ozjohn

Only ever brought the silver proof versions and not many of those either.

Xmas day forecast for Brisbane, 30 deg. C and sunny.

Merry Christmas to one and all from Australia. May your collections grow in 2025.

Just reached Alotau, PNG on a cruise from Brisbane. Very hot and humid. Back in Brisbane 5/12.

Saw the coins on Google headlines. An impressive hoard.

The attached photo shows a coin graded NGC MS 64. I have no issue with the grading other than the coin has been damaged with digs around the King's effigy from the forehead to the tip of the King's nose. I get the feeling that these digs occurred during the minting process but it is hard to be sure. The question is should a coin be judged as MS if the damage happened at the mint or should be noted on the grading as PCGS does with cleaned coins or should the coin be downgraded if judged as post mint damage? In any case it would be a better coin without any damage. Any thoughts.

Another coin with similar damage. They seem to come in single marks and twos or threes in a line and are far too regular for bag damage. I've seen these marks on both George V and VI coins and as far as I can remember on the obverse. This example was dated 1924.

Another coin with similar damage. on the king's forehead. From what I have noticed the marks come in 3s approximately in line.

I think this one is a bit more than bag damage more like a metal flaw or intentional damage on the reverse by the A in half-crown. Probably down graded due to this but still attracted a fairly high grade from NGC along with PGCS who seem fairly tolerant to damage. To be honest I probably wouldn't brought the coin If I had noticed it earlier.

Exactly. However I've seen marks similar the ones described on several coins over the years and I think they are a bit more than bag marks. caused by coins knocking together. I was looking about cleaning on the PCGS site the other day and it seems that they do not consider dipping as cleaning.

After photographing some half crowns graded by PCGS and NGC I've noticed the reverse of the coin in the holder seems orientated with the shield turned to the right. Probably because they align the obverse when placing the coin in the holder. However, CGS seem to get the right orientation. A minor irritation I know but it would be better if they got it right.

Cattleya Mossiae recently flowering in my court yard.

Cup of gold photos taken at Brisbane Roma St Gardens today. I was just passing the plant and thought you may be interested to see it in situ. As you can see it has a large yellow flower growing on a rampant vine. I think it flowers late winter/ early spring.

Common name is cup of gold a very vigorous climber of the tomato tobacco family Solanaceae. I haven't room for it although you can buy the plants in Brisbane and I grew one at my last place. It's a very hardy plant. Flowering at the moment is Angel's trumpet, brugmansia suaveolens another in the Solanaceae family.

A 1911 proof coin I have. In hand it looks good but the photo I took shows evidence of much cleaning. Just goes to show how you can be deceived. The coin didn't cost a lot that probably reflects its condition. Caveat Emptor.

Very good Goddards seems to work in a similar way with a different process to the Al foil process. I think Swords observation is true leave coin alone if possible. I do find it difficult to to believe that a 100 year old high grade coin can remain untarnished when left undisturbed in a draw or similar for most of that time as the other silver items I have start to tarnish after 3 months of so unless wrapped in sulfur free tissue paper.

The Al foil and Sodium carbonate/Bicarbonate convert the toning, mainly silver sulfide, back to metallic silver .Whereas Goddards' probably etches the surface to remove the silver sulfide. Personally given the chemistry I prefer the Sodium carbonate/ Al foil method as despite the people who like toned coins the truth is toning is corrosion is damage to the surface of the coin whereas the the sodium carbonate / Al foil is returning the silver to the coin's surface.

Link may be of interest https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds I think Hedychium Gardnerianum is listed somewhere in it. Nevertheless it is still grown in Brisbane gardens as it is an attractive plant but can be invasive if not controlled.

I've noticed that the online shop of jncoins seems to be closed although they seem to be still trading on Ebay. Does anyone know if they are going to reopen as buying via Ebay from Australia is expensive. The shipping charges are exorbitant and 10% GST is levied. However if buying direct from a UK dealer from Australia the shipping charge is considerably less and items less than $AU 800 in value do not attract GST. This makes Ebay uncompetitive thanks to Australian retailers lobbying the government on online purchases via Ebay Amazon etc. It would have to be something very special to tempt me to buy via Ebay and normally I buy direct from dealers such as GB Classic coins, and again jncoins in the past

With this one I think NGC could have been a bit more generous.

Can anyone provide any info on the medal in the attached file that was part of my late sister's effects.. I've tried to find out more information regarding this medal. However although there were several medals struck commemorating the diamond jubilee of Victoria I have not been able to locate this medallion. It is crown size and appears to be struck in silver and the effigy of the queen resembles the Jubilee head rather than the old head that is depicted in the medals I found on line.Any suggestions wold be appreciated. Thanks.

The one I have is the Heaton mint one of 38 mm. Superficially it looks like silver with no sign of any plate wearing off. https://www.colleconline.com/en/items/141399/medaille-royaume-uni-victoria-1897-diamond-jubilee-medallion-heaton-uk This site says it was struck in CuNi.

Again I have a problem with this one graded by NGS as MS 62. I think that consistency in grading is very essential for both the collector and the third party grader. My example is included for comparison although not graded I think in the MS range.

I like to photograph my coins to keep a record of the, When photographing 50% coins the results always seem lifeless and slightly blurred even though the coin has lustre and good definition in the hand. I am using a Sony alpha 5000 camera with macro lens . The light source is a diffuse multiple LED with switched light levels and color temps. which can be positioned for max overall illumination. I also use the multipoint auto focus. Any suggestions please. Thanks

I have never tried to have a coin graded NGS or PGS and have wondered how difficult it is. from Australia. Any information would be useful from anyone who has tried.in the past The coin is a 1916 half crown again one I have had for a while but when re- photographing it thought it may get a MS grading and worth submitting