VickySilver

Overall rarity: Might rank it after the 1839 currency half crown, maybe, and the 1854 and 1863 florins. 1853 Britannia currency groat is pretty rare as well & high grade 54 and 93 Jub 6d's. Others?

I think not as rare as quite that in the lower grades, IMO maybe 200. EF and above?Yikes! I might hazard a gues of 5-10 excluding museums???

5 does look pretty soft compared to the rest of the digits. I have seen these 5s before as well. Rest of the coin looks pretty good. That is a hard call with the area of origin a problem also in my book. Still, sometimes this is how bargains are had. A "no call" from me with the usual caveat of needing to see it in hand.

Does not appear the specimen. I have seen the other specimen 6d of 1924, part of the set. I think this may be on the www.HA.com archives from about 6-8 yrs ago (the whole set including the "wondrous" 1922 rev. 1927 penny). Yours looks well struck and to be an early strike of what should most likely be a 0.500. coin.

Also: xylene and toluene are EXTREMELY toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic. I would NOT play with these. Acetone is a bit dangerous but use it frequently myself but doubt it will work (ie also the active ingredient in nail polish remover).

That is my usual choice as well. BTW, how did you "cream" the video bidder? Hypothetically speaking of course....LOL

Yes, a bit of problem as are many proof or special issue coins. Many, including me think these were proofs but that the dies were not necessarily maintained to that standard. And evidently these crowns were struck for many years afterward. Sometimes were struck without edge marking and even evidently in pure silver. As the dies aged and were not "reprepped" the cameo effect would gradually be lost and the resultant coins would lose some/most of their proof qualities, etc.... What to call them? If not of quality to be termed proof, I imagine few would quarrel with the label "specimen".

Shiny yes, proof no. Looks to be rather flat details and devices...

I too will weigh in on this: acid bath, and have a couple as well.

I can scarcely manage to actually take more than a glance of the upcoming Spink auction and the paucity of offerings. Sad to me even though I know this is not a big sale. I was just looking at some older sales of theirs dating to the later 90s and Wow, what a difference.

I have seen TPG services downgrade for dieclash, but sometimes I am not sure if they recognise in individual case that is what is going on with the coin (ie it should NOT affect the technical grade of a coin). And ocassionally the ghosting of Britannia can highlight George V's bust with a pleasant interplay with the "carwheel" lustre as the coin is rotated.

Well said, I concur. That farthing is IMO definately a case of clashed dies. One of the wonderful things about those copper farthings is that they come lovely and I always like to think of them as "Poor Man's Sovereigns" given the origin of the obverse dies. Overall, I tend to deduct value for ghosting as it detracts from the appearance of the coin; unfortunately, this is hard to avoid with such coins as the 1918-1919 pennies.

Hey now, that pierce free is TMI (too much information)!!

Thank you as I see nobody else seem bothered by the piercing attempt. Wonder what a legitimate GEF (ie slabbed PCGS 63 or 4) would go for at a major auction? I have just seen one on the PCGS site in MS63RB that I seem to recall from a St. James auction...

Mat check the World And Ancient section on the message boards on the www.PCGS.com site for an huge blowup of the Glens coin

I believe the Glens piece superior, but don't have a pic of "Danny's" coin as I do vaguely recall about 2 or three other pieces showing up incl. Spink, and that the Colin Adams Sale had a proof that was conjectured to be currency; also Rasmussen had one of these...I assume you have seen the C. Adams Sale Catalogue? PCGS cert number is: 18522635 BTW Rob is a great source for much of this related information.

PS - I bet that one would cost a fair bit!!!

The A3 1839 2/6 graded by PCGS MS64 - - www.PCGS.com in the census is ex-Glens and is the real thing. I might be able to get the cert number so you can look it up as it may be amongst the finest out there.

Before this gets dismissed as anecdotal, experience with a particular house (W&W anybody - LOL!!) might generate a bit of circumstantial evidence in that if all winning bids are mysteriously at the maximum over a 20 year span that perhaps, just perhaps, there is a bit of funny business going on...

Yes, and to name names I believe Stack's in New York City has and does do this. Anybody else brave enough to "out" anybody. I even have my suspicions about Heritage as well.

OK, but just looking for how we might be able to give them some simple facts and statistics that might enrich the GB listings in their catalogue. Sometimes even though an exact evaluation is not possible it can give at least a "ballpark" idea of rarity and value. I do appreciate your inputs as I do want to try to help.

Pcture please!!!

Recall that it ended up being about 25%, but has been about 5 years. Should not have let those proof Wreaths go....Oh, well ce la vie!

Yes, CGS is pretty much of an "also ran" in the USA, and not really known or respected because they are not. They do not have the same cache value as PCGS or NGC. And that is not to say they are not relatively conservative graders either. Edge problems are not an issue now as both US TPGs use platic tines within the inserts to hold the coin. IMO, they would not be necessarily that great for hammered coinage, and as Rob says are a bit problematic with some of the earlier milled. I had issue with some of their grading of matte proofs as well, but usually relatively consistent graders of Vicky and up (more recent). I am wondering if lots are only a few hundred pounds each if slabbing is worthwhile though. I should think if you are moving some tens of thousands worth of coins that the house you choose would not bargain a rate for you to fill their sale??I am thinking if it comes to selling some choicer bits that I might not choose Heritage as I have not had all the much luck with Spink. Doubtless there are sellers with much more experience on these boards though. Good luck regardless of which avenue you pursue.

Yes, though this coin worth maybe a tenner, 15 max and NOT in demand particularly.