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Coinery

Expert Grader
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Everything posted by Coinery

  1. Coinery

    Cleaning my coins

    Probably a highly inappropriate conversation, but I have heard that the same process used for 'ageing' silver jewellery, will also work to some degree with copper! Might be worth tying it out on something of low value, just to improve eye appeal, if you're determined to polish something for your own collection. An interesting benefit of Playing around with such processes is that it might just help you in spotting artificially toned coins in the future! Apparently, liver of sulphur (nasty toxic fumes when reacting with silver etc), or the yolk of a hard boiled egg, will add tone to a shiny coin. Give it a try and see what happens! Put the boiled yolks of one or two eggs into a sealed bag or jar with the coin, and leave overnight - this may darken the coin too much, or you may need to repeat the process a second time. Totally trial and error! Happy boiling!
  2. You don't seem to have read any of my posts? I suggested that acid has eroded away the metal to such an extent that the underlying stress patterns caused by the teeth area of the strike (normally invisible) have been exposed to view. I concur 100% with your posts and theory! My thread echos exactly what you have been saying, mine's just a proposed idea of the processes involved!
  3. Distracted? You have hit the nail right on the head there, I just cannot stop from picking up my phone and checking the threads out. It's real pain that I can view all the new content at the click of a button, because that is what I am doing now, more and more! It's a great idea Mr Peckris, Sir...keep us all addicted to the forum, leaving us no time to get out there and surf the world for bargain coins. :-)
  4. The 'tooth' between D & G, alongside the colon, on the obverse, stretches well beyond the legend, and breaches the field, without the slightest distortion to the lettering and, as Rob suggested at the start of the thread, seems a little odd if this is purported to be a stretched flan. There seems to be no other rational explanation for this coin, scientifically speaking (outside of any suggestion that there was a die cut with teeth extending beyond the legend), other than to say that the extended teeth were exposed by erosion. It's not inconceivable, we already know that metal becomes harder when stressed and compressed - this makes perfect sense then to me that the compression forces at the edge of the coin, forming the teeth, would penetrate deep into the blank, never to be seen again until the softer, unstressed metal, is dissolved first by some 'chemical process or other.' All humbly theoretical of course!
  5. Rob & Peckris - Christ (forgive me for blasphemy, if it offends you), you guys, where do you find the time or patience to share so much?
  6. Every megapixel is sacred. Don't waste 'em. Wear on her plait is what we're looking for here and the lions/harp show wear on the reverse. Good strike though as frequently the lions are pretty poorly defined. I would micrograde and go NEF-EF. If Victoria really had looked like that she would have had all the crowned heads of Europe forming a disorderly queue outside Buckingham Palace. By all aqccounts though (mostly her own), she made up in enthusiasm for what she lacked in star quality. Her diary entry concerning her wedding night is very revealing... Sorry to be so un-PC but it is Christmas! Wow, I never knew there were diary documents out there re queen Vic! Are they compiled in a book or online resource somewhere, I'd love to read it!
  7. Total Sherlock Holmes here, as I know not a jot about this scenario. However, in support of the acid theory, the coin looks like it may have been placed reverse side down in a flat-bottomed vessel, which has protected the raised surfaces of the reverse from the degree of erosion that looks to have ravaged the obverse. The acid would continually be neutralising itself underneath the fine gap between the reverse and vessel bottom through its ongoing reaction with the material. Whereas the obverse would have been exposed to the rip-roaring effect of full strength acid bearing down on it throughout. Doesn't explain everything, but it's food for thought!
  8. Coinery

    Spink 2012

    What are you selling them for, including postage, Rob?
  9. Sorry, I didn't mean to come across all preachy but that's just the way I do it. In hard cash terms I would expect to get that for around 'fair' money and then hope I didn't need to sell it in a hurry. As regards grading hammered - that's a black art to me! Hey, not preachy at all! I absolutely 100% agree with your point, it's the most logical and clearest approach to grading, especially if you are grading to sell!
  10. Do you mind if I have a dig at this one? I'll get in first so I can reflect on any other grading suggestions to follow. I'd personally go with fine/good fine, probably pulling the whole thing back to a fine overall, in view of the obverse scratch, and the reverse 'stain'. So I'm going for 'fine'. I'll watch out the other opinions with the greatest of interest. Put yourself in the position of a collector buying blind. Would you prefer 'Fine' or 'F/GF. Scratch on obverse, stain on reverse'? In my opinion, you mention damage rather than attempt to grade it. I would have to say I have given the obverse the benefit of the doubt as the picture leaves something to be desired and that (recent?) scratch would be the killer for me. As Rob has said, this is one where a bit of blue baize would be a better contribution to the collection. You're absolutely right...grade irrespective of damage, recording faults separately and accordingly! I have read much however that talks about grades being determined by a coin's faults; in hammered for example, by percentage of original edge, thereby using the extent of its clipping to arrive at a grade - not saying that this is good or bad either way. I think when I arrived at 'fine' I was thinking in terms of ££££$$$$$€€€€€, rather than descriptive aspects. Maybe not the best approach. Lesson learned, and point taken.
  11. Coinery

    Beginners Luck

    For Charles I shillings you want Michael Sharp's article in the BNJ 1977. BCW is the best reference for Elizabeth I silver as it differentiates the dies with reference to the punches used for the various components. What it does not do is list all the individual dies within a type, so different legend readings such as ELIZAB, LEIZAB, ELIZB for the samemark and issue are not noted - and there are a lot of different readings. Still worth getting, though I would recommend a hardback copy as the paperback cover soon becomes a bit distressed with use, certainly if it gets as much use as mine has. Brilliant, thanks, Rob, HB BCW it is! Are all the known dies catalogued somewhere? Would this be another BNJ undertaking?
  12. Coinery

    Beginners Luck

    That was a great read...I feel rather inadequate just asking you this simple question, but what are/is the best reference literature you use for your Charles I shilling collection? I've got North but obviously need something much more involved to take things to the next level. Incidently, have you got, or looked at, The Hammered Silver Coins Produced at the Tower Mint During the Reign of Elizabeth I by Brown et al.? Does this book go into the finest detail, would you or any other recommend it?
  13. Coinery

    I hate xmas

    Codeine is an 'ine,' a close relative to diamorphine (heroine), people pay good money for a trip like your's! Did you back the horse? I forget the stats, now, it does act as a hallucinogen for a number of people, not all, I think your reaction was at the top end of the drug's hallucinogenic potential. Take paracetamol AND ibuprofen (if you're able), spreading the maximum recommended dose over 24hrs. Ibuprofen will take a little while to build up levels in your system, but it should help a bit! Time for a disclaimer - read all the information provided with the drugs, and consult your GP/dentist...they're insured! Good luck and happy Christmas, Gollum, you'll be fine!
  14. Coinery

    I hate xmas

    I 100% second the above and, sorry to put a dampener on things, but your ABX will not provide you with any kind of pain relief for a number of days yet! Pain killers are not really that effective against this kind of pain, but codeine will help a bit if you can get your GP to prescribe them for you? Beware though codeine can make a lot of people extremely sick, not pleasant when opening your mouth fully is an issue! You'll be feeling better for Christmas!
  15. Coinery

    Insurance

    The tangibility of a hard-won 'sweat & blood' gathered folder/book/page, cataloging man's greatest weakness, just cannot be replaced by a collection of nicely catalogued images on a PC...not for me at least! Speaking for myself though I'd probably say it's cheaper in the long run to store your collection in a bank, as I have become aware that every time i make a coffee, or pour a glass of wine, and 'treat' myself to an audience with said folders, i always come away surfing the 'scene' for 'a better one,' or 'the missing one,' even just 'another one' ('cause it's cheap!) you know the illness that is passion, I'm sure!
  16. Do you mind if I have a dig at this one? I'll get in first so I can reflect on any other grading suggestions to follow. I'd personally go with fine/good fine, probably pulling the whole thing back to a fine overall, in view of the obverse scratch, and the reverse 'stain'. So I'm going for 'fine'. I'll watch out the other opinions with the greatest of interest.
  17. Coinery

    Royal Mint dies

    I often wonder why it is, for the sake of £20 worth of silver bullion, that the counterfeiters don't just do the job properly and be done with it?
  18. Coinery

    Best looking portraits on coins?

    An' a merry Christmas to ya too Mr Peckris! An' I suppose you'll want payin' for Christmas day an' all? Bah, humbug! The finest of forums, sir!
  19. Coinery

    Best looking portraits on coins?

    Very similar to the Afghan Taliban in their philosophy My first belly laugh in ages! :-)
  20. Coinery

    Best looking portraits on coins?

    Definitely the young busts of Elizabeth for me, especially 2B. All my other favourites are already mentioned above, excepting William III, who looks so completely regal on his coinage, yet so efeminate in his oil paintings. Young head Victoria, so elegant and cameo, and Cromwell, appearing so alive on his coins that he looks for all the world like he could leap off of it and rip your throat out at the mere mention of a dance in church!
  21. Freeman & Gouby it is then, many thanks for that! At the risk of sounding pathetic, this is such a great forum. I'll check out MC's site too.
  22. Can I just ask, as I have never browsed Gouby or Freeman, but do these books add anything more to Peck? If I was wanting to collect Victoria pennies, for example, would I be finding a great deal more to collect, many more variants listed, if I had Gouby or Freeman on the shelf? My God, the mentality of collectomania, the insanity of wanting to know the existence of ever micro-detail...and then seeking it out!
  23. Coinery

    Hello

    Thanks, Debbie, thanks Nick! Another one in the grey matter that hopefully won't catch me out!
  24. Coinery

    Hello

    Has anyone still got that 1905 saved in their 'my eBay,' I'd be interested in the exact title or number of the listing, so I could pull it up and take a look myself? Also, welcome Debbie, I'm very much a newbie myself. I have learnt more about coins this last few months on this forum, than I've learnt in over ten years of wading blindly through the hobby unsupported.
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