VickySilver

How again did they conclude this was a 25P and not a 20P pattern?

I too am confused by this new volume, and this with TWO versions of the 7th Edition of the Bull ESC. Which now is ESC? And I am miffed by mistakingly getting the abbreviated 7th Edition as at the time of purchase did not know this. Another issue is that in the proofs and patterns of the 20th C. predecimal series have been in many cases mucked up.....I know, I sound the crybaby.

I seem to recall as this coin came up for auction and looked at it. With all due respect rejected it sadly as a specimen or proof. As I have said, and have had both of the 1924 satin specimen halfpennies had some interest in it. But not to be a killjoy and hope you enjoy this one...

IMHO a nice currency strike, but I have seen a number of 1923 and 1924 halfpennies that look quite nice. BTW, the other satin specimen 1924 looks a lot better....

I hadn’t thought the issue as big for the halfpennies or farthings compared with the pennies

Obverse

Here is the reverse of one specimen 1924 half penny.

I concur. The reverse in particular at the helm, drapery, arm and breastplate. The 1924 satin specimen halfpenny was struck as such and will see if I can find a picture If Richard can not, but it looks quite different as you will likely see. From the label it sounds good, but the actual coin even if better than average does not seem to fit.

The fellow over at Coin and Medal News answered me and said they'd discuss it. I think that would be an important addition...

I just wrote them on Facebook and see what they say. Predecimal currency coins don't get a lot of appreciation in the mad rush for all of the SOTD sovereigns and the schlock that the RM has been peddling for a good decade or so....

Can't download at the info limit. This is Krause KM - 1110

I think it may be a true rarity and ought to be written up in Coin News or similar - very interesting.

Hard to tell but this looks a bit like a specimen set coin also, but could be wrong. I laughed a bit as I thought about it - this is the analogy to the 1913 Liberty Nickel in the USA series - a 5 million dollar coin or so. It does not seem to be an error but rather a mule, and could it be intentional & how many struck?

Ah, wish I could tell you exactly but I recall it was early to mid 90s. It was very large and included such as gold strikes of all the "silver" denominations that are attributed to the LONDON mint! Also matte proof sets of all the 1927-1953 years, and BOTH 1922/4 LONDON mint satin specimen/proof sets, and proof sets of many other years (so called VIP record proofs). Even at that time with relatively low interest in proofs of George V and VI, all of these sold relatively rapidly at what today would be bargain prices. I was desperate to pull together funds to get what I could as I knew that there could not be too many such hordes out there. Again what was remarkable is not that many were very rare (which they were) but in some cases represented the sole source of some coins, and these also again London mint issues! Nobody has ever been able to explain to me how in the world that occurred. As far as I know there was no official announcement of these sales and although I can not prove it, am of the understand that these left under somewhat nefarious circumstances with "insiders" walking away with many for but a song. As a side note it is and was very difficult to get sets from the 1928-1936 years that included TRUE Wreath crowns in proof; parenthetically I regret to say that many of the slabbed Wreath proofs IMHO, as well as Steve Hills, and M. Rasmussen are not actually proofs.

LOL, I am an inveterate collector and almost never sell unless I have a double. Thanks though.

Indeed, and IMHO they are cheapening "the Brand". They are really starting to drive me away and there are few bits I order from them, whilst confessing to getting a couple of the Great Sculptor coins. I have even gotten some of their clearance items in the past - which should have remained duly on the shelves of the RM warehouse. I think I was getting not so much as authenticity but on the notion that coins at their auction somehow now have a RM provenance - almost hinting at the buyer at such auctions could be latter day Norwebs & all. A bit of a diversion: of course some of us remember when the Pretoria Branch Mint DID INDEED deaqusition their holdings, or at least a substantial portion & don't think the RM will be doing so....

Which I understand - the clearance of "junque" but please note the last bit I wrote about concerning their endorsement, not to mention the possible deception as to the origin of some lots..

I am surprised this topic has not been broached. I was surprised to read the Royal Mint is to conduct (or would it be Sovereign Rarities) auctions and taking consignments for it, as would an ordinary auction house. This just somehow seems a bit odd, and possibly inappropriate. Or maybe I am just a bit too stuffy? In my humble opinion they have been just a bit to busy, what with the proliferation of recent offerings and now stepping into the auction world. It also seems that if they have accepted a consignment that the piece(s) now have their blessing or endorsement. What say you?

I posted this in the general British coin forum but noted with interest that 2 days ago Noonans sold at auction what is evidently an extremely rare decimal coin. It may be the rarest of all currency from the decimal era! This would be the 2009 10 pence, uncirculated currency piece with the lion reverse of 2007 and earlier. Out of curiosity I looked it up and could only find record of a different piece sold at London Coin auctions about 8 years ago and then vague mention of one other specimen from a 2008 (!) currency specimen set, I think it said for babies born that year or similar. Regardless, I didn’t even know this coin existed - maybe because I have focused on the later milled pre-decimal coins of 1837-1970. Do readers know more?

Noonan's sold this coin yesterday (the 2009 10 P mule) and wondered if anybody knows more of it. This is not heralded the way the 1983 2 New Pence "error" has been but evidently is much rarer - at least I believe this to be so. Do any readers know differently? When I googled it, I found only the London Coins specimen which had a scratch and one other reference that I have now forgotten. Was there any alloy change or other way of descriminating the 2007 vs. 2009 mule coins? And what would be the explanation for the mule, becuase I would have thought there would be more specimens out there if it had been a wrong reverse die. I think I remember reading that one of the 10 P coins had been found in a specimen currency "Anniversary" set or some such. I would think this coin would get a lot more attention or "play" as kids say these days...

Yikes, the matte probably available at that price or lower....

Indeed. The currency are possibly the hardest when rare, the "ordinary" proofs, and finally the patterns IMHO. So relatively perhaps patterns are rather less & this is something some of us have taken advantage of over the years.

I know about a set that might qualify which would be the 1922/1924 Satin Specimen Set. I have always wondered if the mintage is really 2, and why or how did the Pretoria Mint get hold of these two sets...

Ah, a few might be reluctant to post.