damaging desirable toning. That is if this method is controlled. Of course your post raises an interesting question, when is cleaning (often considered undesirable) preservation (desirable)? The answer to that invites a wide degree of views. Regards Mark

Sounds like it! Would you be surprised Stu?Ha, ha, ha, think Stu is making a very good point. It's not the mistake, we can all make those. It's the absolutism that is often attributed to third party graders by their adherents. Mark

Just a 'heads up' to anyone needing to transfer cash abroad and there are many who read this board, I know, who do. For as long as I can remember this has always resulted in losses whether transferring money in or out of the UK. This is due to the fact that the banks barely offer anything more than tourest rates on foreign exchange, and additionally charge you for the experience. Now that has changed. Last week I had need to send a relatively modest sum of about £180.00 to a New Zealand bank account to settle an invoice. For the first time I used 'transferwise' and saved myself about £15.00 in hidden charges. They are not a bank as I understand it but are regulated by the FCA ( Financial conduct authority) so they legit. Apparently they exist solely to offer this service and give the banks a run for their money. My experience was a positive one. Service was excellent and helpful in setting up an account. I know that most collectors would rather spend on coins rather than bank charges, this is the solution in my opinion. It works both ways, coming in or out of the UK. I have no financial interest in the company by the way, just a very happy customer. Regards Mark

Tom, If she has a bank account, transferwise debit her account upon her instruction and pay it to any oversees bank of her choice. Regards Mark

Chris's superb second article is up. Find your to jncoins.co.uk then click articles. Third article is in preparation. Mark

Could not agree more. Mark

I thought we were talking the other way around, for milled it's fine but for hammered not Because as Nicholas pointed out, there are no prices for hammered above VF Plus the rarer variations of hammered coins which it does'nt go into depth onDave, I agree you have to do more work to find above VF with hammered. However Spink are next to useless in pricing 'most' milled coins many overpriced and some considerably underpriced. What I do think Spink do is provide an outstanding catalogue couldn't agree more with Rob on that. But for the reasons stated I don't buy it every year. Having said that others may disagree, but of course that's what makes a market. Mark

Think everything that has been said is correct. I think as a general rule of thumb, Spink isn't much good for the milled period. But with hammered they seem to be nearer the mark, but don't take their prices verbatim. Mark

You are correct I am in Ipswich and I know what they tend to over grade and under grade, and they do under grade on occasions. But I think probably other auction houses have these anomalies. I think also your comments about professionalism are right on the mark. Highlights the need to pick up a working knowledge of grading before bidding/buying. Mark

Morning Dave, Yes I do remember the thread and you are correct there were misgivings. However having a point of view was not my main point, I was more concerned with how it might be expressed. Incidentally read VickySilvers statement below from that thread. It makes the same point I was making about 'online descriptions' "I have had to send back Vickies (surprise!) and a few Ed 7's as they omitted mention of cleaning, hairlines, etc." I'm sure Vicky's point of view which mirrors mine and others is correct. Mark

Yes I do, but I'm sure that anyone changing their mind could come up with a pretty good reason.

Dave, My comment was not intended as a criticism of you. I'm sorry if it came across in that way. I would say to anyone, this is a public board and for Chris's and our protection we need to be careful how we couch things. On your other point I would not be dogmatic and am prepared to be corrected. I have a customer who regularly returns coins to auction houses if he purchases on the basis of their online descriptions and he's not happy. I think I'm right in saying that eBay auctions are subject to the same terms. Regards Mark