Bernie

I am finding the banter rather amusing, don't mind me, I'm enjoying it. You can't offend me very easily, skin like a rhino. whole collections of perfect coins are almost impossible to get. I know of many coins that are better than James's but they are widely spread about, one in a collection here, one there. In the end we all have to settle for what is available at a price that we are willing to pay. Before we all start offending each other, grading is in the eye of the beholder, that is why I avoid grading coins myself !! United states grading, French grading etc is different to British grading. I think in an ideal world, grading should use terms Fine, Good Fine, Near VF, VF etc. but then adding percentages of Lustre if applicable. The Exceptions would be coins struck with proof quality dies, when percentages of lustre could be used on the bronze coins, but bronzed coins or copper proofs would require other additional descriptions. The reserve prices on James's coins were worked out to be below the current book prices for the grade of the particular coin. My estimated grading !

I agree. Some have definitely been photoshopped. For example the cheaper of the 1881 pennies looks absolutely fantastic, but whether it would look as good in the hand is a different matter. Which one? I could give you my opinion. The one I've screenshotted and uploaded to imageshack in this link ~ it's No 55 in the list. It looks a truly beautiful coin, but I've been had before with enhanced images. Not saying it is, but you can't be too careful. The 1881 F102 is in my opinion a fairly good likeness to the colour of the coin. I attach a scanned image of the coin. Scanned images never flatter a coins appearance. I believe that the images at CCC are as representative as you can get from photography. The one thing that photography does not show very well is the beautiful mirror appearances of some of the proof issue coins. Proof not being a grade as simetimes used in the USA but the polished dies that the coins were struck from. James's coins were mainly chosen for the quality of the strikes and general appearance of even colour where possible. The original mint bloom would be nice, but unfortunately coins with the above attributes and full mint bloom are like hens teeth, especially in the bun series.

I agree. Some have definitely been photoshopped. For example the cheaper of the 1881 pennies looks absolutely fantastic, but whether it would look as good in the hand is a different matter. Which one? I could give you my opinion.

Would it be classed as a misstrike rather than a deliberate variety, Bernie? Though it has to be said, an accidental rotation of exactly 180º does make you stop and think. That is a puzzler of a question !!! I don't know if it was possible to place a die the wrong way round in the press. Looking at the overall question of varieties, many blundered coins are considered a different variety, such as mules, overdates.

James is not holding anything back, the collection was split into two parts almost evenly based on lower estimated values. Varieties not in the first auction therefore are probably in the second.There are some duplicates of some pennies, five, I believe, of which includes another Freeman 32 which is a different die pair, a 1909 dot, a Freeman 22* central fishtail again a different die pair. The reason the collection was split into two is that the penny collecting world are generally reluctant to spend a lot of money on one event, so a break inbetween gives collectors chance to reload their guns. There is a list on this site of pennies that James has not got, so will not appear in Part 2 I have a small piece of advice. From my experience, most of the not so rare pennies will probably sell exactly on estimate. If you want one of these coins i advise you to bid early. The reason for this is that dealers may start mopping up the coins with no bids on the last day. If you bid after them you will probably have to bid one step higher. On the subject of agreements not to bid against each other, this is fine, but I personally avoid getting into agreements if possible,this is why. I reluctently agreed not to bid on a certain rarity. The other collector was outbid and I didn't know if this bidder was going to drop another bid before the hammer went down. He didn't, I didn't know whether to bid or not, too late the hammer went down and niether of us got the coin....Great!!!

The Weight should be significantly heavier if it is the normal thickness of other halfpennies. The weight of a genuine silver equivalent of a, known to me, bronze penny is ~15 grams, when the currency coin weighs ~9.35 grams. So you are looking at 50-60% heavier for a silver coin compaired with a bronze coin of the same size. The date of the coin would be of interest

Bernie, are you the same Bernie who had a permanent classified ad in Coin News some years ago asking for a London 1882 penny and various other rarities?

Hello, Hopefully I have attached a picture of my 1882 withou H, Not forsale I'm affraid

The foil impressions were produced for numismatic purposes and not intended to be sold. The impressions are of the genuine coins. The 1933 impressions are from a genuine Freeman 209 currency coin. The hairs you mention are impressions of the red hair material which comes from coin trays. A number of these impressions of a 1933 penny were produced and given out, so these hair impressions may appear in different places or not at all. The impressions are produced by a folded piece of the cheapest, thin, kitchen foil, cut to 80x40mm and folded in half. (shiniest side inwards)It is then placed in a press with rubber pads 35mm dia top and bottom, the coin placed between the folded foil, and pressured from the press. I wouldn't advise anyone to try this on an expensive or rare coin unless it has been thoroughly tested on low value coins. Never try this on coins with cracked flans.

For those of you which are relying on varieties in Part 2. I think that it is only fair to let you know what is not in the collection. the following varieties are not in the collection. Freeman 8, 9, 19, 28, 33A, 39A, 41, 44, 45, 46, 47, 69, 76, 103, 112, 192A, 209, 247.

I have noticed that proof sets with black coloured backgrounds do tend to tarnish far more than other colours.

"last man standing" auction ? Anyway, it certainly looks very interesting. Who knows there might be a high grade 1926 ME penny worth fighting over, if you've a spare couple of grand floating about. 1926 Modified Effigy in ~BU lower estimate £2000 in part 2 auction