VickySilver

OK, not to be a pest, but does anybody know what the 1879 London Sov. went for, or for that matter that questionable 1917 L sov? A quick (okay, watch out) one: I bought a legit 1864 crosslet slabbed AU58 and definitely better than ordinary EF at a US auction for 36 quid! Nobody else bid...

Accumulator, uh, forgot your actual nomen - haven't seen too many uncirculated crosslet 4's though...

Hey, just what did the '64 go for?

Well, not sure if we will see a flood, but you sure are right about lack of material at coin fairs and ebay being really poor pickings for quite some while now. Collectors have to change strategies, but precious few options in any case. Interesting times...

Other than the self perspective ego bit, I can't help but believe that dangerous to them as far as their coin business goes. I wonder how many on these boards would take their precious goodies to Spink for sale now? Remember, coins bought in the late '80s and early '90s for hundreds of pounds may in fact now be in the thousands and it seems they will be taking a flyer on such coins...

It has been my thought for many years that this ongoing and increasing stratification is going to really damage coins overall. If the collector base is damaged, much as in the analogy to pyramids, there may be a crumble to eventually occur. How much notoriety can you have if there is no audience to appreciate. Not that it is my motivation, but I think that may be the reason for some collectors going for the marquee coins - they are coveted by the many, which may not be so many soon. I don't know about other readers, but I find very little to buy these days if I stick to my original focus as the choice bits have gone ballistic.

Rob, very well put. Interesting that you stated what I feel: Spink has left us "middle dwellers" for dead. That has in turn possibly to some degree opened a niche for those such as yourself or Neil, etc. hopefully.

Coin for coin, appears to be well done! This has also been my experience with items won from them - generally have been at least as nice as photos.

Yes, that is what I was saying, some nice specimens of less rare dates - I have previously won some nice bits from their auctions... Do share pictures of your winnings if you are able.

Wasn't Fargo in North Dakota? There's a city by that name there... If you want tension, try the PCGS boards and check out when the subject of "Wild Toners" comes up. It seems mercifully that is a less common subject recently however.

Not to change topics, but I want to congratulate all who have found worthwhile bits on the 'bay. I think I have not gotten an interesting "Brit Bit" there for close to 3 or 4 YEARS, excepting that supposedly (?) error 2011 matte Britannia. Well, come to think of it, that really does not fit the glove... Comedy and crap we have, but nothing decent for me.

The venue to sell, perhaps not so much to buy... There are some nice bits, but as was said, please do expect plenty of others to have the same idea. I remember the day when often DNW bits went low!!! A bit worrisome to me when I paid 6x estimate (won the lot), but it was clear where prices were going. What I can't figure out is why London Coins do not follow suit.

Goodness, let Peace be amongst us. Even though I have been guilty of a bit of nonsense, now and then,….. I go up and down with regards to my feelings toward the TPGs, but one thing I think PCGS is good at is grading things like 19th C. Liberty Seated Coinage. I am not always a fan of their Brit grading, even of the latter milled bits. However, as I think I somehow managed to post one time, I have FOUR (!!!) 1935 specimen crowns of "gem" appearance. One is raw, one is PCGS65, one is CGS85, and another NGC65. Winner was PCGS! NGC second with perhaps a tie between raw and CGS ( which had developed a sad verdigris WITHIN their holder) but even without that was still a trailer...

Oh boy, another can of worms with the OP?

Hmm, interesting bit there Bernie. I know of a set (whole in the USA) and believe it was sold by Heritage many years ago & still whole. I have seen the separate shilling, florin, halfpenny and half crown, all with the 1924 date as you say. Will try to obtain a picture of the penny if I can but it must surely be the same as yours. I am in wonder at how so many proofs and patterns were squirreled away at Pretoria - they let that stuff go for virtual scrap when majority government took over. A "gentleman" in the East [uK] brought many of them over but ran into a couple of legal problems as I remember. I think 7k might have been rather a bargain!

OK, I periodically dredge this up, but since I can barely afford nice later milled bits I have been chasing down some obscure and rare bits. What? Well, the Royal Mint took over striking proof sets for Jamaica in the period 1985-2001 omitting the 1986 date. Now either they have or have not issued a last year 2002 set but the RM has not responded to inquiry, and the only reference I have seen is in Krause with nary a picture or image or information available on internet searches. BTW, with the help of a reader of these boards I was able to get the elusive but ugly 1997 set so have all but this last 2002 year. PM me if you'd like with either information or questions.

Bernie, is that pictured 1922 from the 1922/24 specimen set?

I guess everybody else has had a shot at divergence: the OP title reminds me of a chant from the New Orleans Mardi Gras - "show us your t-ts"!

Yes, Neil's point is well taken. However, I think Spink is losing "cred" by not having a broader operation and are now relying on fading memories to keep them ahead of the pack of other auctioneers. There used to be a certain magic (or nearly so) to getting a coin off the SNC in their distinctive marked white envelope with descriptive round, often with provenances, etc. included. I guess those are the good ole days.....

RCB, dare I ask?

Gary, was that edge inscription omission on the currency type to which you refer?

Yes, good stuff. Gary beat me to the answer, except I would downgrade the contrast of the devices. The coin has some proof like fields but not the full proof prep - this is a bit unusual for the currency strikes but I would not be surprised if there was a transitional piece or two. The strikes to my view a bit better than currency as well. Don't forget to check the edges for inscription errors/omissions. If you find one on a currency I know somebody (hint, hint) that would reward you for such!

PS - I think it is harder to find a "gem" quality normal currency than the specimen. I have seen a couple with lovely swirling lustre.

Yes, I second the "cheap and easy" - sounds a bit provacative at that - and have at least four of them: - raw -CGS 85 -PCGS 65 -NGC 65 And the winner is? ? ? ? ? Drumroll, please.... PCGS! I showed the CGS on these Boards before, complete with a bit of worsening Verd.

But just what is Rev. of 1927 - would the Rev, dies of that year (1927) all come from the same master matrix, etc.?