Rob

Retrospectively, only when you win. At the time it is useful to have a spare set of underwear to hand if a coin in demand has to be bought. Not so thrilling trying to explain that one.

Not only the pennies were good. It was an all-round interesting sale given things like the unique 1847 6d and the Henry VI (restored) farthing. I picked up a couple things, so in a good mood today.

Oh dear.

The only example I have seen in hand which is completely unambiguous was the Adams coin. You will see that the underlying 3 determines the profile of the last digit with the 3 clearly present, but also clearly overpunched with a 5 given the vertical section to the left on the upper part of the digit. I have seen various others which purported to be over 3, but none with the same profile and arguably contentious. The 1845 over ? that I had stolen at the Midland last year looked to be to be more likely over a different font 5 than a 4 or a 3, but 4 would be a good call if not a 5. Not to say that the coins with a taller 5 are not over 3, but definitely a case of caveat emptor IMO. There are many coins listed as such, but most are reliant on the vendor's description. There is one coin listed on ebay that I thought unusual which is claimed to be 5/3, but it was the irregularity of the date which caught my eye. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335246363284

Supply and demand. Everything that is traded is subject to these three words. That is why seemingly rare types go for peanuts, yet a common coin will frequently sell for more if in unusually good grade for the type. Also, special strikings have a smaller following with many collectors happy with just an example. Personally, I wouldn't lose too much sleep if intending to get all or most denominations as all prices tend to hold within a reasonably narrow band over time. Collectors are in the majority, sheep. There is also a slight bias for larger coins over smaller ones, and similarly for those values most frequently found in change.

Given there are 240 guests on atm, I suspect a few more gremlins. A few will be genuine, most won't be.

Notifications are still going for a hike. Stalingrad perhaps?

Looks like a site issue. I usually wait for messages and notifications before hitting the buttons, but it appears both are going for a long bike ride.

Clearly not fully au fait when it comes to numismatic knowledge. Why point out a heart shaped pinprick hole, probably due to a bubble in the flan or a rust spot on the die, when there's a bleedin' obvious die flaw covering the first W on the truncation (or is it a naval cannon mint mark?). I think we should be told. Maybe somebody would like to suggest the mint mark to her and sit back to see what transpires.

That's the man. Splash out on literature. Spend 3 beers worth on a book instead of 1. As an aside and not referencing you as a subject, it never ceases to amaze me how many people consider spending as much as a lunchtime beer with a snack on literature is viewed as excessive and wasted money, when what they spend on coins has several zeros added to the same amount. It seems weird to me that people frequently won't buy the required tools to give them the knowledge required to increase their collection value, which is what they are trying to achieve. Bizarre. Not everything is on the internet, and that which is, is becoming increasingly untrustworthy. Everybody needs to tread more carefully than they used to with AI. A potentially useful tool that you can be guarantee to be abused.

Plenty of silver types, of which I am looking for a specific one. Without trying to state the obvious, it has cast copy 'written' all over it in the form of casting pits. Even if it was genuine, desirable it ain't.

Could be double struck with another coin trapped in the dies, but equally could be another coin in a different metal in close contact with it in wet, acidic conditions leading to electrolysis (2 different metals in near contact under those conditions will generate a potential difference. Think in terms of a battery. Given the level of corrosion seen, either is possible.

It is always worth ignoring die damage on a generally heavily circulated denomination in scarce condition. A few years ago I had an A/R in CAR farthing with weak central areas that I wanted a fair, but full price for on the grounds that I had only traced mine and the Colin Cooke example. Someone I know locally refused to pay so much in the hope one would turn up. Happy to report he's still waiting.........

Maybe p'ing in the wind as an idea, but given the shape of the three, is it a 3 with a damaged top half, then subsequently repaired with something like a Maundy 7 punch for example? Or any other smaller denomination for that matter? The reinforcing of existing legends is well documented, so to have such an unconventionally shaped 3 is fairly illogical, given the mint officials' mentality at the time. just trying to think outside the box given the relatively conventional lower loop.

Hmm. Interesting. Lloyd Bennett once showed me something that looked genuine, but had not previously been recorded. The correct weight and size for a Confederate 2d, if it existed. Can't find the picture atm, but must have it somewhere.