VickySilver

Cathrine, good work there on the 1871. I think this illustrates the value of being there in-person, so doubly good really. This coin reminds me from the pics, of the Rt. Honorable Gerald Jackson's pennies from this era.

No, had to drop my son off at school as we are on a 5 hr time difference from GMT. I want to try the chat out, maybe on the weekend. Any highlights?

These are going high, took a look this morning and tried without success on a few lots. I have three "nice" 1871 pennies, including two with much lustre, but I liked the one for sale at DNW today. Unfortunately, not in hand and nobody to view for me so dropped out as the bidding hit 1700 which is over 2k with the juice! I thought that possibly the 1869 went for low at 2k - I have a better so passed.

Excellent! Very nice to have finds that are good buys and with eye appeal. I sometimes get extra coins of dates or varieties I already have because I like the individual coin!

No that is the strike, not the dip.There is a bit of ?friction on Britannia's bust - or is that just variable toning... BTW, if the price was right it is indeed a handsome coin.

Nice bit there! You look to have good taste; I always think it right to pay just that little bit extra for an attractive piece. As to the original topic, I recently bought a PCGS65CAM[eo] 1937 crown even though I had an under graded "64" because it was just that little bit better that I liked. As to the '82H: I don't think it's been messed with other than possibly being dipped in something similar to the "MS70" copper dip which leaves coins with a bit of a bluey/purple tone. One of the proof copper 1860 farthings has been treated in this way....

Nick is spot on; to clarify, the dies are "pickled" by acid exposure after devices and lettering are engraved & as these are recessed they are protected from the polish applied to the higher field surfaces on the die & with progressive strikes the cameo effect is progressively lost. As copper-nickel is harder, the 0.500 coins such as the OP tend to wear a bit faster than earlier .925 bits & then the later 1950, '51, '53 issues that have no silver are even harder so with the passage of time (perhaps not such precise mint work on dies??), the cameo effect is lost earlier and earlier - if that makes sense. An interesting bit is how one separates VIP proof strikes from the deeper cameo ordinary strikes, as they are supposedly worth a substantial premium. In short, I have collected 20th C. proofs for many years and am not always certain of the difference. In hand, I THINK that I can tell the difference but there are certainly some borderline coins. This problem is analogous to that with the Victorian currency vs. Maundy threepences...

Yes, as per Jelida. But also I have seen just a haze, not oily, that seems amenable to removal. Then of course there is the PVC slimy green that only damages the metal after longer exposure. Please see my posted CGS85!!!!!! Specimen 1935 Rocking Horse with what looks to be bright green verd attacking the surface.

I sometimes think "verd" is a strong term as occasionally it is only a light veneer of oxidation which even soap and water, or the infamous acetone may be able to remove. Maybe its being picky, but IMO verd has oxidized into the underlying metal which has suffered irredeemable loss.

Neil, congratulations on the appointment & am sure all here wish you the best with this new endeavour. Now a bit more of a corporate world I should imagine, as per the suit and tie comments above. Well, given that Baldwins have moved, the basement fantasy a bit gone but perhaps some coins are still stuck in the back of drawers somewhere??That basement was always one of my biggest fantasies & pleaded on several occasions to even walk down the stairs into it.

Looks not unreasonable (like that assessment?). A bit like a couple I have; can't remember, but there is a name for the effect seen where details start to, well, mush out and toward the defect. The apparent radius of smaller clips should tend to be INCREASED slightly as per the clip at 4 o'clock as the center is deflected slightly more outward than the apices at either end - if that makes sense. I vote that its the real deal with only nominal value. If pressed, I'd say maybe 10 quid or so if the crud and fingermarks cleaned up with a bit of acetone (i'm not a buyer!).

Well, that might be a tad optimistic. I got the last off metal strike from London coins that graded out at PCGS65 and was about 250 quid by recollection. Also bought an OMS 1981 penny OVERSTRUCK on a 1956 6d where the original date is legible under the overstrike for about 400....If truly copper-nickel I would guess about 100 or so might be the best to expect with a dealer offering half that. I'm not a dealer at all, and collect these avidly but like others want a top condition piece...

Really nice if early strike crowns with cameo contrast, the same going for the coins making up the 1950 set, especially the penny.

Hi Wendy! And welcome!! With regards to your questions: are you sure those are Maundy threepences (as silver 3ds were struck for circulation). With these as well as your other coins, condition or preservation is everything, not to mention date or variety. If you can post pictures (and I am awful at this), that would be most helpful. All the best, Eric

Wow, those are some pictures, all of them. But Dave, really nice '02 half crown and '45 crown that sustained the blowup to pie plate size!

Yes, unfortunately they have not always been the best of graders in the LCA auctions. Fingers crossed for me as I [hopefully not foolishly] bid on the 1904 half crown - which is one of the vulnerable coins to overgrading and photoplay. Well, readers should post what the actual coins they receive versus the original listing grade & possibly price - although we can look them up. An informal survey of sorts...

If I was better at posting, I'd put one of mine up...It still could be a circulated nickel off-metal strike, hard to tell. Weighing it is always a good start, but sometimes not too easy to get to a gram scale...Dealer inspection may be a possibility, but that assumes there is a dealer that would know the difference.A do-it-yourself method is to lightly scratch the middle of the edge of the coin to see if it breaks through potential plating, without bothering the obverse or reverse surfaces & with a circulated coin such as this would not tend to affect value. A couple years ago, I bought a plated penny that was slightly off-centre and very similar to the 1967 that Azda posted for me in the TPG section of this Board. Message: these can be tricky.

Perhaps you could email pictures to one of us? Might be VERY nice, especially if cameo. Actually the boxes fair poorly as well, and would give a bit of premium. I take some and SEPARATELY store them in a zip-lock "baggie".

Well, the 1965 was graded 64 and the 1967 at 62. I can't for the life of me see friction, dings, hits, wear, or other damages. They do not downgrade for off-metal strikes (OMS). I have a pet collection of these, some errors, and some patterns. If anybody ever had decent specimens, I'm always glad to give them a go (shameless spamming there!).

Those pennies are both copper nickle strikes, they are IMO graded very low but quite beautiful without wear or ticks. Give up a couple of grade guesses and I'll post tomorrow.

I didn't submit as the price of slabbing runs a bit crazy. I agree with what you're saying about the bad uns. Actually the others are at least as nice & included the brass 3d but not the more minor copper sadly. I once had the opportunity to get the 1941 set and wish I had, later getting only the two shillings.

Groat it is. At smaller size it looks more like a "5", and thought I'd found the rare 1853 currency. Alas alack, no.

Almost looks like an upside down 5 without the top stroke. Bonus points for the denomination - Rob you don't get to guess! LOL

Well, those are all good estimates. The coin came back Cameo64. That is IMO a bit severe as the bust is quite clean without any hits, rub or wear. I have seen similar at 65 or 66 and agree with our readers. At least this grade is in the ballpark and not way off like the 1920 specimen halfcrown we showed some weeks ago that may have been 5 or 6 points off.

Oh, keep a few guesses going on...This is actually pretty much how the coin looks in hand. I was so glad to have reunited this specimen with the rest of the set that I had gotten from Spink 10-15years before. I hate seeing these sets broken up and try to reassemble when I can.