TomGoodheart

Yes, these 'patterns' are of unclear purpose and also appear in Medallic Illustrations as medals. In this case MIi 463/59. A lovely piece of Simon's work, either way "59. Restoration. 1660. " Magna Opera Domini." Bust of Charles II., r., laureate, hair long, flowing over the shoulders, in armour with straps and lion's head on the shoulder, mantle, and medal. Leg. carolvs . ii . d . g . mag . br . fr . et . hi . rex. Underneath, s. (Thomas Simon.) Rev. Square shield of Great Britain and Ireland, crowned. Leg. magna . opera . domini . 1660. (The works of the Lord are great. — Psal. cxi. 2.) 1*15. Med. Hist, xxvii. 2. Ruding, PI. xxxiv. 2. MB. N. M. Bodley, M. Athole, M. Rare. This beautifully executed piece is the work of Thomas Simon. By some persons it is supposed to have been a pattern for a coin, but it was more probably a small medal struck upon the Restoration. It may be the piece mentioned in Simon's accounts, and for which £16 was charged. It is there termed a medal. (See Vertue, p. 89.) "

I think the only way to tell at this stage will be to make the purchase and see what happens. You're prepared for the worst anyway. I suspect if you don't get it for the 'original' price it might be time consuming and eventually fruitless to go the legal route, but a reputable dealer would surely be prepared to be flexible given the circumstances?

No idea about contract legalities, but very poor form and I sympathise with your annoyance,. My thoughts, in no particular order. How do you forget you have an item on your website when you list it on ebay and not remember to check what you were asking? I have always found that dealers are quite happy to offer items for less off ebay as it reduces their costs, so I'd at least anticipate a reduction from the £3500! The longer a dealer has an item on their site unsold the more I would expect them to discount it! Unsold = no profit and funds tied up. And if it hasn't sold at the web price, they're just chancing it with hiking it that much on ebay! And this particular case, I'm guessing; A: Like in a shop that has forgotten to re-price an item, they aren't obliged to sell to you. But until it sells at the higher price its value is not established. If I'd already paid, I'd just ask for my money back. In six months time, if it hasn't sold and you still want it, make an offer. Unless you really want it and think the price is still reasonable. I'd still haggle as they've avoided eBay costs and fees. 20% down from the ebay price might be a starting point? B: No contract has been entered into and the price is open to negotiation. I suspect that's always the case, just that many retailers will honour an incorrect lower price if it isn't hugely out to preserve customer goodwill. Though as the economy gets worse, just like John Lewis and their 'never knowingly undersold' promise, I imagine many will review this if they haven't already.

I think the thing is the museum's vase will nowadays be 'restored' in a way that's completely reversible. Unless someone like Barry makes individual pieces to fit into the jigsaw of your coin and then glues it all together a 'restoration' will involve metalwork. If you had infinite resources you could get the gaps filled in gold to make clear the original pieces but the cost might be more than you want to pay! However, I'm pretty sure Barry can make the pieces into one item if that will please you - though probably it'll cost more than you paid for the pieces - with one proviso. Personally I'm not 100% the two larger pieces are from the same coin as I can't get the obverse to match up when the reverse is aligned. Though I admit I don't have them in the hand and digitally moving them around isn't easy. Maybe pop the two pieces on some sellotape? If you can't get them to really match no amount of restoration will do any better.

If it were complete Barry could use whatever reversible glue is currently acceptable for restoration. But incomplete he would have to build a 'new' coin. You'd have to decide whether you want details in the currently 'empty' areas or not. And in the end you'll have a coin that will be heavily restored. So 'worth putting back together'? If it makes you happy, perhaps. Financially, not if you think it'll restore what you have to near the cost of a full coin. It might even devalue it in the eyes of some (people don't always appreciate restorations). But your choice in the end. I don't have an email address for Barry but his number is 07541 853425 I understand.

London Coins? The people I paid for a subscription to their auction catalogue and, despite several reminders, never received any? Pft. Are they still going?

Mmm .. I'm struggling to put together the two largest pieces here I'm afraid, let alone ID, though it's not really my area. Stephen, Watford type? Trouble is it's incomplete, so even though someone like Barry Sherlock might be able to do something with it, it's never going to be a complete coin.

I think the attached shows what you could call cabinet friction. The edge where it protrudes from the rest of the design. Of course, it's just wear. And I suspect the term is used less frequently these days. Probably more significant on milled coinage as that was supposedly more 'perfect' to start with. I'd call it 'light wear to high points' myself. And more likely on coins that have been in dealers' drawers for some time where there's been regular opening and closing (this coin ex Michael Sharp and probably Baldwins) than us collectors who probably don't access our collections every day.

Very recognisable as a regular on eBay. The plugged piercing is a real give-away. I'd really have expected CNG to know this. 😡

Coin acquisition? What's that? (Hi again all). I have to say , I'm struggling to find anything worth buying. Last purchase (apart from a cheap Great Recoinage piece) was back in March*. I've branched out a little to Charles I associated medals/ medallions, but even there it just feels as if everyone is holding onto the nicer pieces. Which admittedly, is what I'm also doing! * Attached here. Late Tower shilling of Charles I (of course) Spink 2804, Sharp H3/2.

Martin Hughes. Coins sold through Spink, Auction 130, 16 November 1999.