Stuff to Make Us Laugh

[Stuff to Make Us Laugh]

I have split off the discussion about Gary Lineker as it didn't seem to fit the "Stuff to make us laugh" as it didn't seem very humorous.

Feel free to continue the chat there if you wish.

[Evasion and Contemporary Counterfeits]

That looks to me like a genuine Aberystwyth groat that has been gilded DrL.

Possibly to try to pass off as a crown, however the IIII would surely be a real give away, even for the illiterate? (Crowns would have had V to the right of the bust to signify 5 shillings..)

[March 2023 LCA catalogue now out]

1 hour ago, Martinminerva said:

Despite being a regular bidder and buyer for well over a decade, they didn't even send me a printed catalogue this time (they did this for a spell once before); I much prefer to read a paper catalogue thoroughly than browse a ponderous website, so I won't be putting in any bids. Not very good business acumen...

I actually paid £5 to be on their mailing list a year or so back. Have I ever received a catalogue? No. 😠

[Some Help Please Charles II shilling 3rd issue]

13 hours ago, DrLarry said:

the reverse of the ticket is SPK 20098/125   does that give any further information ? I cannot see any trace of solder that I would recognise just a series of tool marks in one direction.  I suppose it may have been clipped a little  the reverse mint mark crown is very strong do you think that weak area may just be a strike issue? 

August 2009 #125?  Afraid I don't have copies for that year. @Rob might?

[Some Help Please Charles II shilling 3rd issue]

Paul Dawson's writing on the ticket, so pre 1997, when he took over his father's business.
Not sure if he worked for Spink after 1985 which is when he joined his Dad. Still quite a wide date range I'm afraid ..

[TICKET CENTRAL]

Another pair of tickets from the same mystery source as above. The more modern, in the same hand as above.

The older is much more detailed than before (although, as far as I can see, the same hand) Usefully this one references the Numismatic Chronicle, thereby pinning down the date the ticket was written to between 1860 and 1880, the period within which the First series of the NC was referred to as the 'old series'. Similar use of Mionnet's scale as previously. The search continues..!

[TICKET CENTRAL]

Here's another mystery ticket well, four actually. It's the larger ones that are most of interest to me. The numbers at the bottom state the sizes of medals using the Mionnet scale. A now obscure system first publicised in 1804 and apparently out of use by the 1920s. Which hopefully dates the tickets themselves to early 20th century.

The smaller tickets are more recent, but I'm thinking 1950s 60s perhaps? The writing looks familiar, but I've just not managed to pin it down.

Two pairs of tickets, describing different medals, but from the same sale and collection.

Comments welcome!

[Auction House Fees]

That's why I decide how much I think something is worth to me in advance, decide my maximum bid and once placed in advance, I leave it be.

The only exception to this is the last auction I took part in, where I'd set my budget but wanted several items. I had some 'left over' from my first successful bid so used the live online bidding to go for a subsequent lot. Despite being tempted to go rather over my budget I was the underbidder. A salutary lesson for me!

I do feel there's scope for auction houses to do a 'roll over' scheme, where if you don't spend all of your first bid, the remainder is bid against another item.
But my getting carried away last time is I guess precisely why they don't!

[Auction House Fees]

Yeah, I just set a maximum I want to go to and adjust for fees. Last purchase at Noonans, with the 5% supplement (because the seller was in the US), the additions came to just over 1/3 of my bid. I paid within my budget, but it meant less for the seller.

As a collector, I just look at the overall price I have to pay. But I imagine it makes it difficult for dealers who will need to add their cut, unless they have the resources to hold onto stuff for a few years, to compete.

[TICKET CENTRAL]

13 hours ago, Coinery said:

Have you the coin with those tickets, not a common 6d that?

No, I just save any images of coin tickets I think might be useful later and this was one I spotted.
The other ticket is a Baldwins one in Michael Sharp's hand. Hopefully both are still with the coin. 

[TICKET CENTRAL]

Cool. Thanks! I'll update my records.

[TICKET CENTRAL]

 

 

So this (larger one) is Chris Comer, Stu?

[TICKET CENTRAL]

15 hours ago, Coinery said:

Thanks for that

Interesting…why would he write two for the same coin?

Is the other (neater hand) ticket not John Jerrams? Or am I confused?

[TICKET CENTRAL]

21 hours ago, Coinery said:

Can confirm the ticket to the right is Stephen’s of Top Carp 👍

Anyone for the left one?

Yup. Left ticket (which looks grey to me and written in fountain pen) looks like Comber's writing to me too.

[Recycling used print cartridges]

You might find your supermarket has a bin for them? Or if there's a larger stationary shop local to you?

 

[CNG counterfeit E1 Cypher Halfpenny]

😂

[More Pennies]

Gold doesn't tarnish. And gloves can make you clumsy. Dropping a coin like that is more risk than fingerprints to the edge that would clean if required.

[James I Double Crown - thoughts?]

On balance, I'd say yes. But the difference in focus and lighting meant I had to do a lot of checking! And yes the top looks mushy, but I assume it's out of focus.

Can you buy it at the price of the top one? Because with that photo it should really be a lot lower than the price of the lower one! 

[What auction houses and reputable shops should I be keeping my eye on?]

Yes, definitely add Noonans. Davissons in the US do a regular list and auctions. There are different specialisms amongst auctioneers, some you may find better for what you want to collect than others. A quick search of coinarchives.com, numisbids.com and mcsearch.com (acsearch for ancients/mediaeval) might help there. 

Dealers similarly. Mike Vosper for ancients, Lloyd Bennet has a good selection including more modern pieces, AMR coins for good higher end. If you look at their sold archive you'll see if what you want features regularly enough. Many dealers will accept a 'wants' list, which might be worth considering?

[BMC 525 Farthing - looking for a very rough valuation]

Greetings and welcome back JMD!

 

[contract law - offer for sale]

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?

 

[contract law - offer for sale]

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.

 

[Norman Coin Identification and Restoration Advice]

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. 

 

[Norman Coin Identification and Restoration Advice]

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.

[LCA catalogue now online]

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?