1949threepence

OK, thanks. Was just wondering

I noticed one guy had a few 1869 pennies, and at least one of them suddenly shot up in price - all were BIN's.

If it's not impertinent, may ask why your 1863 die No 4 was withdrawn from sale on e bay?

That's absolutely true, of course. I've made several auction bids where the winning bid has been just £50 above mine. As you say, we never know. You need to have that line in the sand above which you will not bid. In an auction, discipline (as with other forms of investing) is essential otherwise you can get drawn into a bidding war and end up paying well over what a coin is worth. I was the underbidder on the 1791 pattern sixpence. Having recently acquired the 1788 and 1790 patterns, I had a view on what this coin was worth. My line in the sand was £650 and the coin went for £700. Well above estimate I would add. Coin collecting is a long game and another 1791 Pattern will show up sooner or later and, hopefully, I will get it then. It definitely is a long game, and a game in which one has to be very patient over protracted periods of time. Eventually an opportunity to obtain the coin you want. Then it's a matter of what you pay/bid, how good the coin is, and whether such a chance will come up again.

Mr T mentioned Michael Gouby. I've got his book covering bronze coinage minting operations from 1860 to 1869. It's a very good book, with a lot of really interesting historical information - here's a link

Didn't Brazil ban the drink "7 up" after that match?

If only all wars could be confined to the soccer pitch

Yes, it's fine using Chrome. David, what I get can be seen here - can you see that OK? Although there appears to be a bit of a time lag in updating.

That's absolutely true, of course. I've made several auction bids where the winning bid has been just £50 above mine. As you say, we never know.

Great short film. Thanks for posting

That F7 was a beauty, and I thought it might go for more than it did. If I'd known it was going to fetch just £1100, I just might have been tempted to have had a punt myself, even though I've already go one in EF which cost me £500. The Spink Freeman 7

I always either leave positive feedback, or no feedback at all. The reason for this is to have 100% positive feedback to sellers so that if I make an offer on a coin, it's more likely to be accepted than if I look like a potentially awkward customer. That said, I've sometimes had good reason to leave a negative. In this case, I'd just contact the seller, who may just be ignorant of coin etiquette, and remind them of the need to treat coins with respect, use paper envelopes for all of them, and most definitely avoid sellotaping the coin itself.

Belated Happy Birthday, Matt.

Very nice. Superb capture.

I'd say that almost all of them will have reached circulation. There was no quality control in the sense of an inspector carefully sifting each item for the odd die crack. As Rob says, die cracks occurred as a result of damaged dies. Coins in the tens of thousands, or more, may have been minted from one cracked die, leading to the same die crack mark on all of them. They will all have subsequently been distributed to the banks for circulation. That's why there are so many pennies, for example, still about with die cracks present.

In a way echoing what Dave said, I find my android nexus 7 tablet takes excellent coin photos.

I'd run with GVF.

Personally, I don't think so. Unless you just happen to really want the specific coin in the holder. I've only ever bought two slabbed coins - both NGC and both MS65. I busted them both out almost as soon as I received them.

Belated Happy Birthday.

I have a Peter Nichols "Mascle", which I bought in January 2010. I'm pretty sure I never paid anything like £216 for it though. So I think they must have rocketed in price during the intervening (nearly) 6 years. I'm certain I only paid something like £130, although irritatingly, I can't find my bank statements from that time.

Indeed. You don't see 1922 with reverse C everyday of the week, and not in that condition ! Wow.

Colin Cooke still has listed an 1864 crosslet 4 penny, I bought from them in February this year. To add insult to injury, they've even reduced the price !!! I can't believe they've not noticed it's no longer there

Another one here, cleaned in a different way. Look at the reverse. Looks as though someone has taken a scourer to it, with the fine lines running South West to North East.

Thanks. I've often seen the name but had no real idea who he was. Obviously not as well known as the other two.

Indeed, Pete. This coin is no longer in my possession, but it had been cleaned. That was even more obvious in the hand, than on the pic. Note, as you say above, the pinkish tinge.