Rob

Agreed, but do we know how they punch out blanks? If it is a single punch with the sheet moving, then a faulty movement could produce the above. If a row of blanks are punched out then it isn't so easy to reconcile. Without knowing what the adjacent blanks look like, we can only guess.

Chaps, there is an option. Nobody is forced to subscribe to third party idolatry. They can change their mind about a grade just as you or I can. All three of us have equal credibility given we are all open to the same options with the same resources - it's just that you and I don't charge for an opinion. However, if someone wants to send a large brown paper bag full of used tenners in my direction, in return I will give them a piece of my mind.

Why even start the buying process if you think this? I don't think it helps anyone that an item is mis-described and I don't like people that rip others off, but if you thought it was wrong and still proceeded, it is very difficult to have sympathy if and when it does go wrong. If in doubt, leave it out & move on. There were 500 tons of these things made. I suspect you might find another example within 30 seconds.

One of mine got upgraded to UNC from EF as a result of the pick your own grade situation. Personally, I changed it from impossible to put in a tray, to possible to put in a tray.

eBay gum (sic). That does not inspire confidence. Maybe they need to pass eBay chatline support to a suitably qualified linguist?

Is it a case of eBay not allowing you to save an item to your watch list, or won't it allow you to carry out a search in the first place? Surely, the inability to enter a search number into the top bar on eBay's page must be their problem? Giving the user the ability to search no items instead of either one item or none sounds like a program problem?

When the blanks were punched out of the sheet metal, the cutter either didn't move far enough or else the sheet wasn't transported far enough for the next position, leading to only a partial blank being produced. Collectable, but only worth a few pounds at most because of the number of this type of error in existence. Given the two 50p shaped indents, it is not likely to be off the edge of the sheet as this usually gives a straight edge.

In the earlier periods it was quite normal to make a composite digit or letter from a series of smaller punches. This could also lead to odd shapes. e.g. Go to the confirmed unlisted varieties section and look at the 1675/3/2 halfpenny. The 2 was normal, but the 3 & 5 were made up from odd curves.

Merry Christmas everyone

Let's approach this from a different direction. Given there is general acceptance that we will never be able to produce a volume that suits everyone, why not aim for a really basic volume on cheap loo-roll paper (as per Coincraft catalogues) that everyone and their dog can afford? I think that people are getting too hung up on varieties that are already too complex for many novices or would be collectors. Variety collecting is a bit like an Alice in Wonderland story where nothing is as it seems and requires a bit more than a quick look through a keyhole. A basic volume would cover every type with a life-size coin identifier, or at least a generic indicator for design and size. Milled coinage usually being done on reducing apparatus means that you can just show the basic designs with the diameters listed. All years would be included priced to the cheapest as per Spink now, with a note that varieties exist denoted by a mark of some form, the exact mark indicating which specialised reference contains the required information. Essentially it would be an overview of the contents of in-depth volumes of a given denomination or series. In reply to David's post above I can see the case for including the undated mule as it would be no different to a year change that is in regular currency and known to the public, but the 2p mule is not common knowledge to the public, nor are they encountered on a regular basis.

Yeh, right. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-HENRY-VI-HAMMERED-SILVER-GROAT-/151193106712?pt=US_World_Coins&hash=item2333cfb918 Misdescribed in all departments.

Which is why we are back to the question of what to include or not. Essentially there will never be a volume to suit all, though there might be collectors who adjust to a specific volume. More likely is that everyone will have two or three preferred references. As you were chaps.

Looks like it.

A very merry Christmas to all. Father Christmas sent me an unsolicited bottle of Linkwood today by special delivery - top man! I may be a little incoherent tomorrow.

Thanks Nick, I obviously missed that one. No image though which doesn't help and partly explains why. It's unusual for a currency piece to be unique, so would have expected another to have surfaced in the interim given the numbers of coins typically produced from any one die - 30-50000 seems a reasonable minimum based on mintage figures known for Chas.II halfpennies, unless the die rapidly disintegrated? Survival rates are a bit of a stab in the dark, but given I've noted 7 examples of the 1738 V/S in GEORGIVS and 5 of the 1734/3, both of which are from a single die, I would have thought maybe up to a dozen ought to exist with at least one in VF or better.

One for Colin? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1773-3773-NR-UK-Farthing-Certified-/171200145458?pt=US_World_Coins&hash=item27dc52e832

Rob isn't offended, merely commenting on the chances of it being a gold one. There are many different senses of humour on this forum. Correct

Do you win the lottery regularly?

No reason that I can think of unless it's a proof and it was sealed to protect the surfaces. From the images it doesn't look to be anything special. Alternatively, being the 1st year of issue, maybe he thought it might be worth something in the future.

I'm completely in the dark too.

Has anybody ever seen or heard of one? It's listed in Spink at about 2/3 the price of a 1734/3, which is acknowledged as rare. I have no records from catalogues, nor have I seen one. Does it exist?

I don't mind toning, and at £137 for a shilling in that grade because it was described as a sixpence I was quite happy. The shoulder armour gave it away. No video or photo. Sorry.

It's the area I've referred to in the past - the psychological limit for the masses. The limit of about £3K up to a few years ago which has increased to around the 5 or possibly 6K (hammer) mark now. It takes something rare or particularly exceptional to breach this level. Once it has however, it is a case of who blinks first.

Seeing as the other thread about mods has disappeared - here's Peck on his scooter.

The fifth coin looks like some of the silver I stored in pvc album pockets for nearly 40 years (not any more, I should add!), with a blue/green deposit caused by 'sweating'. It could just be the photos though. Accum, A quick dip in carbon Tet. will remove the green residue caused by polyvinyl sweating. Wear gloves though, it does not burn, but does absorb in the skin! If you can get hold of any. Wonderful solvent, but a no-no under H&S regs. It's fair to say that it's easier to list what it doesn't do.