jelida

That is very convincing, Ian, could well be the same reverse die after repair. And super close-up photos. Jerry

Colon after DG to gap, brooch complete....looks like an F13 to me, but a really nice one! The reverse die filling is interesting, would be nice to tie it to a repaired example, but would probably need die cracks etc to demonstrate continuity. Jerry

But it would still be possible to take a note of all the F10's that appear on Ebay and dealers lists, even a sample of a few hundred would be a start. Perhaps I had better start counting. It is a strange coin. The die looks well used, some loss of definition in the hair above the ear and of course the pretty terminal cracks. There are also numerous letter repairs, note the doubling of the serifs of several letters in Victoria. Mine is from the same die as yours. Could it have been from an experimental phase of the bronze penny development, perhaps using inadequately hardened die or greater striking pressures? There ought to be greater numbers struck from the die in its un-repaired state, but this doesn't seem to be the case. And I dont see it as the first F10. The reverse is also a multiply repaired die. Altogether a puzzle. Jerry

Possibly, but there are many varieties that can only be identified in reasonable condition, and Freeman's rarity estimates take that into account as they were based on study of worn, ex circulation coins, ie they reflect what was identifiable at the time of his study, rather than the absolute numbers struck. I think the new F10 should be identifiable in grades above VG, as there are several letter/tooth relationships that could be used. As well as the A of Victoria, the colon between F:D to a gap, rather than tooth for example. Either way, it would be nice to have some accurate ratios based on the current population of F10's. Jerry

The only way to get an accurate rarity with respect to the Freeman estimates will be for an individual to review all the (individual) F10's on the market, past present and future, and extrapolate the proportion of 2* coins identified. I feel that I must have seen 2-3 hundred since I started looking, searching the bay, LCA past sales , dealers lists etc but sadly I did not keep a record for accuracy and to avoid duplication. This exercise could still be undertaken, though the highlighting of the five known examples might skew the figures, perhaps excluding them and starting afresh would be most accurate. Hovever say one in a hundred F10 had the new obverse, the new coin would have a rarity of R15. One in two hundred would give R16, and one in a thousand would be R17 to R18. My own feeling is that it will end up R 15 to R16. Still a scarce coin. Jerry

Well spotted! I must have looked at hundreds , and haven't spotted another one. I wish I'd kept tabs on how many, did you? These will remain quite rare, I think. Jerry

Not discounting '9's, the above comments apply to all digits where variation has been noted. From steamy Kyoto, where we have just walked miles to see red arsed monkeys being fed peanuts. Jerru

It is true that there are minor differences between individual digit punches, even where the font was the same. This is inevitable, as are date spacing variations, in the days before technology was microscopically precise. I suppose it is a question of degree as to whether we recognise them as different, and collectable. Judicious work with a micrometer (or hi tech equivalent) could possibly differentiate all the individual dies used in the era where date digits were entered by hand, but I do not feel this would make each die a different 'variety'. However there are collectors in some series particularly hammered who will collect different dies. There is nothing wrong with this approach, nor collecting differing date spacings, some of which are clearly rare. It is a question of terminology as to whether these are considered true varieties, or in numismatic terms something else such as minor variants. I dont think we disagree . Jerry

Changes in font are legitimate differences, as in the varieties of 1864 penny, also the 1863 open 3 and 1898 second 8. It is not obvious (to me at least) where these fonts came from, whether a deliberate trial, or inadvertent use of a number punch destined for some other coin, perhaps for an overseas issue. There are differing spacings of 1864, probably an officially sanctioned '4' change, though not to my knowledge in the others, presumably products of a single 'accidental' die. Jerry

I would say it was of much greater interest if there was any actual change in the design of the master die, rather than minor inconsistencies of application of date digits to a working die prepared from an undated master. Erroneous or erratic repairs of a worn working die are also of great interest, but the effects of normal wear and tear much less so. While unintended date variations are of interest to some, I doubt they will ever command the top prices unless associated with other design changes. Jerry

France 2 Portugal 0 , 42nd minute and Ronaldo to be sent off for slapping the referee with his 'I love Iceland' handbag. If I am wrong, may be tempered by my wife having drawn Portugal in her work sweepstake at the start of all this. Well done Wales! Jerry (from the strange country of Japan)

Thats right, and he had found it in a dealers 25p bowl! Jerry

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Quite so Pete, but I'm following the tracking with this one?! Jerry

It certainly beats my previous specimen, a fine example that cost me twice as much! I doubt the other will arrive before we leave for Japan and my boys wedding, so here is the Ebay link. An F25, really quite scarce in this condition, and better than my one that I paid a couple of ton for. All for about £14 inc postage. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331890976914?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Jerry

Here is the first of last weeks Ebay bargains that I alluded to in another thread. Not bad at all for £9.95 including postage! Jerry

But the FTSE 100 is still higher than it was 2 weeks ago, and much higher than in May. Most of that '$350 billion' has already been recovered since this morning. There is a lot of scare-mongering, people trying to justify what they said before the vote, but the decision has been made by the will of the people and we all have to come to terms with that, and hope for a smooth transition and good outcome for us all a couple of years down the line. For me the restoration of full democracy for the people of Britain trumps all other issues, and I am ecstatic with the outcome. God bless the working class voter. The right decision has been made, if not always for the right reasons. Jerry

I have to say that the young French lady at the PCGS stall at the Midland coin fair was extremely pretty, I felt obliged to take a brochure and would have taken more Jerry

Research on the web suggests that his name is Benjamin Stocks, there is a Jane Saxby at the same address, perhaps his partner. I am amazed that the police or inland revenue or both have not shut him down. With his feedback, and the average sale value of his fakes, he must have made tens if not hundreds of thousands of pounds selling dubious stock as genuine over the years. How can he be stopped? Jerry

Here is another offering from this rather notorious seller, apparently graded by NGC, though the coin photos dont suggest that it is in the slab. It is however interesting that these particular photos are so poor and out of focus, wheras those of the rest of his sales are really rather good, crisp and well lit. Is he trying to hide something? Well, its certainly not high tide as described. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322148343756?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Jerry

Hmm, not sure about my photo quality; these are my first efforts with a digital SLR, more effort required! I might try a lighter background. Jerry

And secondly, a rather expensive 1862 overstrike from Baldwins. This coin has been sold twice before in the last few years, at Baldwins November Argentum sale in 2012, and then by Spink USA in January 2014, as part of the Gerald W Jackson collection. In both cases, the price with premium was close to that I paid. I trust it will stay put now, as I'm not likely to find a better. Jerry

A couple of my acquisitions in the last week. Firstly an 1894 that appeared as a b-i-n on Ebay at £49.99. So I bought it. Really lovely in the hand.

I got one, mid estimate, missed another which went way over. But I like the format. Jerry

Please..... But sadly I may not be able to play with the big boys for a couple of months, I spent most of my penny fund with Baldwins at the London Coin Fair yesterday. Hopefully photos in the appropriate place in due course. Jerry