hibernianscribe

This tactic works I think, sometimes anyway - force of opinion of numbers maybe. After I received the seller's last message yesterday and after my previous post I sent him a link to this discussion just to give him the message that people were talking about him/her. Frank

Absolutely, time and time again!

I sent 'goldnsilver_6' a polite message last week and he/she responded thanking me for my advice (which was to amend the description). Now for some strange reason he/she keeps resending their reply (I've had three so far, latest one this afternoon) as though they are inviting me to enter into an argument or conversation about it - weird! I notice it's not been removed or changed, so the crime is quite blatant. I'll not give this cowboy any more of my time. Perhaps they are seeking attention or something? Frank

I used to have this problem - when I created a new post, the text of my previous one would always appear in the box. Sometimes I could select it and it would delete and on other occasions it would not. Often I would need to go to another computer to be rid of the problem on that occasion. The issue disappeared for me when I upgraded my laptop so it appears to be a compatibility problem. Frank

Actually, on this additional picture now showing 'his coin', I'm finding difficulty in seeing a similar protrusion to the one illustrated for this variety as shown here: https://headsntails14.wordpress.com/victoria-bronze-reverses/ There is certainly a mark there - in-fact quite distinct - more so than the LCA example, but is it a protrusion? Frank

Yes, the third picture he has added is clearly a different coin, yet he's kept the other two LCA pictures. This guy is something else! Frank

He never responded to my PM but judging by what has been said here, I wasn't expecting one! Frank

I've emailed the seller asking whether he could provide non-LCA pictures of the coin he is selling. It'll be interesting how he responds...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1911-KING-GEORGE-V-ONE-PENNY-1d-COIN-/283083061180 This is really niggling me - while the text of the seller is telling no lies, I feel there is certainly an element of deception here.

I tried to contact the seller but got the message that the seller was unable to respond. Presumably overwhelmed with messages! Frank

I sent him a message as well and he responded asking why I thought it was a repro. Then a short time afterwards he pulled it, presumably because you and others had also given him the bad news. Frank

I've also reported this to East Sussex Trading Standards via their website. To add weight to this it might be worth others doing the same. Hopefully unlike the eBay complaints system, this report should not disappear into a 'black hole'! Since as a so-called trader, this rogue-seller has disclosed his full details on eBay, I thought it appropriate to utilise them. Frank

Fully agreed as well, also all reported

I would say that the best way to get 'familiar' with hammered varieties is (unfortunately, due to prospective cost) to be able to scrutinise coins that are in reasonable condition since many varieties have subtle differences that will only be evident on coins that are not worn. Familiarity with good, genuine pieces will facilitate easier identification of worn coins. Also, further to what Paddy has said above, British metal detecting forums can be a font of knowledge. Even if you are unable to get worn pieces sent to you, you can still 'tap-in' to the many requests for identification and information on different finds that are posted every week. Here are a few links that might help: https://www.metaldetectingforum.co.uk/ http://www.britishmetaldetecting.co.uk/index.php http://www.garysdetecting.co.uk/forum/index.php http://www.ukdetectornet.co.uk/ http://www.detectingwales.com/index.php?action=login Lastly, it might not be what you want to do but I would suggest that as a starting point study of the several excellent, illustrated reference books that are available across the range of British hammered coins would be the way to approach this so that you gain an academic appreciation of different varieties. Frank

I notice that field_walker isn't on his shame list? Frank

Well done, guys - did somebody contact the seller? It's been pulled.

I've only seen this on my ageing phone screen and not on a pc so can't say for sure that I think it's fake - any thoughts? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Pontefract-shilling-besieged-coin-hammered-silver-metal-detecting-find-1648/352394285588 The seller does have a couple of feedbacks from field_walker though. It's also got a familiar patter about being found ten years ago in Nottinghamshire and in a private collection ever since with no stated clear provenance! The format of the advert is also similar to previous ones with the image in front of Spink pages. Frank

Mind you, it was pulled quickly and not brazenly and stubbornly kept on offer - looks as though the seller has been genuinely duped - especially if they've bought from field_walker. Also, the added pressure of telling them that the coin was being discussed on this forum might have influenced the pulling.

Fully agree. After it was pulled I received a bitchy little message asking me, "Happy now are you"? Definitely the reaction of someone who's been found out. Frank

Sent the seller a polite message and he responded saying he was certain it is genuine and also asking why I told him it was a fake. I responded saying the casting pitting made it obvious, and also that his offering was currently being discussed on this forum. He has just replied saying he was pulling it and would go to Spink to get a COA after which it will be back!

Reported too!

So blatant! Reported

Gosh, I never expected the postal service of a country such as Canada to be iffy and this whole scene sure does emphasise the importance of insurance. I recently bought from Status International in Australia and they openly offer to put whatever value you want on their customs declaration - I'm now thinking that to put a low value might increase the chances that the package contents could get damaged if they decide to open it - purely because they might not take as much care of a low value package than they should.

Is Canada really a problem for mail deliveries then?