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Talking of 1879s , I think I got a bargain when I picked this one up recently for just twenty quid.

Sorting through the rest of the farthings I bought on Monday I noticed that I now have two 1860 F496 farthings with very different die cracks. Just thought I would post them for interest:

... and the second:

DNW sold a 1953 "VIP" proof set in Sep 2013, but it was a special set, with a toothed border penny and a farthing not previously known in proof. Nice box as well. Apart from that I've never seen a set so described.

This topic has been worked over before, and reluctantly I must agree that on some denominations (esp the penny!) the "VIP" status seems to be reflected in minor die differences. But the logic has in general IMHO not always been pristine and the RM also IMHO has not always used the same prep for proof or specimen sets and there are borderline coins that received some but not all the attention one usually expects on a proof of any description. A couple of years ago, I bought from Heritage 1953 1/4, 1/2 and 1 Penny coins that were all in Proof 67 Red Ultra Cameo. They were and are beautiful and although not matching the VIP coin die characteristics seem to have received some special treatment.Also I have an ex-Norweb Proof 64 1953 penny not of the VIP type but was sold to them as a "special striking". Other examples I could point out, certainly. A crown such as above in a "proof deep cameo or ultra cameo in 66 or 67" would be very hard to differentiate from a VIP at times and frankly the price paid for the above crown or half crown simply ridiculous. As a footnote, many of Bull's listings of "VIP proofs" from the 1940s are questionable as proofs from the off years would be VIPs with some perhaps having more cameo effect than others.

Who's spending £6k inc premium on a 1953 crown when they could apparently have got a decent 1860/59 1d (or maybe a Gothic crown) for half that? I know the modern trend is to prioritise condition over rarity, but this just seems bonkers. Still, each to their own.

This £17.99 1970 set just arrived from ebay. Seller hadn't spotted that it contained the super scare halfpenny dies 3K (D of DEI to gap).

1 1 was a racehorse 2 2 was 1 2 1 1 1 1 race 2 2 1 1 2

A politician visited a remote little rural village and asked the inhabitants what the government could do for them. “We have two big needs,” said the village headman. “First, we have a hospital but no doctor." The politician whipped out his mobile, spoke for a while and then said: “I have sorted it out. A doctor will arrive here tomorrow. What is your other need?” “We have no mobile reception at all in our village.”

My mate keeps saying "Cheer up, it could be worse, you could be stuck underground in a hole full of water!" He means well.