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Diaconis

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Posts posted by Diaconis


  1. Rob,

    Two references sprang to mind:

    - Biographical dictionary of medallists: coin, gem, and seal engravers, mint-masters, &c., ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900 / compiled by L. Forrer.  I just checked and can only find reference to a Francois Rude, no Coyner and no 'Ruud' unfortunately.

    I think your best bet would be - Beschrijving der Nederlandsche Historie Penningen (Description of Historic Dutch Medals), Gerard van Loon.

    I have a hard copy but do not have access to it at this moment, however, you might be able to find an electronic copy somewhere on the net. If not, I'll be able to scan through my copy at a later date if need be and you can't find one.

    Paul.


  2. 3 hours ago, 1949threepence said:

    Actually available on Amazon right now. I've just ordered a copy.

    link

      

    Hi Mike,

    I do hope that you enjoy it and that the quality of the plates is reflected in the Amazon copy. The original does have gilt-edged pages and the plates are treated with similar gilt/silver/copper embossing. It must have been a costly exercise for Mr Humphrey in the 1850s.

    • Like 1

  3. Though a later book, if you get the chance, pick up a gilt-edged copy of Noel Humphrey's, The Coinage of the British Empire (1854). They turn up occasionally at auction, usually in job lots, and can be purchased for a few pounds.

    I'm sure most have been butchered as the plates are perfect for framing and the binding did leave a lot to be desired so most copies are in tatters. Photos don't do them justice, they are very vivid.

    748486636_IMG_2395copy.jpg.3a34add354130cbd3b98338b1887af11.jpg

    • Like 1

  4. Personally speaking, I do like to behold an old book. Spending time examining the woodcuts under a strong glass can be fascinating, some are very thought-provoking. Snelling has some interesting ones in, 'A View of the Silver Coin and Coinage of England.... ".

    Added to that, the annotated margins, thick parchment paper, and the musty aroma of decomposing VOC's that linger with the turn of each leaf, just wonderful. 

    774653212_IMG_2389copy.jpg.dfb6a1b44c856fbd4d0b574002184b75.jpg

    • Like 2

  5. I was interested to see an extensive selection of Queen Anne pattern farthings come up for sale at the recent DNW auction. I noticed a Peck 748 (Cu) for sale and they don't seem to surface that often. It was Lot 796 (photo below, RH image).

    At first sight, it looked a fine example , EF, nice toning, but on a closer inspection, it just looked odd. It hammered at £1800 (excl costs) which may be about the going rate for one these days, maybe more, I don't know.

    The auction catalogue lists it as Peck 748 (Obv. 4 + Rev. D). As a comparison, I've added the LH image which is Peck 747 same dies, (Obv. 4 + Rev. D) (ex. CNG 2012). 

    When compared side by side it is apparent that they are not from the same set of dies. The DNW example being of a slightly cruder design and workmanship.

    The reverse (Rev. D) on the DNW example also exhibits small dissimilarities and crudeness of design yet curiously still exhibits the die flaws on the right hand portico column and after the NIA in BRITANNIA.

    It would be nice to think it to be a rare, contemporary variant of Peck 748 but imo its more likely to be an imitation, there to deceive. I suppose that had the die-break not been there on the reverse then it could have been an unrecorded variant but the very presence of the die flaw should surely preclude the smallest of differences elsewhere on the coin. 

    Any thoughts?

    771892056_Lot796.jpg.9518c1966e4de984202e38fdd16caf3c.jpg


  6. That 'treasure chest' is just awful,

    "You’re George III coins are displayed a fabulous wooden sea chest, just like the Captain of the Admiral Gardner may have owned".

    Talk about anachronisms. If the Captain of the Admiral Gardner had owned a chest like that, then along with inventing the cross head screw, Henry Phillips must have had access to a tardis. 


  7. The recent thread concerning the myth of 1922 pennies containing gold caused me to reflect on how much numismatic and social history is buried within the pages of long-lost newspapers.

    Over the years I've found several such clippings between the leaves of old discarded books, invariably put there by our predecessors for safekeeping. I thought some of you might be interested to see some of them. Would make a great read in book form, for those so inclined.

     The right-hand clipping in the first photograph also refers to the 1922 penny as being valuable....maybe because of the gold myth?

    IMG_2332.jpg.5808c014f823297588eae353a7a054ca.jpg

    Don't want to incite a rampage down to the Vicarage stable at Chard but.........

    IMG_2329.jpg.9b1150dba8c76b2bdd7142118213fba5.jpg

    IMG_2331.jpg.10f42c837aa364455729af1904bac3b3.jpg

    • Like 2

  8. 10 hours ago, Rob said:

    The Pembroke sale may well be the first instance when this was included in a catalogue, as it wasn't printed in say Thomas Thomas, Durrant or the Devonshire collection which were all important sales of that decade, nor any other earlier catalogues I possess. The scale was subsequently included more often than not in Sotheby's catalogues up to the mid 1920s. The Bruun sale in 1925 and Middleton (1926) both had the scale, but Huth in 1927 had a scale in inches as did all the catalogues here subsequent to that. I don't know why they dropped it. 

    Thanks Rob, most interesting.

    I later found the following table which Earle Caley drew up to compare various contemporary scales;

    Mionnet / Leake / Dickeson / Prime and Head scales.

    Can’t recall seeing the other scales mentioned in old catalogues though. They didn’t seem to enjoy quite the same popularity as Mionnet😉

     

    Scale
    Number
    Mionnet,
    1805
    Leake, 1854 Dickeson,
    1859
    Prime,
    1861
    Head,
    1887
    1 8.9 I 9.3 9.5 7.5 9.3
    2 12.1 II 12.1 12.5 14.0 12.3
    3 15.4 III 15.3 15.3 20.1 15.3
    4 18.1 IV 18.1 18.3 24.2 17.8
    5 21.2 V 21.2 21.3 28.2 21.0
    6 23.7 VI 23.8 24.2 32.1 23.9
    7 26.6 VII 26.6 26.6 40.4 26.1
    8 28.9 VIII 28.8 28.9 43.0 28.4
    9 31.8 IX 31.4 31.3 45.7 31.2
    10 35.2 X 34.9 33.9 48.3 34.7
    11 37.7 XI 37.5 36.5 52.3 37.5
    12 40.5 XII 39.7 39.0 55.1 39.7
    13 43.4     42.1 57.8 43.2
    14 51.8     50.4 60.3 51.0
    15 56.7     54.9 62.9 55.9
    16 60.6     58.7 65.8 60.1
    17 64.5     62.8 68.6 63.2
    18 70.9     68.8 71.6 69.8
    19 78.3     75.9 74.6 77.0
    20       83.1 82.1  
     
    • Like 1

  9. Always on the look out for interesting information I can add to a ticket. I was just browsing through the Pembroke Collection catalogue and I happened upon the Scale of Mionnet. How have I done without it? :blink:. Very similar to the scale of Dubonnet if you ask me.Mionnet.jpeg

    T.E. Mionnet
    Description de Medailles Antiques.
    Paris, 1805.


  10. On 5/18/2018 at 3:09 PM, jasonsewell said:

    Couple of beauty's coming up at Heritage. Think they'll be a little out of reach for me...

    https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/world-coins/proof-pr64-ngc-/p/3066-31009.s?ic4=ListView-Thumbnail-071515

    I fully agree jasonsewell, that halfcrown is a real beauty, and though not my line of collecting I can still appreciate the DeS' busts, real works of art, and I do have a penchant for an off-metal rarity to boot. The reverse is of equal merit, beautiful work, one of the better halfcrown reverses I find, and in gold it is more impressive. Would be a joy to behold and hold in hand I'm sure.

    On 5/18/2018 at 11:00 PM, rpeddie said:

    1927 PF62 1/2 Crown sold recently for £53000 :) link

    Above, I see two 'expertly' graded NGC boxes where, if you swapped the labels around, it might be closer to the truth (imo).


  11. 2 hours ago, alfnail said:

     

     

    The digital microscope I use was bought around 4 years ago, so I expect there may be some better ones out there for similar price, but I haven't checked recently. You can see on the following link:-

    https://www.dino-lite.eu/index.php/en/component/k2/item/2566-am4815ztl

    P.S. You need a good stand as well to focus in accurately. 

     

     

    Video may be of interest, hope so.

    I had a Firefly, now expired, was comparable with a Dino-Lite. Looking to purchase a new one. Might try one of these.

    • Like 1
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