jelida

And so you should be. It looks a nice coin to me, and I don't see it giving CGS any problems from the photos. Do let us know the outcome. Jerry

Excellent, Mick, I cant see any problem with that. Just take a cocktail stick to the very top of the second eight now........ What did you use? Jerry

And as to whether Micks coin would slab, it depends whether any mark is left. I wouldn't be surprised if what we see there dissolved in petrol, DMSO or some other organic solvent. If so it would leave no mark. But if true verd, a mark would be left because of the loss of metal. Could only get an idea on the bench under the 'scope. Jerry

Hi Pete, the Copthorne F41 came up quite well, at least the verd is gone, but not of course the loss of metal and I wouldn't dream of slabbing it. I wish I'd taken 'before and afters' of other coins, but its usually just a tiny spot, I would never normally buy as corroded a coin as the F41. Jerry

I think will improve a lot. Looks very removable from the photos. Doesnt look like established verd. But can only be sure under the microscope. Jerry

Are you sure that it wont lift off with a cocktail stick? Not all that's green is verdigris, a lot is that waxy stuff that comes off quite easily (try a drop of petrol, it wont mark the coin) leaving the metal surface undamaged. If it is true verdigris, then appropriate spot treatment with a drop of verdicare can certainly do the job, but as I have stressed before I find really strong magnification and careful 'picking' of the verd after a soak is what really makes the difference. I always do remove verdigris where possible (if I feel I have to buy an example despite it, or more likely if I find a tiny spot I had not previously noticed on the coin) as effectively it is 'bronze disease' and is likely to deteriorate with loss of metal over time. If any member does trust me to look at a coin FOC, I would happily do so. I do have the kit, and the microscopes. I have certainly been pleased with the results on my own coins. You can always pm me. Jerry

Have a great time over the holiday period every-one, may your wishes be fulfilled. Jerry

Excellent idea Dave, well here's a 'where you live' , or rather where I will be living come the Spring, the ancient farmhouse we have just bought in South Herefordshire, a few miles from Abergavenny and Hay on Wye. Lots of work to do, but in a gorgeous isolated setting (apart from the church and country pub 400 yards away!) Has had something of an adverse effect on penny funds though Blue sky in mid October.

Well done Terry, I dont have one either; was it already recognised, or a brilliant bargain? Jerry

Looks like a standard 1862 halfpenny to me, and not collectible in this condition. Are you querying a variety such as die letter to left of lighthouse? I'm not convinced. I think you gave the id in the title of the post. Jerry

It is expensive, and I find it very helpful, but not all do; the repeated 'picking' at the surface of the verd is an essential part of the process, as per the instructions, as is time. Do get a good magnifier so that you can be very precise. Jerry

The Welsh one was found a couple of days ago. Jerry

Very nice Mike!

Shelly has featured before in these pages, and has been trying to sell these at more than ten times value for months. There is an F6, but there are no other beaded border coins despite the claims, and no rarities. Shelly also often polishes the coins, and over-grades in home slabs. He/she can also be quite abusive for no obvious reason, I have a sequence of increasingly bizzaire emails to which I did not respond following a request for a price on a coin in another of the strange multi-coin ads sometimes posted. I would not buy from this seller. Jerry

Unfortunately acetone will have no effect on inorganic salts such as verdigris. And I wouldnt be in a rush to turn to the olive oil either (though as a mild organic acid it may be helpful if all else fails). I would initially de-grease the coin of those waxy handling deposits by scrubbing fairly aggressively in petrol using something like a small paint brush cut short. It shouldnt abrade the patina, or alter the colour. Then wash in acetone. What you will be left with is the stubborn verdigris, and here I do like verdicare, though it takes time as the verd has to be manually 'picked' at periodically. I use a 20 to 40 X binocular microscope, which helps a lot. I would have thought that this coin could be 'saved'. The bottom line is that you might have to strip the coin using a weak acid, and re-tone it. There may well be some minor pitting if the verd has removed much metal. Jerry

That is fantastic, sideways G in REG, well done! Presumably in G of D:G too. Jerry

For some reason I cant see the pics Guyincog posted, but here are my two 1879 obverses. The difference in leaf veins, nostrils and re-engraved hair above the ear are obvious I think. I really wouldn't want to be definite from the photos, but it should be easy to tell with the coin in hand. The hair above the ear in Hussolo's photos does suggest to me it might have been re-engraved though? Jerry

Me too. But both King Crimson and ELP were part of the soundtrack to my student years, along with Genesis and Pink Floyd, and indeed Tangerine Dream. 'In the Court of the Crimson King' was probably the most popular track on our club Juke Box; I still have seven or eight early King Crimson LP's (mostly post Lake, of course) and certainly the first five ELP albums. Beer and Curry night tonight, I might end it with an hour with the Linn and Electrostatics, and give some good ol' stuff a twirl. And the menace of 'I believe in Father Christmas' is superb. A sad loss. Jerry

Yes they do, but not the gold (or bronze). There are a multitude of unofficial coins of this period of the type bagerap posted, with a variety of legends. Most are souvenirs or playthings, some are gilt but most are brass, and mostly of European origin. I am inclined to agree that it is unlikely to be solid gold. It could perhaps be tested at a jewellers , though if base metal it could end up permanently marked. Jerry

I cant remember exactly, but two telephone bidders took it to about three and a half grand. Jerry

This http://www.ebay.com/itm/1736-Farting-Copper-Coin-1-2-Penny-Georgivis-II-/152340634376?hash=item2378359b08:g:7v0AAOSwNRdX-o4A poor coin induced a bout of juvenile chuckling this morning......I know just how it must feel! But seriously, could it herald a significant new coin storage issue? Air-tight cabinets might be the answer. Jerry

Looks to be a mid fourth century coin, find lots of these types metal detecting, mostly Constantine and his descendants, 330 onwards. Jerry

I had a close look at this with a 40x loupe at the Midland yesterday, and was not convinced. There were some surface marks that in appearance hinted at an 8 over 6 overstrike, but I doubt that they were ever on the die. The coin is really far too worn to be sure, and I suspect wishful thinking. I wont be bidding. Jerry

Acetone is fine for PVC residue in my experience. I recently had to use DMSO to remove polyurethane varnish from a coin as acetone did not work for that. Neither affect the coin, but no rubbing of a proof of course. After DMSO I wash in acetone for its much greater volatility and to remove any possible residue. But I have no idea what PGCS use, though the number of suitable organic solvents is limited. Jerry

He certainly has a most optimistic pricing policy. I particularly like the half ryal which looks to be no more than a third to me. Jerry