Colin G.

I agree on the teenage daughter scenario...darlings aren't they

I get that same offer but there is usually a strict cost limit involved......around £5

Very true, some of the South African farthings are really poor in relation to depth of field As promised here are links to King norton's Half Crown Image 1 Image 2

If you want to send images to me via my website, I can host them, but even at that size, some people may struggle to open them on line. I can always resize them as well. A proof is not all about the mirrored field, because in many circumstances early strikes can also give a very similar appearance and could be described as proof like. I know this may not be much help, but after handling a proof you will be able to tell the difference instantly in nearly every case. Another forum member Rob Pearce gave me the best description, which is that the edges feel sharp to the touch, the teeth and lettering are also always super sharp, much sharper than is present on a circulation coin, but again some early strikes can also have a sharp appearance.

Thats the thing, I genuinely don't know!!

Hmmm interesting......now I wonder whether I have been re-sold these coins, or whether these are an additional lot to the ones I purchased. Either way I am happy but it puts a few more in the market place Did you attend that auction then Dave, how did you become aware of these farthings.....or was it you that sold them to me

My family have the same opinion of me as well....quite funny really I got contacted by someone regarding the 1825's which were a cache that was part of a coin collection, the remainder of the collection went to auction, but for some reason the farthings did not. Very little history is known about how the cache were amassed, and it is such a varied bunch. There are 80+ farthings, all lustrous, but 18 different dies within. It is almost like someone was taking a sample from production. It has been a once in a lifetime chance to study a group of coins such as this, and has certainly boosted the 1825 section of my collection It would have been the icing on the cake to know a bit more about how or why they were put together

I am very discreet managed to sell a few, but still got plenty more if anyone is interested..special forum rates But seriously if anyone is interested, I can send a few photos through. They are all lustrous to some degree, with some almost full lustre. But a majority do have the odd spot or small stain. If anyone is interested I will start a different thread and stick some images on it

All good advice above, I would echo that the coin fairs are a good starting point, and really do show you that its important to take your time and shop around. Peter, I never knew you went to the Midland coin fair, I was there today, I was selling some 1825 farthings. Did you go? We will ahev to meet up!! Rob, Sorry for hijacking your post

Welcome to the forum, always good to see a new face.....my unbiased opinion would be go for the farthings Get yourself to a local coin fair if there are any, it gives you a great opportunity to view allsorts, and get to see the coins in the flesh. Plenty of information on teh forum, but do not be afraid to ask for any help or info

I reckon its a case that the coin design would be backwards on the die, the 6 was due to be repaired, so logically the workers mind may think recut the third digit, when it is actually the second because of the design being reversed....does that make sense

First one loonks like E/R which would fit theoretically with someone starting GRATIA instead of GEORGIVS and then realising the mistake. However given the state of the die, it may be difficult to be sure without a clearer example, it could just be good old die breaks, appearing as something else, but i have to admit there does seem to be something under there Definitely been dipped though

I never knew that to be the case, there are certainly some examples where no attempt has been made to fill the previous digit, but others where there does appear to be some effeort at hiding the repair. I always assumed (rightly or wrongly) that the impression of the new digit lead to metal movement that would weaken the image of the underlying digit. This would also explain why a lot of the underlying digits always appear thinner than they would have originally. I also have coins that seem to show that the underlying digit disappears with time, exactly why this occurs I do not understand yet, and still need to really put soem effort into studying it. Glad this question was asked, we may be able to try and put some logic to it Oh and why we are on the subject would anyone like to put any logic to delayed overdates. Why 1865/2 farthings, why no 1863/2 or 1864/2, was it just that they had enough dies for 1863 and 1864 but went a bit short in 1865, or did they find them in the back of a cupboard in 1865 and think, we can utilise those

Russ, That looks more like die doubling, because as you say parts of the design are also doubled. I beieve this can happen when part of the press works loose, and so the die "chatters" as the coin is struck.

Sorry

Dave prepare yourself for the solicitors letter that's about to drop on your doormat, I am claiming for repetitive strain, I have never typed so much on this forum I agree this is definitely the one way that newbie's will see what a bunch of nutters helpful people we are on the subject

I agree wholeheartedly, you should have joined in earlier it would have saved me and Dave some typing As for the new collector that is why it is essential to know what you are buying before you buy, and therefore buy the book before the coin (especially expensive ones). The same rule must apply to all areas of collectables and/or investing. If you go in blind you will get burned, it does not make it right, but it will always happen.

That is exactly the point I am trying to make, you do not buy a grade, you buy a coin. By all means use the grade as an indicator (and again I will say any blatant attempt to overgrade is definitely wrong), but you are buying a coin not a grade. As long as you get the coin you want for the price you are willing to pay why is that a bad move as a serious collector. When you come to sell your coins in years to come, you are still selling a coin, the grade it was given at the time you bought it will have very little effect on your sale unless it is from one of the few prestigous dealers or it has provenance from a known collector (or its in a plastic tomb with the grade written on it )

Blimey he must have rattled you I must remember never to sell you a dodgy looking coin. Thank God you collect pennies

You can use this site to check feedback going right back, it sifts out the neutrals and negatives http://toolhaus.org/ I still don't agree with your perspective on things, but we will just have to agree to disagree. I do agree that the dipping should have been highlighted to sellers. I still don't see an issue with the London Coins scenario, London Coin's grade is just their opinion. You will find coins that sell at different auction houses getting different grades, it does not mean that one is being underhand, it is just differing opinion. It is only if it is being done intentionally to deceive that it is wrong. I wouldn't anticipate many newbies buying a £2,500 coin on ebay anyway, and certainly would not recommend them to do so, I would not buy a £2,500 stamp off ebay because I know nothing about them and therefore it would be a very foolish move

Actually I take it back, I have drooled over a few over those, and I am not even a penny collector

More pennies!!

Dave, I am not trying to argue about this, just trying to give someone the benefit of the doubt, I have not seen anything shown yet in black and white that implies that underhand dealings have taken place. If they are made available I will change my opinion but at the moment I speak as I find, and that is why I gave my personal opinion

I would not be willing to publicly slate someone on the back of something "someone" told me. Personal experience is a completely different scenario. If a wrong is being done, I am not condoning it, but as with anyone's grading there is the potential for a difference of opinion, and offering a full refund would seem an acceptable solution in the circumstances, it does not necessarily imply bad practise. Many people buy from people then sell on for more, that is in simple terms what coin dealing is, and there is nothing wrong in that if it is handled correctly. If you at the time as a seller were satisfied with the price you got for an item, why should you then be annoyed if the person you sold them to got more for the item. If you had asked him what they were worth and he made you an offer then sold them for substantially more, I could understand the annoyance, and this in my mind is a completely different scenario.