1949threepence

Spot on. Apart from postage and packing, 17% in absolute terms is all I've ever paid on top of bid price. With regard to the eventual bid price compared to what I actually bid via e mail, these are the details from my last 5 successful bids. March 2013 auction, lot No 2112, e mail bid £375, actual winning bid £360. September 2013, lot No 2655, e mail bid £650, actual winning bid identical, £650. December 2013 auction, lot No 2166, e mail bid £451, actual winning bid £420. June 2014 auction, lot No 1923, email bid £200, actual winning bid £180. September 2014 auction lot No 2732, e mail bid £100, actual winning bid £80.

I have never used the official form when making bids on LCA. It's never mattered, and I've secured a number of nice coins in this way. In fact I haven't even been able to find it, let alone use it.

Missed that. So yes, EF both sides.

You 1896, I'd go for EF/aUNC - nice, but the obverse shows slight signs of wear to the Queen's cheek. The reverse looks great. The 1891 - could do with a sharper pic, Jon. But from what I can see, it looks pretty close to toned UNC.

More than likely I'd go for the problem free lesser grade. Although with rare coins, beggars often can't be choosers.

LCA seem quite conservative. For example, much of the material they class as "fine", I'd class as "very fine".

I meant one connected by cable from a recognised internet service provider, as opposed to 3 or 4G from a phone or non wifi tablet.

See the difference to the one posted by MBE. The one pictured here is possibly GEF.

Apologies for bumping this ancient thread, but I came across it whilst looking for something else, and couldn't resist giving my two pennuth (no pun intended). The biggest burn I had as a beginner was paying £25.00 back in 1995, for a 1901 penny in just NEF, from a stall on Chelmsford Market. Looking back now, I can't believe how naive and stupid I was. £25.00 doesn't sound like a lot, but it was to me then. I allowed enthusiasm to outrun discretion.

Sometimes heavy user activity will degrade the performance of certain websites for some curious reason. The fact that it's happening in the evening, your time, and especially on a Friday, might suggest that this is the case. Are you working from a connected ISP router?

Yes, although, to me, it does look rather more like chemical corrosion, as opposed to water damage. Certainly not blunt trauma.

What a shame. I wonder what happened to it, Bob.

As you say, it's quite difficult without a yardstick to compare against. But if I had to venture a guess, I'd say VF to GVF. Somewhere in that ballpark.

Not sure. Maybe he was a bit reluctant to reveal his true identity at first, but later decided it would be the best thing to do.

Yes, I had an e mail from LCA today headed up "The David Reissner collection of pennies" - for a brief moment I thought it was a different collection to the Elstree. .

It is expensive. Plus there is a very noticeable die crack running across the area of the lighthouse. Educational piece. I wouldn't buy it, mind.

Interesting one on e bay - going as a BIN for £400 - where the letters on the reverse are very weak/almost absent - link

Indeed so, David. They are the Cinderella underdogs to their much bigger cousins, the pennies. I'm led to understand that during the 1950's and 60's, for example, there were very few really old halfpennies still in circulation, whereas a relatively high number of buns, veiled and Edward VII pennies were obviously still circulating - presumably, as you say, because of the accelerated amount of wear they sustained.

Some really nice purchases there, Jon. Super coins..

45 years since decimal currency was introduced, and 50 years since the (then) Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Right Hon James Callaghan MP, announced that we would be going decimal in 5 years time. Take a peek at this interview with him from March 1966. ETA: also watched the succeeding interview with Callaghan and Robin Day from 1971 - my word, how straight spoken he was. What a breath of fresh air compared to the mealy mouthed politicians we have today.

Although it looks like a die fault, David. Albeit in a very interesting place.

I'm bidding on four - one of them a proof

Can't make it tomorrow, unfortunately. But thanks Rob.

Skimming through the decimal section, I found this old thread I started a few years ago. I really must re-start my £2 coin collection, which I've neglected to add to since 2012. (and avoid the temptation to spend any of them when short of change)

Always happy to help, Matt