My Day At The Midland

[declanwmagee 122]

Well, I had a fantastic day, and I don't care who knows it.

Here's what I came home with - feast your eyes...

1893 1+A halfcrown

1853 sixpence. Very prooflike - I know there was an 1853 proof set -what do you think the chances are that it is one? The only coin I paid slightly over my £200 per coin limit.

[declanwmagee 122]

1799 halfpenny 5 guns

1816 halfcrown. I didn't know it at the time but this turned out to be my Star Buy when I did the numbers back home.

First coin I bought, from an outfit called RP Coins...

[declanwmagee 122]

1816 Shilling. Suits you, Sir.

1847 far colon Penny: bloody gorgeous with more lustre than I captured in the photo

[declanwmagee 122]

1870 Shilling, Die 5, amazing

1875 8+J Penny F82. Also amazing

[declanwmagee 122]

1887 Sixpence. What's this? Why one of these. Look closely - yes, Obv 1, JEB ON trunc, not under. Blimey.

1893 small lettering Shilling. Blistering.

[declanwmagee 122]

1896 large rose Shilling. Very easy on the eye. I'll say.

1901 Halfcrown. Closest to perfect I've ever seen.

[Coinery 926]

Blinkin' 'eck, Declan, there's no way you'll be allowed to go again! You must've had a sizeable limp when you walked through the midland doors!

I do especially like that halfpenny, and the '47 penny!

Edit: and the '93 and 96' shillings + the 1901 HC (posted after my post, these are my favourite of all!)

Edited September 11, 2013 by Coinery

[declanwmagee 122]

1909 Penny. Looks like your best 1967 in the hand.

[Peter 615]

Great coins Declan.

I do a quick circuit and then delve deeply.

I love your 1799 1/2d

[declanwmagee 122]

What a different experience it was, compared to shopping from photos. So tactile!

I loved it.

[Rob 3,002]

You must have been like a kid in a sweet shop.

See what happens when you get let off the lead.

[declanwmagee 122]

I did 3 laps in the time before they all started packing up. It was such a relief after years of wading through eBay dross looking for the gems - which of course, everyone else is always after too.

Sure, there was dross there too, but your eyes pass over it much quicker than an endlessly scrolling screen.

[TomGoodheart 373]

Great coins Declan.

I love your 1799 1/2d

Ditto. A very good day indeed, with coins to prove it! Well done!

[Peckris 579]

WOWEE. You did very very well there Declan

[declanwmagee 122]

Tell you what else I noticed - the almost complete absence of slabs. Lockett & Co were there,, but they didn't seem to be selling anything. Odd.

[Peter 615]

Mrs Peter restricts my visits.

I do prefer the football season as the football can be listened to on the way home.

Also in the summer after wearing my ruck sack for 3+ hours I get wetter than an otters pocket.

[HistoricCoinage 115]

Blimey, Declan. Whose stock did you run off with?

[Rob 3,002]

I did 3 laps in the time before they all started packing up. It was such a relief after years of wading through eBay dross looking for the gems - which of course, everyone else is always after too.

Sure, there was dross there too, but your eyes pass over it much quicker than an endlessly scrolling screen.

See, I'll wean you off eBay eventually. You can't beat a coin fair. What you see is what you get, unlike eBay where what you see you might get applies. Coin fairs also filter out the washers, because nobody wants to carry them around for the day. They go into the melting pot as a default action. It's actually quite difficult to find something in less than fine at a coin fair unless it is at the very least scarce or rare.

[azda 973]

Some nice coins there Declan. Your wallet must have took a good hit, but worth it when you Walk away with quality

[Nick 325]

Some cracking coins Declan. You can't beat a bit of quality.

The 1853 sixpence is not a proof in my opinion. The proofs usually tone readily but also have scalloped edges (there is one on the bay at the moment that shows what I mean).

[Paulus 1,942]

What a tremendous haul Declan, absolutely love the 1799 and OH shillings in particular! It's so great to be able to examine them in the hand and not pay any commission or postage into the bargain isn't it!

[VickySilver 775]

As Nick says, a nice '53 6d to be sure, though sadly not a proof. Always have to watch the rub as well....

Must say, better than I've ever done at a show just looking through stock. Nice job!

[declanwmagee 122]

Blimey, Declan. Whose stock did you run off with?

Most dealers there I'd never heard of, Clive, and looking them up afterwards quite a few have no internet presence at all, which is remarkable. Quite old school in a way - it almost felt a bit "underground", compared to the mainstream I'm used to swimming in.

As well as Rob, the other people who sold me stuff were:

David Craddock

Birmingham Coins

Ian Pratt

Paul Davis

Numismatic Legends

D T Peake

K B Coins

[declanwmagee 122]

I did 3 laps in the time before they all started packing up. It was such a relief after years of wading through eBay dross looking for the gems - which of course, everyone else is always after too.

Sure, there was dross there too, but your eyes pass over it much quicker than an endlessly scrolling screen.

See, I'll wean you off eBay eventually. You can't beat a coin fair. What you see is what you get, unlike eBay where what you see you might get applies. Coin fairs also filter out the washers, because nobody wants to carry them around for the day. They go into the melting pot as a default action. It's actually quite difficult to find something in less than fine at a coin fair unless it is at the very least scarce or rare.

You will, Rob, of that there's no doubt! I even caught myself fantasising about having a table but I'd have to get into buying stock for stock's sake, and I'm not sure I want to do down that route. I have always avoided buying downgrades, so, unlike most dealers, I don't have sacks of junk in the cellar that I have cherry picked.

[declanwmagee 122]

Some cracking coins Declan. You can't beat a bit of quality.

The 1853 sixpence is not a proof in my opinion. The proofs usually tone readily but also have scalloped edges (there is one on the bay at the moment that shows what I mean).

Found it, Nick! The scalloped edges are very clear - and that's an excellent tip for differentiation. Now if only there was something so clear to distinguish early strike silver threepences from Maundy!