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VickySilver

Coin Hoarder
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Posts posted by VickySilver

  1. Posted

    I have been happy with Coinery auctions but have only won a coin or two from them. I like their business model, but am limited by the offerings not being in my area. I recently made a substantial purchase at one of the major London auctions by a recognized firm - also unnamed - and paid about 30% in commission and fees which really substantially raised the price on a fairly expensive item. If I didn't "need" this piece I would have factored these costs and NOT bought the coin....

  5. Posted

    This topic has been worked over before, and reluctantly I must agree that on some denominations (esp the penny!) the "VIP" status seems to be reflected in minor die differences. But the logic has in general IMHO not always been pristine and the RM also IMHO has not always used the same prep for proof or specimen sets and there are borderline coins that received some but not all the attention one usually expects on a proof of any description.

    A couple of years ago, I bought from Heritage 1953 1/4, 1/2 and 1 Penny coins that were all in Proof 67 Red Ultra Cameo. They were and are beautiful and although not matching the VIP coin die characteristics seem to have received some special treatment.Also I have an ex-Norweb Proof 64 1953 penny not of the VIP type but was sold to them as a "special striking". Other examples I could point out, certainly.

    A crown such as above in a "proof deep cameo or ultra cameo in 66 or 67" would be very hard to differentiate from a VIP at times and frankly the price paid for the above crown or half crown simply ridiculous.

    As a footnote, many of Bull's listings of "VIP proofs" from the 1940s are questionable as proofs from the off years would be VIPs with some perhaps having more cameo effect than others.

    • Like 1

  6. Posted

    That is an excellent point. I too wonder if these actually are selling - had not seen the crown. If you look around there are plenty of "Cameo 66" or even ULTRA Cameo 66 crowns of this date around. I got an actual Record Proof of this date from Spink many years ago for about 400 pounds and that was a lot. 

    I think the coin indeed looks very nice and well preserved but was overpriced at 5% of this value. Actually I have the ordinary 1953 proof 2/6 in "cameo 66" which I bought for about 50 USD, and even the matte proof of this goes for about 3k, and for the crown about 6-7 k pounds.

  10. Posted

    OK, Baldwin had an auction today and some interesting bits there. In my area (Vicky Silver - LOL) I upgraded my current 1842 2/6 by getting lot 587, the second of those on offer - the first not as pleasant...

     

    To me the big surprise in milled was not necessarily the highest priced:

    1953 Halfcrown (Lot 608) - this went for 1400 plus commission, etc.   Or 2100+ USD!    OUCH.

    1860/59 Penny (Lot 638) went IMHO a bit low at 2600

    1864 Penny, crosslet (Lot 649) I think also went at 2600. This piece decent grade but IMHO surfaces not that pleasant

    "1551" (1851) Three pence (Lot 487) I think went at 3200. I don't care that another lesser specimen sold at 3600 some while ago, IMHO not worth the price fetched.

    A few others as well. Anyone else with opinions about the auction?

    • Like 1

  13. Posted

    At long last the RM acknowledged receipt of this coin at the museum. Dave there has been rather a champion in this.

    Not to bore, but quite the saga and no wonder not many see a coin through the process of submitting coins to. the RM:

    I sent off the coin (all figures in USD) which cost $25 to send wire which was only for $25. Postal fees for minor value but tracked and signed for another $42; coin got stuck in customs for nearly two weeks. Customs wanted another $25 so sent another bank wire to RM for that and the requisite $25 bank fee. 

    Total to send the coin in? $142 USD!   The next element will be time - Dave said probably 6-8 weeks but not sure when the counting began. In the olde dayes of Graham Dyer, coins would at times be held for one or even two YEARS!!!!

    • Like 2

  14. Posted

    Speculation only but I doubt they want the startup costs of too many mintings - I would guess 2 or maybe 3 max. 

    As a second point and admittedly a WAG (wild A-- guess) the RM is not innocent of conjuring up mules or other variants to keep their collector base.

    As a third point, I think overall the RM is likely reaching a saturation point with all the crazy and near pointless commems in various iterations, sets and metals. IMHO, WAAAAY to many and much of the schlock.

  19. Posted

    Sometimes a bit of reverse psychology can work in one's favor with this grading business. The recent MDC Monaco sale featured TWO 1848/6 sixpences both graded by NGC.

    One was a "61", the other a "62" both relatively lower mint state grade coins. The latter appeared better, if one was a grader likely either a 63 or 64 and went for relatively cheap - about 1/3 the price of a similar coin sold raw about 3-4 years ago....So worked out nicely.

    Now only if I can get the 1848 6d WITHOUT overdate!

  20. Posted

    Interesting. I do find it amazing that somehow the Royal Mint let this currency piece out but with regards to the proof specimen how in the world did it let a designated VIP get out without saving an example for themselves, the Royals or the British Museum? 

    So that was inexcusably careless on their part; I wonder if it was to come up for auction if they would be a "player" in trying to retrieve it? I really don't know about the two 1950s pennies, the 1952 proof and the 1954 - did they end up with them? I seem to recall that in the case of the 1954 that there are specimens retained....Must check Richard's site...

  25. Posted

    Definitely true and will be interesting to see (if we live that long) what happens with some of today's "scarcities" like Strike on the Day, etc.

    Back to the OP:  the 1956 2/6 discussed is absolutely top notch and graded Proof 68 Deep Cameo at PCGS and is available for viewing on their site.

    Mark R. confirmed that the 1952 2/6 is the real deal from the famed Baldwin's Basement and is known in proof ONLY from this specimen, evidently not in the RM or Royal or BM or anywhere else.

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