Peter

And killing a dragon the size of a Labrador Yes, it's a beaut of a crown. As for proofs, those crowns weren't issued for circulation I believe, so in a way they're ALL proofs. Kind of. The Dragon is appearing to tug at a non stallion appendage.

I'm sure our Peck has his price but I prefer the knowledge and not the visual unless Peck is really Kelly Brook in disguise and I claim my £5.

Maybe I'm I'm not seeing the real picture but a company that has slabbed just over 25,000 coins since conception of which over 2,000 are Bills and I'm sure he hasn't had over 60 1967 1d's slabbed.I still can't get my head around it. Whilst I may seem anti to TPG I would hate the UK market to end up with a Greysheet of fixed prices and people buying slabs and not the coin. Please,please CGS keep away from pre 1672 and by all means concentrate services on known fakes (charge more),1847 gothic,s Northumberland shillings and 1864 die 4 gothic florins.Protection is needed here but not on a 1915 vf 1/4d worth 75p or 1967 1d's worth diddly.

Double post

There is not a coin club within 40 miles of me and considering if I'm commuting it won't work. Same with detecting. I'm in the middle of Suffolk. I've searched the net and found Ipswich detecting club were holding a rally 5 miles away...an enquiry made and they were fully booked.A bit clickie I feel to get into the GANG.

Lovely coin. It has been mentioned before but what is a naked man doing riding a horse the size of a Great Dane?

Good luck.

Chatting to a well known dealer at the Midland Fair he was taking the pee out of finest known claims for UK coins when only a fraction are slabbed.The benchmark coins would be interesting to find out about and where they were sourced.

A cotton bud with a drop of acetone would sort out the marks.Pity it is entombed.

For those interested here is the 1874 halfcrown. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1874-Queen-Victoria-Half-Crown-CGS-AU-78-Valued-in-Spink-at-750-UNC-Condition-/290857415069?pt=UK_Coins_BritishMilled_RL&hash=item43b873f19d I got the seller and USA TPG wrong but the grades correct.

I suspect you referring to the 1874 halfrown from the seller „goldguinea“, ex PCGS MS64, now CGS AU78, UIN 25124 (as I cannot see any YH Victoria halfcrown on AJW coins website or Ebay listing). IMO, based on my experience with CGS grading, this coin was marked down because of two spots in hair and some minor contact marks on the cheek and on the field in front of the bust (lustre cannot be assessed correctly prom the picture). I am fortunate to have this coin in CGS UNC 80 and for those interested I have attached a picture to show the quality needed to achieve basic UNC80 grade. Correct Mike I have been surfing,taking on reasoned arguments for and against. Bill took the decision to slab over 2,000 coins. With me my cabinet/trays/aluminium cases/flips in Albums/Lindner trays,2x2 coin boxes containing flips would not be a reality or affordable.It would have to be all or nothing.My few slabs are in a separate container with a coin ticket in the available space in the cabinet.Most of my slabs were bought via Colincooke who seem to ignore a premium for slabbed coins.eg PCGS MS65 bn 1891 1/4d £10 when other 1891 1/4d's especially BU were considerably more.The jury is out on the slabbed coins in my collection.

I would of bought it raw at market rates Unc & nice for a 50% discount.This is what I disapprove of. If we head for the USA competitive grading where 1 Sheldon point can be worth £1000's . Spink will be replaced by a price list rather than a guide. Collectors can go whatever way they want.The choice is theirs. If I couldn't handle my early copper/hammered I would give up collecting tomorrow.

I was looking at a bun halfcrown NGC MS64 tonight.The seller AJW coins got it reslabbed. It was then slabbed by CGS AU78. One to Bill My opinion was a nice straight UNC.

Welcome Shagreen. Those early proof sets are a bit rare and expensive.

Not Debbie D Dallas? I've just had a horrible thought - what if "our" Debbie didn't realise I wasn't talking about her? She may not be familiar with that eponymous piece of porn... Peck She still will be if she googles it.

My bias is for coins.My father collected stamps but both grandfathers liked coins. There is no comparison really.Stamps have only been about since Vickie was on the throne. Cat values for stamps has always been

I've been looking forever.Good luck.I missed that one today.

I have never met a 'perfect' person before and I do not think I have done so through this forum. I actually find your calling me a muppet very offensive - because that is what you have just done with your post. No offence made.It wasn't intended for you. Anyone who can afford over £20k in slabbing his collection has made their decision in how they want to collect.Each to their own.

Apart from a muppet why slab anything under say £500.If you don't know what you are buying DON'T BUY IT.

Mrs Peter has better

The zoom feature is helpful

I remember a cracking 1865 1/4d with a massive edge knock but still getting slabbed by CGS and Hey presto the edge knock disappeared in the slab. It was in a London auction and went for £90 and reappeared in a slab for £150.

One of the best

However I have bought from CC in USA Proud slabs for a price I could accept.They are still in the slabs but .....Mrs Peter wants her hedge trimmed.

Mike We are not just raw coin monkies.I will challenge CGS /PCGS/NCGS/ANACS I have been collecting for over 40 years and my knowledge on my subject can blow TPG's.There is a place for the investors but if you want a good deal you don't buy a plastic slab.