Rob

A strange thing happened a couple of days ago. I uploaded a 1935 Maundy 4d to the website on Monday, and within minutes I had a message asking to inform them when a 1935 Maundy 4d became available. Now clearly this is a bot of some form as a genuine person would need an IQ of 50 to leave such a message having seen the desired coin. At the time it was the first coin on the 'Recently Listed' page. My question is, what sort of thing would that bot be looking for? What would be at risk if I responded? If not malicious, the reason for sending such a message with a link is difficult to comprehend. Thoughts anyone? Thanks.

....... which for some remarkable reason is in nothing like the same condition as the rest of the crap. Wonder why? Or maybe not.

Blame US TV for that and a few others. Totally is another.

All well and good chaps, but each of those are replacing a word or words with something loosely connected. My point is why do you have to end every sentence by rolling around on the floor in stitches? By the time I have completed this post I will have been required to get up 3 times and laugh because I managed to complete a sentence. Tedious. Sorry, 5 times now.

Most Europeans view Brexit with incredulity because for the most part, the best developed northern countries do well from the EU. These tend to have a strong balance of payments, which is reinforced, and in the case of Germany exacerbated, by the strength of their economies relative to the basket of common currency zone countries who collective average performance determines the Euro exchange rate. Most of the others at the periphery don't understand our desire to leave because they receive handouts from the EU to develop their infrastructure etc. What the latter doesn't take on board is that they are also being impoverished at a personal level by the EU because it is personal savings that get ploughed into big ticket items such as a high-end BMW or Mercedes, which of course finds its way back to the Fatherland as part of the obscene 8% of GDP trade surplus. That extravagance should sound familiar to anyone driving this country's roads. The citizens of this and other countries struggling to pay their way appear to find solace in shopping therapy - which is the exact opposite to what is required. I think in many countries it is a case of thank God someone else tried it first. Even Germany has a significant amount of anti-EU sentiment and that isn't restricted to AfD, but as always, it is the struggling countries such as Italy or Greece who see the greatest protests. People of any country living in below average conditions question why they should be left out of any benefits they see being thrown to the rich in well off areas. Same in this country. The government is still at it. Not content with one Crossrail, they felt they had to have a second, not to mention HS2. Whilst the latter is proposed at an obscene price, they couldn't even find a billion pounds to upgrade the east-west corridor railways. That for an area that has historically produced 20% of GDP, but is viewed in parliament as something you wipe off the soles of your shoes - unless they need your endorsement in an election. Not the EU's fault here, but the lack of interest from either our own government or the EU does not go un-noticed. A while back I recall the EU asked us to select someone who would help rubber-stamp decisions made in Brussels, but that is about it.

I would dearly like to understand how this consistent lack of numismatic knowledge almost invariably goes hand in hand with a 1933 penny, mysteriously plucked out the ether, given by grandad, or found in a junk box - which is probably why it was there in the first place. If genuine, a good place to start would be a reputable auction venue - i.e.not ebay which is full of rogues and deluded idiots. Maybe the concept of what goes around, comes around is too difficult to grasp?

I definitely DON'T want a pint of what he's on.

Considering the EU and the regulatory dictats that emanate from Brussels impact on everything that we do, consume and make, it was long accepted by all voters who stopped to think, that leaving would be disruptive. Sure there were some leavers who gave the minutiae little or no thought, but then that finger can be pointed at a significant number of any specific voting bloc on any occasion, including those who voted remain. If you recall, there was a considerable level of rational argument on this forum prior to the referendum with only the occasional jingoistic interruption, none of which came from regulars.

I think the agreement would be workable if there was a time limit. It is the unlimited and irrevokable call by the EU on our financial resources whilst curtailing any ability to even discuss trade agreements that effectively says you will never be allowed to leave. That pisses people off. Given that we are leaving the EUtopia (pardon the pun), surely in their view that should be sufficient punishment for having the temerity to vote leave.

Yep, because nobody in politics is prepared to bite the bullet demanded by the public in the referendum. Any contributions to a body over which you have no say is clearly a gross waste of public funds. The suggestion that the proposed agreement will safeguard jobs is just as deluded as the idea we can have anything we want. The EU can put pressure on national politicians to get firms to repatriate any jobs to shore up their domestic position as it would no longer be working against an EU member. The idea of us signing up to a perpetual transition period means we have no way of pursuing ANY strategy. This is a windfall of unprecedented scale for the EU - a competitor that pays you to tie its hands by agreeing a non-competition clause whilst getting nothing in return doesn't come along every day. For all those anxious to pooh-pooh Rees-Mogg's assertion that we would become a vassal state to the EU, I would suggest that a state which is not allowed to pursue it's own sovereign policies independent of the opposing party; where the latter is given additional rights to determine the movement of goods within former's sovereign territory, is quite categorically subservient to the master. We even pay for the privilege of being screwed, but that is much a case of as you were. Everything the EU does is related to their own Great Leap Forward, where the ultimate aim is their European superstate. That any UK politician should willingly sign up to bankrolling that ambition in perpetuity without requiring something in return beggars belief. 100 years from now we will still be unable to negotiate trade deals with the rest of the world, because the question of the Irish border has not been agreed. The EU can let this one run for as long as they want to get a no-strings financial windfall. Personally, I would prefer to have the flexibility to work myself out of a sticky position without legal restrictions, than be tied to the control of a foreign body that cares nothing for myself, this country or its people. Ultimately, charity begins at home.

I would prefer to see prices from a French catalogue, because Krause pricing is geared towards those paid for slabbed pieces - hence the numbers seen, which are frequently all over the place with some things listing at $200 in VF but only $20 in UNC. The absence of anything against both 1710 & 1713 suggests none have been submitted, which may or may not be an indication of relative rarity.

I always reduce the light levels to such that the camera decides it wants to use the flash, therefore the light level should be reasonably consistent. I don't even attempt to take pictures in natural light as they are always under-exposed. At least the current method gives a series of mostly similar exposures, even if every one is different. Best of a bad job, but at least it produces something to work with.

Should have planned 2 years ago for no deal; should not have agreed to no change on the Irish border (however desirable that might be); and definitely should not sign up to a transition period that can only be jointly terminated. If we are in a permanent state of transition, then we will be paying 10 billion + into the EU coffers year on year for no say. They have no reason to terminate a steady flow of funds as it is a free lunch for them. They only agree to things that move that support the Great March Forward, and if you make the wrong choice in a vote you have to go back and repeat the process until their desired result is obtained, after which the issue is determined to be decided in perpetuity. Our contributions will help that process immensely as they would come with no strings attached - a free lunch for them with no exit for us. Why would they not support an indefinite transition period?

It's probably just part of the greater development of language. People feel they have to use the latest buzzwords or phrases to be perceived as 'cool', whatever that means, or whatever the speaker perceives it to mean. The all pervasive use of acronyms was given a huge boost by texting and the need to keep the number of characters down. Today, that cost pressure is virtually non-existent, but you still find people using acronyms on the assumption that everybody will understand. Whilst it may work for the masses and popular culture, it is unhelpful for general communication. Rhetorical question, but why has the acronym 'lol' replaced the full stop as a punctuation mark?

I was asked what I thought about an Anne farthing at the last Midland fair. It was a wrongun. Whilst I can't remember the particular variety, it was the crudeness which was obvious. The proud relief on the hair and drapery was simply too mountainous.

In my case, colours are a lottery. The camera will do as it pleases. It's about as consistent as autofocus, which again seems to be a random setting. I suspect I'm not the only person with this issue.

It is the first symbol. Originally there was a symbol to designate when the coin was struck. This symbol is known as the mint mark, privy mark or initial mark and may be a cross, or something else. The mark changed following each pyx trial in medieval times, but prior to that the mark was almost always a cross.

I had that on my radar for the past 8 years, but not at that price. The other one isn't likely to make a return to market any time soon.

North, which you can see in Sylloge 39. Elmore-Jones, Doubleday, Sazama (a dozen or so sales through DNW), Stewartby, Delme-Radcliffe, Lockett. It depends how far back you want to go. Many named collections had a Plantagenet section, but only a few were devoted mainly to the period. There are plenty of more recent ones such as Robin Eaglen's, so it's more a case of when you want to stop. Most specialised collections will automatically include a number of obscure varieties - that's why they specialised.

I don't believe any ESC rarity values

1070 (526). Large shields, early harp.

It could be that Stacks are not filling in the boxes correctly because I usually get charged 5% by FEDEX, UPS and RM.

I'm afraid that's not going anywhere as it has settled in quite comfortably between the 1845 and 1853 copper proof. And I don't want the hassle of rearranging the trays.

It's the bronzed 1849 piece noted in footnote 2 on p.408 of Peck, where mention is also made of an 1850 changed from 1859. The original date of this one is unclear, though must be 1851-57 as it has dots on the shield.

What do you think?