VickySilver

Aye, you've caught on. Let some other sod take the hit....

Yikes, not much imagination on my part there....Older than I thought.

I finally popped for this one and feel it overall an admirable effort and a good book. The provenance section is especially a good bit. There still are of course some minor errors (i.e. a 1929 proof florin would NOT be "N" in scarcity as I have NEVER seen one, or the matte 1943 and 1944 bits that are really specimen). Also, some coins are put in on speculation of their existence - such as the 1920 satin specimen 6d given a catalogue number based on the similar florin and half crowns being known. Actually he got it right that there is a shilling of said date that was unknown to him and given a number. When they state "BM" as provenance, does that mean the author's specimen (Maurice Bull)?

OK, I have a bounty out on the groat! LOL. That currency version is really a bear.

Hmmm, that could have been struck through some debris IMO.

Hmm, wonder what the tale of the secondary market would be???? Ouch!!!!

Adam, this is a coin right square in my area & would readily tell you that based on the photos that this is definitely a VF (perhaps a bit on the high side of that) and only slightly downgraded because of the edge hits. That would be very unfair to call it only F.

Yikes, please let's not go down this row....

Yes, I have tried to be diplomatic but definitely "caveat emptor". I many years ago got a very nice pattern model 1927 shilling for a quite decent price and got a couple of off metal strikes for a song. I still look but haven't been back since Laurie passed. Really just trying to alert our loyal forum members, if they needed it....

Wow, I was looking through the latest Croydon sale & not much of interest. I noticed with some alarm that of the coins pictured many in the GEF/aUNC level looked from their own pictures to have suffered from a wipe (or two or more). I certainly hope they did not contribute....

Thanks for that, wish I knew who it was that sold their collection through Spink (think it was SNC Jan '01) - hello, Rob? As much as Vick silver is my thing, I really think this and a couple of the 1918 & 1919 H &KN coins are amongst my collection favourites. Think I will have my photographer dad (he's 76) take a couple of good pictures of this 26ME though. Oh, how I miss the glory days of Spink SNC! They single-handedly were responsible for what I hope is a decent collection of currency Vick and better 20th C; for a while the DNW auctions were quite "the bomb" as well.

There are a lot of slabbed "bright" coins that must have been dipped, so that may be to their whim. A lot of those Gothics have a purple tone that makes me think they may have been stored with some kind of felt or other similar material & then they have some of the other colours. You should see some of the PCGS posts on colour progression (I don't remember crystallography to well from chemistry, but looks like they took some basic truths and ran with it & IMO their opinions a load of BS). A coin retoned 50 years ago would I think not be so obvious and would likely generally escape detection. However, I have seen some coins that appear suspicious for old cleaning and not retoned, I think just through experience. I still think based on picture presentation that the OP coin is likely legit though, and have seen a few.

Admittedly only from the pictures (thanks, Nordie!!), but I don't see a problem with that coin in particular as it appears to have relatively near normal toning or at least within the range of what one sees. I don't particularly have a problem with the TPG concept, but their grading is at times a bit inconsistent. It might give you that bit of extra value if it was to land in a PCGS holder with a numerical grade - how about PCGS of Europe and get a dealer to submit?

OK, can't fool you guys, this IS an ME. It slabbed [iMO very conservatively] at PCGS as 65RB. I looked at the NGC65 '26 ME that was sold I believe last year that did not hold a candle to it. I have been quite chuffed all these years as when I took delivery of the coin listed as "GEF" I knew it was the best I'd ever seen. complete with a better than seen in pictures strike and absolutely blazing lustre - I was even a bit disappointed at the 65 grade as it looked as they say a "lock 66, maybe 67". Well, just a slabbed grade... This coin encouraged me to obtain a couple of the nicer G5 bits so have them as well, and then fill out the currency series by date with the best I could find and leaving the "hypervarietals" to you lot! LOL>

Ha ha, yea might be after I pass on....Actually the coin is better struck through Brit's helm than it looks and nearly flawless - this was from the SNC about 2001 when a collection of late milled was sold. Gave up on trying to post so Coppers kind enough to pitch in. I know this is kid stuff to the penny aficionados, but take a guess - Old or Modified Effigy?

Pictures?

Hi Chingy, Yes, those are all the better dates. I have a very good run of 3d and groats but lack a couple in true currency - the big gap is the '53..

Rob I am able to sign in about 1/4 the way down the left side of the home page on PCGS site.

I will pay well above Spink for higher grade specimens - as a collector I need but one of each. PM me with details if you should have such or lead to such. Thanks in advance!

Hmmm, yes we did forget to mention that bit. Not called pot-metal for anything though, this alloy is total junk as far as collectors. I have a number of VIP proofs that don't look too bad, but let there be a fingerprint (or worse). However this is true even of silver - remove the oxidation and crud and no telling what you get as sometimes the "crud" is protecting the underlying metal a bit and then you have residual variegate toning.

Oops, meant upper left.....

Hmmm, I think there was a sign in on the upper right, which I noticed after initial problems like yours.... They need some of your sense over there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yea! LOL!! Doesn't give those neon metallic toners tho! I am not sure if those are silver Morgans and the like baked in the oven plus or minus aluminium foil...

OK, Rob you have me laughing over that bit about showers as I am of the same opinion. There was one collector who shall remain nameless that collected SOVEREIGNS by die state (and die number!!)....

Old tried and true American approach: get napkin from Taco Bell (which is loaded with sulfides, etc. ) and wrap up plus expose to increased heat....