zookeeperz

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1896-Queen-Victoria-British-Sterling-Silver-Widow-Head-Shilling-Grade-Poor1-PO-1/173281168589 Bargain of the century !!! I am surprised it hasn't sold As always 10 points for effort

100% out of a xmas cracker. Garbage!!!

I would have a good check on the legends . Looks like its all either been repunched a few mil lower or there are mismatch over puncheslike that last R in BRITANNIAR . Nice Coin especially as you can see there are no rim nicks something that is always hidden on NGC pics

I'll say they are possibly the same grade purely on the marker points of P of pense and I of honi on reverse. The slabbed coin those two letters are just a tad higher in definition . It is the first point on these half crowns to wear first. And also we are looking at a slab which will possibly detract from an overall look. But I wouldn't pick 2 over 1 because of the fore mentioned points. Still nice coin though

wait till they look at the edge it will be milled . chargeback coming I sense

Yes 'tis me back again to test the grey matter and eyesight of the forum Guru's . Looks like 2 over 1 to me . I marked relevant points of interest. What do you think folks? thanks as always.

Actually that isn't entirely true. the RM lead you to believe they don't know anything about the V.I.P tag and claim it is entirely invented by dealers. Yet on their own website they advertise a 1953 V.I.P penny. I believe there may well have been special coins struck for whatever reason and someone made the biggest cock up in the history of the royal mint and these coins ended up where they shouldn't of. Would they admit it? No they never do unless someone calls them out with proof. I have browsed lots of the 1953 proof sets and all look the same and this is by different sellers many of them with different cameras and ways of taking pictures. Yet 1 comes along and that coin looks so far from the rest it is obvious it shouldn't be in that set . Why did they RM and other mints start to divide the field from the subject matter in such a way to produce a cameo finish or further to that point a frosted cameo finish which is a special finish added to a proof coin? The RM know more than they let on. But I totally agree It was done for profit to maximise the income and add micro varieties to their listings but they will never admit they are having us over now would they? And according to baldwins there are 3 types of 1977 25 pence issues this is taken from the sale I omitted the pictures . Elizabeth II, Silver Proof Decimal Crown (pure silver?), 1977, of Twenty-Five Pence, silver Jubilee issue, Queen on horseback left, legend surrounding, date below, rev struck en médaille, ampulla and anointing spoon in crowned linear circle, floral border surrounding, edge milled, 28.54g (S.4227). Mottled tone especially around rim each side, housed in original Royal Mint red presentation box, Royal Mint crest in silk lid lining, black pad interior, the only one we have ever seen of this ilk, extremely rare, sold with an example of the regular sterling silver proof crown weighing 27.93g and the regular cupro-nickel Crown weighing 28.15g, all in as issued condition. (3) £1,000 This Crown is heavier than the regular sterling silver proof and has much more of a contrast in colour, brilliance and frosting between the raised design, lettering and fields. Based on the heavier weight, we suspect this special presentation piece is pure silver but test need to be conducted. The coins is sold with the regular sterling proof silver version and the currency cupro-nickel piece for comparison. There is a good provenance with this piece which we are able to reveal to the eventual buyer So unless it comes with provenance it is just a nice looking coin is my point.

George Formby ? "When I'm cleaning Widow's "perhaps ?

Also I noticed the description of the 1951 Cupro festival V.I.P crown. As opposed to the 1977 which came in red leatherite case with silk inlay that coin didn't and had a ticket from a previous owner and from a 1992 collection stating possible specimen or early strike So is it really a V.I.P or just a nice first strike proof?

All those discussion we have had on vip proof strikings and frosted cameo are here in a Baldwin sale scroll down and you will see them inc 1951 V.I.P crown 1960 V.I.P crown 1977 V.I.P Crown Very interesting and you can see quite clearly the difference. http://www.baldwin.co.uk/media/cms/fixedpricelist/FPLsummer2016/pdfs/06%20BALDWINS%202016%20Summer%20FIXED%20PRICE%20LIST%20-%2004%20-%20BRITISH%20COINS.pdf Apparently the 1977 V.I.P Frosted proof is heavier than the normal silver proof. They surmise although not tested that the crown is made of pure silver. Which would account for the weight difference. Very interesting a little more light now is shed on these elusive coins.

£15 I think I paid for it about a year ago inc postage. I'd snap em all up at that price.

This is my DCAM but its silver so it should look like that. Lovely big hunk of a thing all the cloudy areas are just shadow its immaculate.

If it looks as black as that in the field in the hand and its not a trick of the light then it is a DCAM . But I have seen these look like that in a photo and end up like the half crown top right when you receive them

Jesus I thought that said Bing Crosby

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Choice-Hole-Surrounded-by-Choice-1874-H-Half-Penny-See-Notes-Victoria-British/332617694897 made me smile the hole truth and nothing but the hole truth. Pays to have a good sense of humour when selling stuff on the bay. Great sales pitch too boot lol

wow that is one cool find. were there many of those made?

I reported that last week just goes to show ebay does nothing as usual.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Australia-1-Penny-1934-EF-AU-KM-23-1P-George-V-Melbourne-Rare-Higher-Grade/351134489055 This is what ticks me off . Now you would think by the 15k 99% rating and the professional name these guys would be beyond reproach but again with this grading guide and yes each of us has our own interpretation of grades but I would 100% say we would all be within 1/2 a grade of each other. This bozo thinks this coin is EF/AU . Not even mentioning the scalectrix track running around the surface. That coin should be body bagged I doubt it would make VF details? Twonks like this give the good guys a real bad name and make selling increasingly difficult. Not impressed Richard

Isn't that the very rare molten lava finish?

Agreed all points exactly the same just some more advance in wear but definitely the same dies ty alf nice 1 Richard