VickySilver

Yes, I have noticed this too and can catch you out with late night bidding, or if after a beverage or two....I sometimes lose the connection on the "refresh" though....

Yes, I will try to post the coin in the next couple of days if any interested. The 1871 is a rare date that I had been looking for a good example of. Very similar to the 1867 above (except for the die crack).

Yes, although the tricky side is the obverse. Don't get me started on the "H"s!

Some of the MS64 RB coins are really special; also I will try to dig out a picture of one "detailed" for a small DIE CRACK! It was an 1871 and beautiful as well....

Wow, Richard, exceptional coin there for the comparo - can we see a quick shot of the obverse?

I agree, very impressive. Now if they could only pull of a '19H, I might be a buyer at Ali Baba prices! Oops, shouldn't have let that out....I am always unhappy with the 19H's... The obverse looks almost of the '26ME quality & treatment of hair detail....

That coin almost looks to be of electrum composition??

Should have redacted the addressee!

Finally the Royal Mint responded:

I second that. However, I have not concentrated on farthings despite having a couple (or two)...

Very bad iPhone picture through TPG perspex

Ah, in hand and really nice coin. Will try to share pictures later today....Now where the heck is the '59 proof?

Still no delivery & suspect customs which occasionally happens.

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....

Thanks. I really stretched the budget for that one.

How about the 1945 proof brass 3d? I think went for 2400 or so? This is a VERY rare coin that I have not seen before. The 1955 halfcrown in proof very nice and think I know where it went...LOL.

Well, they finally took receipt of the coin on 17 Sept. and said 6-8 weeks - now 47 days. But who is counting?

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.

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.

Thanks for that.....

Ok im lost which is this? Right border of “D” goes to space - maybe - on this one or not

Not mentioned in the halfcrown series - that I like to think of to some degree as MIINE - the 1839 proof en medaille went for 12k plus the juice (or 20k + USD!). Wow!

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?

Thanks, and will def. give a try at the auction houses if I can still afford anything. I will post the RM Museum findings on this thread when they come back.