secret santa

Some mouth-watering coins in there.

Actually, Blake, I think you were the 3rd bidder. He started with a bid of £800 which I think was yours (postal) and then someone in the room put their hand up to take it to £850 and then a telephone bidder won it with £900. I don't know what your top bid was, but if it was £850, auctions do tend to take a room bid over an equal absentee bid.

I attended the auction and never cease to be confused during the bidding. The auctioneer announces every lot in almost the same way, i.e. "Lot XXXX, YYY pounds is bid". He then looks round the room and, if no-one else bids, he brings the hammer down (by clicking his pen against a glass) and moves on. There is no way of telling whether the coin has sold because he NEVER says anything like "we'll have to pass on that one " or "Not sold". The only way of telling is to wait until the website is updated. For example, I was convinced that the 1863 die2 had sold for £2200 hammer but now I find it was unsold. Occasionally he might say "there are conflicting bids of blah blah" in which case we know that there have been bids. He gives the impression that bids have been received on every single lot which I find it hard to believe. I assume he announces a fictitious bid around the reserve, hoping that it will attract a bid over the reserve ? Is this standard practice ?

Blake Bidding opened at £800, room bidder bid £850 but telephone bidder got it for £900. Richard

They're great pics Pete - why not build yourself a website for us all to view ?

Blake I'll be there and I'll let you know how the bidding went. Richard

Anyone agree with me that lot 1979 is Freeman 29 not 32 ?

Now up there, Jerry. Thanks.

Bum - I just added it before I saw this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just tried to download Photoscape and my antivirus told me to stop !

Probably the best innings that I have ever seen, given the various situations that Stokes found himself in. 2 runs off his first 50 balls showed the rest of them what Test cricket is all about and then his management of the innings was breathtaking. I agree that Roy has to go, and the affect of one day cricket on Test cricket can't be lost amongst the hysteria of this win which did have its elements of good fortune with dropped catch, fumbled run out and wasted review. But still one of the greatest sporting occasions of my life.

I've only got the Free Adobe Photoshop Plus and it doesn't appear to have that feature.

Can anyone tell me how I can change the background of a coin photo to black as above ? It certainly seems to enhance the picture.

Well, it was Jerry's photographic memory and the 1926 ME is not on my rare penny site, but otherwise, spot on, Eric 😄

Pete, do you know if the photos were taken with the coins on that black background or whether the background was blackened later ?

Totally agree.

All these minor differences; are they new varieties or not - perhaps we need a VAR for coins ???

I don't want to pick a fight or even start a lengthy debate but, if we define a classic "variety" as being a particular die-pairing of a unique obverse design with a unique reverse design, thereby becoming a unique combination of obverse and reverse, then F164A fits slap bang into that definition.

Strange that Freeman didn't know about its existence between 1969 and 1978 - make the DNW provenance of "discovery coin" a little less important ?

Often called the "crow's foot" this die clash occurs on many dates - this one is an 1877.

That's why they call it a "modified effigy".

Well spotted Gents - I put this up on my website without thoroughly checking. Shame on me !

Nice one Mike - I need one like this. By the way, if you would crop your photos, you'd save me hours😀

Yes, it's as straightforward as that. Do exactly as Mike says. Or, if you want, I shall be attending and could bid up to your maximum on your behalf.

I suspect they'll get added over the next few days.