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Pete, many thanks for the super coins that arrived today, one being an unexpected freebie, you are a real gentleman! Jerry

In fact very few high grade examples have thus been recognised, see Richards 'rarest pennies' site. But I agree not that unusual in this grade, usually one or two on the market somewhere.

Great news, congratulations! My first grandchild is now 4 weeks old, and she's a beaut. I know how you feel! Jerry

True, I have had some cracking buys like the 1897 HT with good lustre for a tenner! I tend to put in a tentative bid to get it to the top of the list, then snipe a realistic bid late, though it will be less than Declan has for his on EBay at present for this coin. With a real rarity that I really want, I may bid high at the start, to discourage some one else becoming 'high bidder' and starting off EBay negotiations. The 1875 cannonball that I won last month for 99p also had a late snipe well into three figures, but clearly no one else spotted it. One thing is for sure, posting every rarity here prior to sale may help the seller but would remove any chance of a bargain. Bernie, as some here know, if I really want a coin I have no issues with paying dealer prices, and more. But a bargain is always nice. Post them after the auction has ended, and they are safely in the mail, for the reasons already discussed on this forum. Jerry

Yes, and I had already put the first bid on it the day it was posted. Talk about a spoiler! Jerry

This is the same 'coin' and seller as discussed last week, he is clearly a scum-bag and a fraudster with no scruples . Well done for standing up to him. Jerry

Looks to me like it's been in a corrosive environment. A lot of detector found cupro nickel looks like this, even quite recent losses. The durability of modern coinage isn't a patch on the old. Jerry

Thanks John, they are certainly much appreciated, your father gathered a great collection. Jerry

Sorry to hear that, I hope they weren't ones I got. Those I won were 2860, the 1861 Gouby G, which I thought cheap at hammer of £260; 2863, the F38 which again I was happy with at £950, it is already toning nicely and will improve further from its past clean, and is a good grade, better than the CC one last year for a similar price. I threw the boat out rather on the 1898 lot 2903 and the F176, which filled a gap. Both I have been after for a while in reasonable grade (the 1898 is not as good as the Rasmussen one last year which he wanted well over a grand for, though I suspect it eventually went for considerably less). Lot 2931 gave me a reasonable F111 2 over 1, and I can sell the F114 on. The 1903 open 3 was a cheap gap-filler. And I got 2981, the F41 as a reasonable upgrade that will be hard to better. The latter is claimed in the catalogue to be ex Freeman. Is there any-one out there that can confirm this? I personally am doubtful, at least I do not think it is the one in the Freeman sale catalogue though the photo isn't great. So a mixed batch, scarcity rather than quality and not cheap, but they will probably remain in my collection and give me pleasure over many years. Jerry

That is fantastic John, thanks, I must admit I had assumed the Spink site would give individual prices rather than the list, bit brain dead after a family wedding and a gallon or more of real ale on Saturday, and LCA today with not much sleep between, plus a lot of travelling. You live and learn. Apparently. ? Jerry

Hi all, got the Spink catalogue 23July 2003 headlining the Colin Adams collection of pennies the other day- does any-one have a results sheet they can scan for me? Jerry

I won seven bronze penny lots , pretty much those I wanted, the expensive ones at low to mid estimate but the cheaper ones mostly above estimate. Very content overall, will post details in due course. Apologies if I outbid any forum member. Jerry

That is a really sharp piece of work, Bagerap, well done, and thanks for the link. Perhaps EBay should know of his subsequent comments- they might be interested as he implies he is trying to avoid their fees! The idiot! Jerry

'Unattributed' - the seller knows full well it has the WRL stamp, but is less than helpful ! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182600294213?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Jerry

Oh dear, Lukas again, not an E over P, not obverse 4, and yet already silly bids. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232324493021?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT He does have quite a nice 1864 penny though, but overpriced and under photographed. Jerry

That is my suspicion. The feedback shows that it did sell, the actual price remains uncertain, but a lot less than if the auction had run I suspect. Jerry

Sadly not me. But positive feedback has been given, stating a sold price of £11.50. Jerry

No problem, nice to see it there. Is Gouby's original coin one of those featured? Jerry

My first significant additions for a month or more, the 1875 was a steal at 99p, well, despite its condition, it is a 'cannonball' flaw and seems to be collectable. The 1881 F106 is slabbed at AU55 by NGC and is nicer in the hand than the photo, it has nice surfaces and overall hint of 'chocolate' subdued lustre in the right light. It cost me about £80 inc postage. Jerry

Semra did tell me yesterday at the coin fair that they were selling a collection, and that there would be a lot more pennies in the catalogue. I hope so, as there doesn't seem to be much about otherwise in the penny way. Jerry

It appears to be quite a nice example of a Freeman 6 + d, Freeman 29. The date width variations of these early bronze pennies are not avidly collected as every die varied to some extent, the last digit being added by hand. This one is by no means the widest found. No significant extra premium in terms of value, I'm afraid. Jerry

Can you test it for silver? If it did contain silver, very unlikely to be a forgery, the converse is also true. Jerry

More likely i'ts been in the ground, and leached some of the copper into an acid soil. Dug alloy coins are often underweight. Jerry