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18 successful bids with LCA, 13 at my maximum bid. Nothing suspicious there then.

Not necessarily - I'd interpret it as 13 other bidders having maximum bids one increment below Mick's. A bit of a coincidence but if the bids were around the estimated price, then not altogether unlikely in my view.

The likelihood of winning for your maximum bid varies a great deal depending on where you pitch your bid with respect to the reserve/lower estimate, book value of the coin, whether you tend to go one bid over round figures and I am sure many other factors. A simplistic example would be some-one who makes bids at the reserve prices on multiple offerings. He may not expect to win many, but he knows that those he does win are at a sensible price, and all will be at his maximum bid. Without knowing the figures involved it is really not possible to suggest foul play. Estimates of value are not dissimilar amongst people who do their prior research, and therefore many bidders are likely to drop out at around the same figure in an auction. The generous valuer will pay more and win more, but at higher prices and closer to his maximum. Some bidders bidding patterns will dictate that when they do win, it is more likely to be at or near the most they would pay. My thoughts, anyway. Just praying that Covid regs are relaxed soon, and I can go to a Coin Fair and purchase in less frenetic environment. Jerry

And not having an internet bidding service makes people even more reliant on their integrity.

Yes, overgraded. Fred the flour grader would have got closer.

Tidy example Mike, I'd be pleased with that.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224490919818?hash=item3444b3978a:g:QOoAAOSwYjReLcLD Saw this one on ebay.uk a PCGS slabbed coin graded AU-55. Also included a screen shot of the PCGS photo. I think this coin is badly over graded and think F-15 would be a more accurate grading as there is considerable wear on the obverse that cannot be putdown to a light strike. The reverse although appears to be less worn is not anywhere near to AU grades. Again I do not thing these professional graders are producing a constant product. I know you should buy the coin not the assigned grade but new collectors can be badly miss lead by this sort of miss grading. A PCGS AU-55 grading example is included for comparison.

Maybe latant racism as well lets take the knee for him

Did anybody win any lots over the weekend? In particular who got the 1922 reverse of 1927, F192A? Sadly a bridge too far for me financially, on this occasion. Nonetheless, I'm pleased to say that I won lot 2009, the 1831 no ww penny in about UNC with subdued lustre for £360, and lot 2036, the Freeman 169 1909 penny for £750. The Freeman 169 is interesting in that the vast majority of specimens are virtually identical in grade, at just sub fine. Although there are a couple of better specimens, which may have been better value than mine. However, I am gratified to the extent that when the same coin originally sold at LCA in March 2013, it went for £1600. Maybe at a time when it was thought to be of a more extreme rarity than now.

Who's Gee please Mike? F169 now known to be approximately one in every 6 million as far as I can tell.