Colin G.

Doing my home town proud...at least it proves the education system around here needs work

This was my favourite : "Mint State Also Uncirculated. A coin in the condition in which it left the mint. Never circulated. IN THE BEGINNING there was the word Uncirculated, and it was good. Then, over time, God created adjectives to modify His word. At first he proposed but two: Choice and Gem. Apostles, like Q. David Bowers, hoped to affix a third: Select. However, Select failed to adhere. Then, when God's adjectives proved inadequate, a numbering system was devised. This numbering system the Apostles borrowed from the Order of Large Cent monks. Up to 1976, Mint State numbers for Large Cents included 60, 65, and 70, with 70 meaning full mint red. These numbers were pressed into service on other coin types, then modified and augmented over time. Mint State was called 60; Choice, 65; and Gem became 70. Later, 70 transmuted into Superb Gem (a glorious new adjective). Finally, the ultimate grade of 70 evolved to mean God's Own Perfection. Intermediate numbers therein followed: 63 arose earliest, in the later-1970s; a few years on followed 64 (when 65 proved too weak to distinguish the fine quality shifts in a Mint State coin). Eventually, all eleven integers found their way into the numismatic liturgy: Mint State 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, and (now rarely seen) 70. IT CAME TO PASS that other disciples hit upon the idea of adding a small 'PQ' to the number to signify Premium Quality. Still others bethought they could see thine selves reflected in the field of certain Morgan silver dollars. With this, prooflike was born. Eventually, those wanting separation from the rabble of everyday prooflike collectors enlarged the term to include 'deep mirror' prooflike as well. And so, from its lowly beginnings as a single usage, the grade Mint State--in the case of silver dollars at any rate--has come to include one of sixty-six possible permutations. Is that, or is that not, progress?" I was chuckling at that....brilliant!!

My biggest fear when receiving back slabbed coins is fluff. You send off a 100% lint free specimen only for it to come back to you with a piece of what can only be described as belly button fluff stuck to the coin. Almost invariably this problem occurs with a prized coin which the grading company have duly recognised as such by giving it a high grade and valuation. There lies the dilemma... do I de-slab it and lose the grading, do I send it back and risk coming across as an OCD complainer, or do I just learn to live with it? OCD complainer every time, if I saw something wrong with a coin I had submitted, I would expect it to be slabbed correctly and therefore would complain and return it

It occurs when the dies are struck together without a blank in between. You'd have thought it would be catastrophic but it seems that they survive pretty well, leaving just an impression of one on the other. Clashed dies are extremely numerous on pre-Jubilee Victorian coins, especially the smaller denominations. This is an 1840 farthing (2 prong trident) variety that is struck from clashed dies, this variety always has the clash evident and it is very clear. That is the best example I have seen. I have an example.Colin Cooke stated he had only seen 3 in 25 years. There was one on Ebay the other night and several of us knew what it was.The seller must of been shocked as it was a 99p coin without the clash. This is mine. http://www.omnicoin.com/coin/947669 I'm happy with mine and have no intention to improve it. I have just upgraded from the one above, only slightly but the coin shown earlier in the thread is now up for grabs. They are a very difficult variety to obtain.

It occurs when the dies are struck together without a blank in between. You'd have thought it would be catastrophic but it seems that they survive pretty well, leaving just an impression of one on the other. Clashed dies are extremely numerous on pre-Jubilee Victorian coins, especially the smaller denominations. This is an 1840 farthing (2 prong trident) variety that is struck from clashed dies, this variety always has the clash evident and it is very clear.

I've never heard of a 'shift' + key combination being used in that way, it's usually Ctrl or Ctrl-Shift etc. Is that an I-phone thing? Anyway, pressing Shift-R or A makes no difference to my web browsing experience. Yes its to do with phone browsers, some networks reduce the bandwidth by limiting the picture size until you request an improved image. i have never had it happen on my i-phone, but I have heard of other mobile users having similar issues.

I believe that is something to do with your own internet connection and limited bandwidth, therefore other people would not see that suggestion unless they had the same restrictions in place.

I bid on that one today, but I do already have a copy.

I would assume some may be sample pieces slabbed by CGS to distribute to potential clients?

3+C '75 Farthing (H below) and WHAT'S wrong with the ER '22 thrupence? Great find, lets have a look!!

There you go, now with photos!!

I wish!! These are the images Colin88 was trying to upload earlier Take it in payment for the uploading job, and if you two can't agree on this, offer a discount and take one side only. Now there is an idea

You have acquired this? I wish!! These are the images Colin88 was trying to upload earlier

Or you could e-mail them to me at colin "at" aboutfarthings.co.uk and I will host them for you

A great experience in my opinion, you can chat if you want, browse anonymously if you prefer and occasionally drool......refreshments used to come around on a trolley or there is the restaurant/cafe in the motorcycle museum..if its still there Prepare for some backache, no chairs so you tend be hunched over whilst browsing..but it is a good day out and occasionally you get to meet a few forum members, I regularly chat to Rob and have also seen Derek (Red Riley) and spotted the rarer Gary D at the last one!!

Its probably the reason why they take so long Stuart. A few moans on their forum might help them take their finger from out of their arse. Perhaps divemaster could mention the poor customer relations as he advocates CGS and i think a Moderator on their forum I have to speak from my own personal experience with them, and have to admit my dealings with them have been pretty good, but I have dealt face to face with Semra or Stephen at the Midland coin fair, where they have taken coins for submission and have bought them back to the next fair to save me postage....I had an abrupt conversation with someone via phone once about a mis-attribution on a farthing, but it was resolved quickly enough.

Nice! I believe the 1937 Ed VIII set, sold by MR, went for £1.3m so that sounds not unreasonable (for someone with the spare wedge!) Very nice!!

The thing to do is look at one in the flesh rather than an image, it is surprising how different they look, and how obvious the difference is. I know there will be those debatable early strike examples, but a true proof is unmistakeable...but I used to think exactly the same thing!!

I agree with your identification, it is not what we know as a toothed border/beaded border mule. It is also the 5 berry portrait, so it would be the finest known 5 berry mule in existence by quite a way if it were correctly attributed......deja vu?

Snap And welcome to the forum, another member of the copper/bronze club

That sounds like a decent start, we get detectorists in the UK saying you will never get permission from a certain land owner, but some people do. Some people just seem to be able to communicate with landowners and others don't. I struggle to get permission on land whereas my detecting buddy seems to be able to get access almost anywhere, he is older and a bit less "rough" looking You will never know until you ask, and don't be put off by being knocked back, it is a bit weird at first but once someone has said no, the next time you hear it, it gets easier!! Walking land close by will usually result in you chatting to people who will normally know who the landowner is

I have no problem with almost any area being a potential site for detecting/archaeology, our history tends to have a brutal past, and inevitably to uncover that history wounds will be exposed. As some as said these wounds are still fairly raw, which makes it a particularly difficult challenge to obtain suitable permissions, but whatever is done, it has to be done in the correct manner. If people are serious about detecting it is important to understand the history of the hobby. The detecting community in the UK have struggled (and continue to struggle) against large parts of the establishment that would much rather see detecting banned altogether, and this is a common theme across Europe. A lot of the ammunition for them to undertake such measures is due to people taking exactly the approach you talk about. It does so much harm to the hobby as a whole, and creates endless problems for those who detect responsibly. There are several issues worth considering: If you are not the landowner then you have no right on that land without the owners permission. How would you feel if someone started detecting on you property without permission? Why do you feel the need to detect that specific area and what are your reasons for wanting to detect that area? If historically motivated, then you have to follow the correct channels, otherwise you would not be able to report/record any finds, and then what would be the benefit of undertaking detecting in such an area. There are many sites in the UK I would love to have a go at detecting, but I do not have permission and therefore I am unable to at the moment. I accept that and would much rather try and convince the doubters, by showing them the positive sides of the hobby. Yes it can take a long time to change opinions, but I have no doubt in my mind it is the correct approach. I am unsure of the approach in Germany towards detecting....what are the principle laws? Another route may be trying to get involved/build relationships with archaeologists when they are dealing with such sites, you can then become part of the team uncovering such history. You are more likely to get the permissions required as a result.

A friend of mine had a Findus Lasagne last night, there must be something wrong with them because he had the "trots" this morning