secret santa

BBC Sports Personality of the Year -

Definitely in the top 3 of F69s that I've seen.

Blake, could you post a pic of the obverse as well, please ?

That one shows the pointed top to the lighthouse very clearly.

See my penny varieties website for good pictures of Victoria reverses.

Exactly, and then go to the catalogue lot by lot for the detailed photos.

Of course, I'm not actually hopping mad but this hasn't stopped the word "literally" from becoming the latest word to enter the populist vocabulary like a tornado. Just listen to anyone on the TV or radio and they'll slip the word into every sentence that has a verb in it. People literally don't understand when to use the word. It has become the only adverb available, just as "amazing" has become the only adjective to expressive some degree of value. Zoe Ball is the current record holder for frequency of use of the word "amazing".

These coins don't grow on trees you know.

Sadly, I think the 90 year old and I would have very similar standards and vocabulary ......................

I think I've only heard Americans use that phrase.

Yes, or "100 per cent" as everyone seems to say nowadays.

I'll post pics in the next few days - are there any giveaway signs ?

1861 F29 (6+D;J+d)

Bought an unusual penny on Ebay recently which had a re-entered G in D:G:, rotated noticeably.

I find that quite disturbing.

Today, from nowhere, my browsers have virtually slowed to a halt. When typing from the keyboard, each character takes at least a second to appear on the screen. There is not a problem typing into a Word document. Similarly, it takes several seconds to open a new tab in either Chrome or Edge. The scroll wheel on the mouse is similarly delayed in action which makes the sizing of images on a web page impossible. A broadband check shows that speed is unaffected. The PC has become unusable. Any advice out there ?

It may well be related in some way. These automatic software updates often cause problems that the writers presumably haven't anticipated (or tested).

Strangely, the problem returned today. For some reason. I then logged into my Google account and the problem was instantly cured. And I don't understand why.

Remember my saga of the 1862/1 penny - there's a good chance that it will turn up eventually. And you may eventually end up like you-know-who with both the coin and the compensation.

I wonder if and when they'll clarify that on their website.

No, they're pretty economical with their communications.

They have confirmed that there will be no room bidding, just commission or phone bidding. I wonder if the guy who's selling his collection knew this ? I'll bet he didn't !

Catalogue just arrived - no mention of venue !!!!!! And still no reply to my question of where the auction will be. Maybe they're still negotiating on a venue ?

Bracknell was fine for me, about 45 minutes drive but this auction is at their Kent office and they still haven't told me whether the public can attend or not. Presumably not as I can't imagine that they have the space. And, anyway, that's too far away for me.

Not really - subjective descriptions without photographic evidence (such as Michael Gouby's) are fairly meaningless, in my view.