Rob

There aren't many options (0, 6, 8 or 9) so I'm going for 5 over 6, but if anyone has a better example to confirm it would be appreciated. I'll also clean the muck off it and try again.

reverse

If you want an example of AT copper, here's one slabbed MS63 by NGC. I left the sticker on the slab (seen on the rev) as I assumed this was the colour ordered.

On a more serious note though, does he really need 6 images to show off a corroded 2p? Little wonder he started it at $6.99 as his fees for the extra images must come to nearly that. I notice the postage costs are even higher than that. I assume that's because he has to send such a valuable piece by the American version of Special Delivery? Like this? http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?start=150&hl=en&biw=1920&bih=914&tbm=isch&tbnid=t9I0sS7kfPvQfM:&imgrefurl=http://www.raleighscrapmetalrecycling.com/&docid=dc4iAls5kkKftM&imgurl=http://www.raleighscrapmetalrecycling.com/images/slider/slide-5.jpg&w=964&h=340&ei=zDNoUs_LAcTX0QW_ioGwCA&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:53,s:100,i:163&iact=rc&page=5&tbnh=133&tbnw=348&ndsp=39&tx=164&ty=92

On a more serious note though, does he really need 6 images to show off a corroded 2p? Little wonder he started it at $6.99 as his fees for the extra images must come to nearly that.

1811 Frome Selwood shilling token

Cromwell shilling

Cnut quatrefoil from Crewkerne

Oxford 1643 K28 halfcrown

York 2F halfcrown

1807 silver proof halfpenny

If you like shillings, here's another.

This is crap then. Colours are all over the place. The sky is blue with a big patch of yellow - whatever next? And the sea really is the Red Sea. Naughty old Peck and the dirty vicar from Tewkesbury for doctoring this coin long before it became fashionable.

Am I the only one to think that that is ridiculous? What is the argument that it should be other than 50-50? I'm amazed the coin contributes as much as 20% of the score, let alone the reverse only. I thought it was all to do with marks out of 10 in the Warhol-esque abstract art section. It certainly has bu**er all to do with the contents of the slab on too many occasions.

If you want an example of the contradictions posed by the TPGs, you need look no further than the last Goldberg sale. lot 4329 http://images.goldbergauctions.com/php/lot_auc.php?site=1〈=1&sale=75&lot=4329 was slabbed MS65. The following lot was slabbed unc details and struck from the same die pair. Both had raised lines in the obverse field from die polishing, both had a couple of small digs to the obverse, the first by the mouth and cheek, the second behind the head above the ties. Otherwise they were practically identical, and there are no surface hairlines on the second coin other than the raised ones mentioned. It is a lottery, so don't be surprised when they don't agree with your assessment. Play the game and use your free thinking to your benefit as it works all ways. The wrong (low number) label means a cheap coin. A crap coin with a big number label is still a crap coin which you wouldn't want anyway. Let the number chasers buy it as it gives you one fewer competitor on the next one.

It should be a farthing. No pennies, halfpennies or fractional farthings were struck in 1850. Presumably the diameter is about 21mm?

With 42 examples of 'Rare rainbow patina' listed out of 70 listings in total, one might question the use of the word 'rare'. The atmosphere in Finland looks as if it is dodgy too - still, at least the EU's environment police can get a handle on that one. The only good thing to come out of all this AT madness is the preference for doctoring modern coins to achieve a level of toning that few would ever reach in a 100 years. The huge mint outputs mean that a shortage of an individual type is unlikely to result, whilst those that wish to waste money on a tacky fairground trinket are also catered for. With business expanded and more people catered for, the market is working folks.

1905 would be your Key date for the halfcrown. Liverwho? Liverpoo Sorry - intermittently defective l on the keyboard.

http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=6&threadid=900585

All the other 3s have the angled stroke such that extending it hits the end of the bottom curve. One (presumably the 'open 3') doesn't. And going back to my original point as to whether this is 3 over 2, there is a diagonal line on my screen across the upper part of the bottom curve which continues into a curved line in the field. Following the curve round you hit the left hand end of the top bar of the 3, and this is in higher relief. Taken in conjunction with a roughly straight inside 'curve' to the lower part of the 3, this would be commensurate with a filled in 2 and overcut with a 3.

Probably looked at Spink or CCGB etc. IND IMP was dropped from 1949, so comes under a different reference number

It is definitely not a coin, but a medal or medalette. Not my department unfortunately.

That's alright. I think I waste most of my time on ebay making a note of the odd thing worth bidding on, but then forget to bid at the last moment. Not the hundred and first time I've done it, and certainly not the last. Need to get more organised. Looking at the image I would have bid on it.

And the reverse.

Given it is normally recessed, it is quite difficult to get a lot of wear on the mark, so I concur that the chances are that a low grade mark = weak punch. It would be nice to confirm this with what should be less damage to the reverse though before setting in stone. Image attached of my Lima 8R which has quite a strong punch. Image of the reverse to follow as I can't be bothered going into photobucket to show the whole coin.