Probably as a he "cancelled all bids" before ending the item. Maybe the earlier cancellation of the high bid was after the bidder requested a cancellation after realising it was a dud, and that triggered (eventually) his ending of the item.
Sorry to disappoint, Paddy, but this can't be an 1846. It is the wrong combination of obverse and reverse - looks like Davies 3+B, and you need 1+A for it to be 1846. I guess it is actually 1876 with a buggered 7.
Another date to add to your list, sadly, and increasingly like mine!! 🙁
If so, the buyer will be in for a severe disappointment.
Always best to compare with a verified example of the real thing before you commit yourself to buy anything with a degree of uncertainty attached to it.
Although the price is a bit of a giveaway. If it were truly an 1863 die no 3 under date in that higher grade condition, it would already be a lot higher as more experienced collectors realised what it was. In auction it would almost certainly go for probably > £6k, as it would easily be the best of the very small cohort.
I don't think so...I think it's just a surface lamination or even a gouge...it's so totally unconvincing it's hard to imagine anyone considering a successful "doctoring" ! The "3" is not even in the right place.
But the price is shocking; let's hope it's the vendor bidding against himself (he can do that without scrutiny because it's a private listing sadly).
I've temporarily added this to my rare penny site as a "non-example" just in case someone looks on there but I guess the people who are bidding on this coin are probably not aware of the site.
Ah, I have managed to get back to my photos and now know why I didn't really want to share this one! Even "fair" is a gross over-grading, and the identification as an 1846 is close to guess work! Here we go anyway - don't laugh!