Genuine lustre or a bit of polish ?

[1949threepence 3,367]

The light seems to bounce off it in a way it doesn't normally do with ordinary lustre.

Any thoughts guys ?

If genuine lustre, it's brilliant.

1878 penny

[TomGoodheart 402]

Hmmm ... this is the problems with buying on the basis of a photo. As we all know, changing the angle of the light can make a significant difference to a coin's appearance. And there's just nothing like seeing something 'in the hand'.

But as for this coin, well, I'm no expert on such coins and their 'mint' appearance. My only concern is the rim. Particularly near VICTORIA D: G: when you view the enlarged pic. See how there's a raised edge that catches the light?

It reminds me of one of the signs I use to identify good quality counterfeit £1 coins. Odd rims and an unusual appearance to the metal which I can best describe as 'glittery'. Rather like when you mix up metallic paint (or nail polish), the coins seem to have a lustre made up of particles. Difficult to describe but maybe you can see it in this pic. The coin itself is not (I believe) 'grainy; it's a characteristic of the metal alloy it's made from.

Of course, this could just be a very nice genuine coin!

Edited June 12, 2010 by TomGoodheart

[1949threepence 3,367]

Thanks Tom.

I'm inclining to the POV that it's genuine lustre, as there appears to be almost no wear whatever. Of particular note is the shield, which looks well nigh perfect. Yet those produced between the latter part of 1861 and 1881, had a slightly convex shield which wore very readily.

Just wish I had the money this month to make a realistic bid for it.

(unless, of course, it's a fake. Where's Falmer Palmer when you need him ?)

Edited June 12, 2010 by 1949threepence

[TomGoodheart 402]

Well, if it is genuine, I agree; it's a tremendous coin! No obvious bag knocks and pretty much as it would have been fresh from the mint.

[scott 144]

looks like lustre to me

[1949threepence 3,367]

Well, if it is genuine, I agree; it's a tremendous coin! No obvious bag knocks and pretty much as it would have been fresh from the mint.

That's the trouble. It looks almost too good to be true

[£400 for a Penny ? 0]

I'd say a flash has been used (unless the table has lustre as well..)

Difficult to tell what's going on with a flash photo, bleaches everything as you know.

[Peckris 579]

I'm inclined to say that it looks and 'feels' genuine (with the proviso that there's no substitute for "in the hand"). Probably photo'd with flash, always tricky with lustre. But I see nothing suspicious about it, and I'm watching it

[VickySilver 830]

I too feel genuine, but there do look to be some issues with the cheek and I think with the flash that a bit of the contacts that would downgrade it are disguised. Will have a look at my own in an hour or two...

[Red Riley 2]

I too feel genuine, but there do look to be some issues with the cheek and I think with the flash that a bit of the contacts that would downgrade it are disguised. Will have a look at my own in an hour or two...

I feel 90% certain that it's genuine but 10% of me says it could have been whizzed. Having bought a whizzed coin some years ago and I didn't realise until the thing started to tone a couple of years later, I'm always rather cautious about these things!

[DaveG38 405]

I too feel genuine, but there do look to be some issues with the cheek and I think with the flash that a bit of the contacts that would downgrade it are disguised. Will have a look at my own in an hour or two...

I feel 90% certain that it's genuine but 10% of me says it could have been whizzed. Having bought a whizzed coin some years ago and I didn't realise until the thing started to tone a couple of years later, I'm always rather cautious about these things!

What exactly is 'whizzing'? I understand dipping polishing but not the technique of whizzing.

[1949threepence 3,367]

I too feel genuine, but there do look to be some issues with the cheek and I think with the flash that a bit of the contacts that would downgrade it are disguised. Will have a look at my own in an hour or two...

It's one of those you have to see in the hand before you can finally pass judgement.....and even then.....

I feel 90% certain that it's genuine but 10% of me says it could have been whizzed. Having bought a whizzed coin some years ago and I didn't realise until the thing started to tone a couple of years later, I'm always rather cautious about these things!

Yes ~ I mean how often do you see a bun penny, even in UNC, where the lustre is mint perfect. The coin would have had to be hermetically sealed for well over a century, surely ?

What exactly is 'whizzing'? I understand dipping polishing but not the technique of whizzing.

It's re-lustre-ing a coin ~ click here

Selected term: Buffing (whizzed)

Explanation: A polishing of a coin sometimes with an abrasive that leaves a finish that attempts to counterfeit mint luster. A buffed coin often is worth less than one that has not been cleaned

I've no idea how it's done, though. But I do have a coin which I think has been re-lustred. A silver one.

[1949threepence 3,367]

Just as a quick addendum to the above, when azda showed us the 1875 coin below,at post No 65, on the rare bun penny thread, a few days ago, there was something about it which suggested, instinctively, that it was the real McCoy.

Yet that looks damn near perfect. Maybe just not quite as mirror like flawless as the 1878.

[Red Riley 2]

What exactly is 'whizzing'? I understand dipping polishing but not the technique of whizzing.

As I understand it, it involves mechanically buffing the coin.

[azda 979]

Am still hurting at selling that damn coin

[azda 979]

So did anyone bid on it and win? From 67 GBP in the last minute to 255 GBP

Edited June 13, 2010 by azda

[Peckris 579]

So did anyone bid on it and win? From 67 GBP in the last minute to 255 GBP

Outbid. Too rich for me.

[VickySilver 830]

So did anyone bid on it and win?

Too much at 255, these come well struck with nice lustre (mine does look sim.)

[1949threepence 3,367]

So did anyone bid on it and win? From 67 GBP in the last minute to 255 GBP

Outbid. Too rich for me.

No way. I'm skint for the rest of this month anyway, as far as coins are concerned.

[azda 979]

I was gonna stick 75 GBP on it until i saw the last 30 seconds