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Although Derek's book covers coins minted from 1797 through to 1970, you should be able to take the broad principles that he has identified and extrapolate them to earlier types. It won't be an exact science, but it should still give you a good feel for grading of earlier coins, especially since there is no definitive agreed guide for determining grades anyway. On this basis I would keep the book.

Looks better than EF to me. You could try a drop of ethanol to see if the black mark will shift, don't rub it though - just dab it dry.

The nays have it. I'll defer to years of wisdom and keep this.

A good library is behind every successful collector....

I'll echo everyone else's sentiments and say it doesn't hurt to keep it - I've got more than a shelf of coin and banknote-related books, most of which I don't touch and some of which I've never read but it's good to have a reference library.

I was thinking exactly the same thing.

On the basis of the pics, I'd go for GEF/aUNC. The reverse looks slightly better than the obverse. Nice coin.

That's what I get for following instructions given by a GPS.

There's only one way to follow that...

That's because it is a proof coin (sold by LCA)

We all are.... Let's be honest, in the absence of an overriding definition accepted by all, there's never going to be full consensus on this issue, so, in terms of what is a mule and what isn't, to each his own.

A decent EF that looks quite attractive IMO. The wear is only minimal. A few really small contact marks won't be a problem - it isn't pretending to be mint state. Any toning can vary wildly as you have had no control over where the coin has been for the past 200 odd years. You don't know where it was stored and under what conditions, what surfaces it was contacting in that period, the humidity levels, the atmospheric conditions........... It may have been in contact with a rusted object, but you would need to see it in hand to be certain. A quick perusal of the silver and copper threads will show you that toning can take on an infinite range of colours.

I'M TIRED OF TEA!!

I'm a mule

Swinging On A Star Lyrics Would you like to swing on a star? Carry moonbeams home in a jar? And be better off than you are? Or would you rather be a mule? A mule is an animal with long, funny ears He kicks up at anything he hears His back is brawny and his brain is weak He's just plain stupid with a stubborn streak And, by the way, if you hate to go to school You may grow up to be a mule Or would you like to swing on a star? Carry moonbeams home in a jar? And be better off than you are? Or would you rather be a pig? A pig is an animal with dirt on his face His shoes are a terrible disgrace He's got no manners when he eats his food He's fat and lazy and extremely rude But if you don't care a feather or a fig You may grow up to be a pig [instrumental-first 3 lines of chorus] Or would you rather be a fish? A fish won't do anything but swim in a brook He can't write his name or read a book To fool all the people is his only thought Though he's slippery, he still gets caught But then if that sort of life is what you wish You may grow up to be a fish And all the monkeys aren't in a zoo Every day you meet quite a few So you see, it's all up to you You can be better than you are You could be swingin' on a star

I'd concur with Nick - the reflections suggest full lustre? The slightly flat top lion could be die wear.

It is difficult or even impossible to prove whether a die pairing was intentional or not. In my opinion coins such as BB/TB, TB/BB and 1862 2 & 3+G are not truly mules as they were possibly struck deliberately. A true mule in my mind is something like the 1966 Jersey obverse with British penny reverse.

Some mule eye candy