VickySilver

Nick, wish my money was better right now but will definitely go on the one lot plus maybe one or two others...

I am trying to see, but these old eyes can't see a lot....I wasn't too keen about the initial SNC offering but the shilling has more differences (I can not find that one at the moment).

As they say in old Mexico: "Gracias amigo"! I don't believe the edges are filed, but can not be certain; see for example the. second photo of obverse. BTW, none of that toning on the coin, that is reflection of the mylar in the 2x2 & the apparent scratches are on the mylar and not the coin which is decent enough but no crazy cameo contrast.

Hi all, I believe Nick will post some pictures of the 1927 which I have sent to him...THis 1927 coin was posted in the April 1997 SNC and bought for nearly a song by today's standards. Supposedly a pattern and listed with a bevelled edge, I bought it along with a modest 1927 shilling pattern as well....See what you think and please comment.

I think they use acid to show semi-worn or softly struck dates on buffalo nickels - but think I'll have to forego on this one. Interestingly, I have a 1927 Crown that is a similar type of pattern, ex-Pretoria Mint, that has some edge differences and perhaps a couple of others, maybe I will try to find and post with a bit of help (I think an "update" on my iPhone has cost me the ability to post smaller pictures)....

LOL, I was trying to go quiet on the 1869 6d. I have one in PCGS62 but don't really like it much. Yours is MUCH better!

Buon chance! Will follow yours...

That was my thought. I could be wrong but the lettering on the obverse appears different. As example each of the letters on pattern appears a bit taller. The upper serif on the first "S" of SHILLINGS besides being larger looks to be more pronounced. Look also on the serifs and general shape of the second "S" on that part of the legend, etc.

Yes, but a nice one that. And see my commentary on the above post as well....

The reason I posted the farthing above is that even though it is not "VIP" standard, I must say I do not understand the reason for crazy prices for the later. This one in hand is much better and is IMO properly graded as Proof Ultra-cameo 67*. I still paid about 200 prorated for it as I got it as a grouping with the penny and halfpenny, all of which were exceptional for lack of marks and cameo contrast - the larger two got Ultra-cameo 67 and are beautiful but not VIP either. IMO, standard year "VIP" proofs other than the special penny of 1953 are not: 1 - readily identified separate from "normal" exceptional coins, with the exception of the special penny noted 2 - most assuredly NOT worth a premium over excellent "normal" coins I may not agree with the identification in the upcoming LC sale with the crown as "VIP", if that matters. Many "normal" proof coins of this year have excellent strike, and extreme cameo effect on obverse and reverse. I would argue that even if specially prepared, any differences are negligible.

Yes, that is the one. I believe the lettering is slightly different in font and spacing. For whatever reason, I can't add the image after I compress it (of the reverse, that is).

It looks that a note or figure was removed from the fields to the right of George.

Here is a pattern 1951 crown I got from Mark Rasmussen some 6-8 years ago. The main difference is in the lettering, but even the devices to obverse and reverse seem somewhat different, what do think? sorry I can’t get the reverse to load for some reason as I can’t compress it.

Here is an “ordinary” proof 1953 farthing although of decent quality:

Mine as well. Good to see you posting again.

LOL, must be bad weather up your way....I played with some nickel coins previously as there was some debate about the 1923 & 1924 pattern 3d and 1/- coins being only nickel (vs. copper-nickel) alloy. I suppose there is a threshold point as which increasing the copper in the alloy deters the magnetic property....

Quite, and this is the type of coin that is best appreciated by NOT being slabbed although the value might be hurt at sale. Glad to see Sword is evidently of similar opinion with regards to such.

Absolutely! I guess this apparently new influx of money and jamming prices for gold is something I hate seeing. But this type of activity is certainly seen in coins such as the 2019 Una and the Lion rehash and the current Alderney Three Graces

Yes, sorry about that...

Recently, a 1911 Five Pounds Proof coin sold for 99,000 USD and there has been a bit of a discussion albeit with few participants over on CoinTalk. I almost put this up in the TPG discussion but it does apply more generally to the phenomenon over the last five or so years whereby we have seen the value of proof 5 sov. coins of the 1887-1937 vintage seemingly go through the roof, so to speak. Personally, I don't particularly care for this development, but here it is.I can not help but imagine that such prices will encourage more such pieces to be sent into the TPGs and put up for sale and I don't blame the sellers as I would do the same despite being a terminal collector in all senses of the term....I will use iPhone to post the citation to follow:

And me as well. If this was priced as GVF, I would be a buyer for sure even though I don't generally go for the Younghead crowns & have made do with a cleaned AU 1847 only - which I would trade in a heartbeat. These are frequently not struck as well as we might like; I have elsewhere commented on the issue with incomplete strike and the problems of such large flans. The marks across the cheek and neck take it down IMO to the EF status but remind me of those found on Morgan dollars that were stored in bags with a thousand companions for many years and suffered such. The actual wear is not so bad, and of course magnified by the enlarged format.

Ok, but really which would you rather have - a top 1926ME with good lustre and strike or a "dotty"? Think I gave away my opinion on that last bit, LOL.

I think you might be right there, combined with a bit of pulling something out of the air....Please don't let those prices fool you. On occasion foreign used to go for a bit low but even that seems to be the rare case nowadays.

True, but plenty of lustre there in and about the letters and into the fields. Looks a soft strike to me, esp. as on the chest and gown area with a bit of rub on knee and biceps IMO. I would think that is in the AU55 range, possibly 58 - the reason I say the later is that I have noticed than when not fully stuck that the "high points" are of metal that seem to oxidize more readily making pictures look not as good as in-hand. Just vaguely in analogous fashion, we sometimes see even worse on the high obverse points of George V silver (I know a different metal) such as the cheek, hair and upper ear on the Wreath and Jub. crowns...