Rob

It may only account for less than 1% of the economy, but it has a profound effect on the other 99%. The rules prohibiting preferential support for indigenous businesses runs contrary to most people's sense of fair play. If you can't look after your own, then nobody else will do it for you. That applies to the EU, and is why the French regularly issue directives prohibiting foreign control of 'strategic industries'. They are looking after no.1 and in that respect I think they are right. If our politicians are unwilling or unable to pursue a similar course, then I believe we would be better off outside led by someone who does care about this country. I'm not sure about UKIP engaging with the Commission. Immigration from EU countries must be unrestricted under the agreed rules, so leaving is the only way to circumvent the rules. It's a moot point whether we would be better in than out. There will be a lot of pressure to water down the financial sector given the shenanigans of the past few years, but that is our main breadwinner. The French would like to cart off some things to Paris, the Germans want to move it to Frankfurt. If either happens we will be in deeper mire than we currently are. If we leave, the Euro countries will set up their own operations and work hard to bring the EU financial businesses under internal control. That means we are better in than out. The flip side of the coin is that without control from Brussels we would be free to expand areas where the EU currently favours one country over another. It has long meddled in industrial policy, depriving potentially viable businesses of finance which it willingly pours into keeping people under or unemployed. If Brussels decrees there are too many hairdressers for example, then any financial aid is determined by a country's adherence to their dictats limiting the expansion of said profession or type of business. Their attempts to manipulate supplies has resulted in mountains of surpluses at various times, much of which is subsidised. There are too many vested interests to change that particular system. Basically, the whole thing is a mess. Initially well intentioned, but now a juggernaut out of control.

A statistically insignificant sample size of 3 gives 2 large and 1 small.

Spink says 225 UNC. Anyway, MS64 is something I would want to check very carefully for wear in the hand. There are too many EF or gEF MS64s about to take a punt.

I assume that the bidders took the starting price of £280 to be reasonable, so that £50 over is therefore not excessive. If it had started at £180 and gone up to £230 there would be nothing to explain as it would be close to Spink book.

Sears Roman Coins in the various parts covers these. You should be able to pick up the 4 volumes for not too much over £100 if you are patient, certainly less than £200.

There are many reasons why the incumbents in Brussels and Strasbourg will do nothing. The benefits accruing to individuals working for the EU are many times the level of benefits received from the national systems. Politicians will have no reason to cut themselves off the gravy train that is offered to those that are past their sell-by date on the domestic political scene. You only have to look at people like Neil Kinnock and his wife to see how well they have done out of it. Most appointments to Brussels are done with a nod and a wink. Every country might have an allotment of positions it is allowed to fill, but anyone liable to rock the boat would almost certainly be vetoed by other nations. i.e. there is simply no means of getting a contrarian into a position of power, nor indeed is there a position to fill for the man/woman who would question the workings of the EU. We aren't talking about the MEPs just voted in who may or may not discuss europolicy and vote on the bills they are presented with, but the Commission hierarchy who are accountable to no one. That's where the real power lies and is self-sustaining. Available only to those dedicated to make the EU work, it offers neither mouthpiece nor earhole for the disenfranchised citizens of the EU who oppose the staus quo. This leaves voting for a party such as UKIP or the continental outsiders as the only vehicle available to voters wanting to change the system. The problem could have been deflected much earlier simply by listening to the person in the street. Sure the public are as divided on the issue as the Liberals and UKIP, but with politicians repeatedly poo-pooing the calls of the voters for a referendum there can only be one outcome - a knee jerk reaction that will likely over-react in comparison to the result that could have been achieved had the public been kept within the circle. It is the alienation of voters that will bring down the politicians who treat the likes of joe average with so much distain. Put bluntly, if someone wants to debate a matter, I will engage, but if they tell me to f*** off, I punch them on the nose. Politicians have made their call, now it is up to the public to regain control of their employees by hiring and firing as required.

A mule is one of the few errors genuinely attributable to human action for the mint to produce as it requires someone to fail to discard the old die, or alternatively remove the die put it in the wrong bin. Inverted die axis is the other main human manufactured error and I suspect the chances of it happening are inversely proportional to the size of the die because it depends on the visual recognition of the detail. Disregard things such as flawed dies or brockages because these are where the equipment was working happily until the die started to disintegrate from wear or the coin failed to be ejected after being struck i.e. they are random events. One-off die pairs are usually the result of someone playing games as the presses are geared up for mass production and not striking single coins (as they have been for over 200 years).

I'm getting fed up with the main parties wringing their hands and giving bland explanations why they didn't do as well as they thought they should in the elections. All say they failed to get their message across. None of them mentioned (or maybe are in denial of) the fact that they ignore anything the public says as a matter of course. Tories and Labour promise a referendum tomorrow (which never comes) when considered expedient to garner votes. Liberals vehemently oppose one. All are afraid of putting something to the public where they can't control the outcome. Little wonder therefore that the largest tranche of voters went for an alternative that has the potential to bypass the parties that promise a vote at some future time (hopefully on someone else's watch when they can't deliver) and give a different party the chance to strive for something the others are afraid of. It's not about little Englanders wanting to keep immigrants out. UKIP or many of those who voted for it are not rascist, something which has backfired on the left wing orchestrated charges of fascism across the continent. Eurocrats in Brussels continue to revel in their padded troughs. The main instigators of environmental legislation, with typical political hypocracy continue to relocate the whole circus to Strasbourg every month and back again. People have been calling for another referendum on Europe for a long time, but each time the party in power defers the problem the less chance there is of the public believing them when they repeat the promise. Chickens have finally come home to roost. As an aside, I was doorstepped on two occasions during the campaign when asked what concerned me most. Managed to come up with a generic stock answer. 'That you might get elected around here'. It saved a lot of wasted time and can be applied to all parties. All they wanted to know of course was whether I was going to vote for them or not. I think it is a good thing the main parties are cra**ing themselves.

The limit for SD is £2500, which is only £3 more than it costs for £500 compensation. At less than a tenner even at the max limit it is hardly extortionate, so if people aren't prepared to insure one must assume they only place a nominal value on their coins - in which case it doesn't really matter financially if they go missing.

I agree with much of what you said, but not this bit. The UK consisted of two countries (England and Scotland), one province (N Ireland), and one Principality (Wales). In theory, equal partners, but in practice not. Northern Ireland would never seek independence, and Wales would never be permitted to, or in practice want to, given the lack of any real size or economic clout. I think the secession of Yorkshire would cause Westminster more concern to be honest. It's already a world away, so how far do you want it to secede? Might have to make the furrow that is the Pennine Way, a bit deeper and wider.

But may not be lying. Quite possibly his great nan did hand it down to him - after a day out in Blackpool.

It sits happily alongside its soulmates, Mostly Smooth, Almost Undulating and Guaranteed Effectively Flat (That's the TPGs' designation)

Extremely Fair? No, effectively flat.

It has never been easy to get high grade pieces. If you did a proper survey I think you would find considerably less than 1% of coins would be unc. As for not completing the 1960s - you aren't patient enough. If in genuinely short supply, then you have to put your money where your mouth is. If it's an auction, you have to be the highest bidder. If you want to collect UNC coins, then that is what you wait for, unless it is thought there are none available. That boils down to knowing your subject.

You don't have to use the post office.

No sympathy. Why will people spend thousands, yet not insure for a few quid? Insured with a courier should be no more than £30 or so even if the post office wouldn't take them. You can insure virtually everything against virtually every possible event - if you are prepared to pay. Still, one may assume that it only represents a small part of the collection because nobody puts all their eggs in one basket - do they?

Is that not a little restricted in scope? You could probably complete the series in a single day on eBay if you just wanted an example, or a couple weeks if you wanted unc or thereabouts.

Well that's as random as some of Peters posts. Jungle juice or the herbal Leaf? It's better than your Aye-phone. Complete but meaningful bollocks, if that's not an oxymoron. Your random word generator has been upstaged, Dave.

You could visit all the Saxon mint locations in the South-west. That would give you a pleasant touring holiday

If you want a proper book, I have a copy available.

Because sometimes you need the security of knowing that it is genuine(ly) shi*e. I often despair at the worries shown US forums where the main concern appears to be that it is genuine. That the flat disc in their hand has no numismatic value is completely irrelevant.

Not to mention the numerous brewing establishments Half a pig, a few litres and the keys given to the missus. , then when it's all over, a trip to the butchers, winzer and brauerei to fill the car up on the day you leave. always a bit hectic, but very worthwhile. Neuschwanstein is a bit touristy. You get a better picture of the place if you climb up the hill behind the palace and look down over it. Also, across the valley you have Hohenschwangau. Do both on the same day. Drinks can be had in any dorf you find.

There is an article in the 2004 BNJ p.84-101 by Manville and Gaspar covering the 1787 shillings. Worth a read.

That's a crappy image and best avoided unless he can supply ones with the contrast eliminated. Over or under contrasted images can hide a multitude of problems. If in doubt, leave it out. If he says it is a faithful image of the coin then it has been cleaned.

Yes it is. It depends on what dates you want as some would need a 0 on the end, but coins are available in the period/price bracket indicated. A few of us have a table, some more regularly than others.