VickySilver

Does not look like my iv over iii. Sorry no photo capability yet.

OK, well this is an update: 1988 Cayman Island proofs of the 50c and $1 coins have no FM monogram/mintmark on the reverse. As you loyal readers will recall in an earlier post, I noted that the 1986 50c, $1 and $5 and the 1987 50c and $1 have these mintmarks. Evidently they (the RM) noted this and for this final year removed the mark - it was noted that during this time period the Franklin Mint was the subject of TV exposes like the American 60 min. show and had an aura of scandal about them, so a bit of a story even behind a seemingly insignificant mark...

I saw the Workman specimen and actually attractive obverse despite the lesser hair detail. That coin has NO circulation wear or lustre breaks and very nice indeed although not the best seen, certainly amongst the top 20% of uncirculated of this date I have seen - nice metal in fact. I am beginning to suspect that these dies were quite worn and NOT a soft strike for die preservation as has been sometimes stated. The reverse of this coin is very sharp as well.

I am fairly certain that is a typo in Krause as they are well versed in 19th C. general types and have not otherwise been far off given the volatile nature of the bun head series. Possibly the same could not be said for microtypes (who really cares anyway?).

Peck, if that 26ME is only VF in your book, please let me know when you have coins to sell. LOL. Seriously, though, look at the rim and ear, fields, etc...a lot of what may look like obv. wear is in the strike methinks and would like to have all of my VFs to look as nice.

As I had posted elsewhere, I think the Workman '19H was very nice and had an extremely well struck reverse albeit the mushy obverse. Did they reuse already tired '18H obverse dies? I have one that has unfortunate toning but has a well struck obverse. Ooops, did not mean to pirate the thread... I still like a nice red original '12H and even some of the London mint issues from years shortly afterwards when well struck...The worn bits, even including the 1922 rev. 1927 just do not do anything for me. What about the rest of you?

Too bad about the grading, and 831 seems a bit high though 750 perhaps not?

David - should have gotten the Workman 1919H in the sale with Colin Cooke. Nice piece even with the soft obv. (the reverse is VERY sharp for some reason)...

What I have seen is dealers to hold copper twixt thumb and index and not bother with holding by the edge...I have been shocked by cavalier handling seen at shows, etc.

I think another point is that not all slabs, or companies, are created equally. PCGS is not infallible but generally a bit more credence can be given their grading on milled bits of the 19th and 20h C. versus some of the others, and NGC not too bad generally. The othe American companies occ. leave something to be desired. At least to me, I still need to see a few more CGS coins... Trays definately appear more pleasing to site, but I have seen many a coin mistreated by hamfisted dealers and collectors complete with finger prints, drops, saliva, and worse...Also, no cabinet friction over time in a slab.

Urrrggggghhhhh, mintage is only one facet of value determination & does not reflect how many were actually even made in earlier years, let alone survivorship, condition and completely derails demand factors. Please let us keep mintage figures in perspective when it comes to value. 20th C. Heaton mint pennies are limited to three dates as well, and so type/mintmark presentation is another factor.

Well, I think nice red examples are not as common as their collectors and so the price. Now if only the 19KNs could come down to 200...

Uhhh, Peck the '12H fetching "more than it deserves" not quite fair as demand dictates a higher price for it. At least a legitimate date and not a die state "rarity" or one of those da--ed slender 3s...

Were those bags of halfcrowns (or how about shillings)????Thanks for the pictures Hussolo!

Several are still churning, will report on results....

Pretty rough looking R there but not sure if I could call it a "BB"

Have not seen it in currency format, especially a legitimate one....

That is a decent specimen there....still scary to put out that kind of money for an ebay purchase though. Best to whomever purchases it though.

This is a true rarity and no pretender like all those slim dates/odd varieties, die states, etc. Sadly I am not in play on this one, but will see how it goes from the sidelines...

Uhh, that would only happen AFTER he bought it. LOL!

Was that mint altered, and if so, why? I have no interest in them but hopefully will bring a big price to the consignor.

Also, some plaster models from molds taken from real coins were done in Victorian times and more recent...

Another caveat - many coins that are technically uncirculated but with some surface toning(OK, well in some cases more than some toning)have been treated, and not obviously except that the colour looks just a little off from what one would expect of 19th C. bronze. I have seen this many times even with encapsulated coins, esp. American Indian Head and early Lincoln cents. They are not bright pink, but are of a red/orange that just does not "seem" right. I am ashamed to say that some years ago I too bought from our favourite M.P. and have a coin that the colour is not quite right, but better now that some years have gone by. I think CGS or PCGS would slab and that it would past muster by most. I guess that makes it resaleable but does not leave me with a good feeling.

Uhh, those are some low lead-in estimates....Get ready for a blood bath on a few of these! D---, I still need an upgrade or two and will have to wait and see if this penny frenzy, and especially the buns ever dies down...

Well, that might be a bit premature as I must confess to having an Achilles' heel of excitement on occasion, but usually not with coins (let nobody speak to my ex-wife!LOL!).