1949threepence

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.

Modern day proof sets are a massive rip off.

Some very naive buyers out there, who fall for this crap.

You're right. It loses all credence immediately, seeing that.

Another interesting little snippet on 1954 pennies from the Chard website

I'd agree with GVF/NEF for the first and plain Fine for the second.

This got me thinking, I don't ever recall hearing of a fake or fasimile 1954. A quick search on Ebay, finds sites who will sell me a:- gothic 1847, jubillee 1887, 1937 Ed VIII, or 1952 1933 or a museum quality facsimile of an 1862 penny! but no 1954, so I widened my search to international sellers and found this extraordinary fabrication 24 sold but there are 5 left if you bid now Wow, it's even got the King's head on the obverse, two years after he died

Received about 30 minutes ago. Amazing, now unique work. Incredible that one individual could have accumulated that volume of coins in one lifetime. I wonder what some of them would fetch today? Thanks again, Rob. Some fairly eye watering increases probably to many people. I paid £2850 for something that sold for £6 in 1854. A 47,500% increase Probably not as bad as the Carlisle siege pieces that sold for just over £6 and now go for £15K. There were a few spare Carlisles in his duplicates sold in 1857. They went for 1 or 2 pounds, but would still cost you £12-15K today. You can see that with inflation only, something that cost, for example, £6.00 in 1854, would today (well 2014, but close enough considering inflation is currently zero or negative), cost £594.11. So many coins have massively outstripped inflation. I suppose partly due to increasing scarcity with the passage of time, as well as increased demand and a global market. inflation calculator

Received about 30 minutes ago. Amazing, now unique work. Incredible that one individual could have accumulated that volume of coins in one lifetime. I wonder what some of them would fetch today? Thanks again, Rob. Some fairly eye watering increases probably to many people. I paid £2850 for something that sold for £6 in 1854. A 47,500% increase

This is a reply I received from a Freedom of Information Act request made in 2011. One of the questions concerned the 1954 penny:- Thought it may be of possible interest.

Received about 30 minutes ago. Amazing, now unique work. Incredible that one individual could have accumulated that volume of coins in one lifetime. I wonder what some of them would fetch today? Thanks again, Rob.

He does know his stuff, and I have engaged with him a number of times on facebook. The only thing that does slightly irritate me about Martin, is that whatever images I (or anybody else) post of a given coin just bought, or whatever, he always has to go one better and post a pic of the best one he's got, or had. But there's no denying he is extremely knowledgeable and helpful, on his terms.

I'd agree with the grading, although with the lion shillings the nose is a bit of a giveaway in terms of wear. Clearly the coin is full lustred, and the King's hair detail is very good. It looks in this case as though there is a piece of the nose actually missing in the first place (die wear possible), as opposed to wear. A slight overgrading IMO. There is obvious great lustre, but the obverse looks slightly marked, and therefore imperfect to me. I'd go for the first one for the reasons above, not to mention the fact that it's 30% odd cheaper.

Beaut - well done

The 1862/, 8/6, also looks like it is a 1862/1....... http://www.londoncoins.co.uk/?searchterm=1862+penny&searchtype=1&page=Catalogue Bob, when I click on your facebook link I get a message that I'm not part of the audience for that page - any suggestions ? Works OK for me ... nice to see that Martin and David are together at last I just checked it, and it is ok. The page is setup to accept all viewers. There might be a situation where you have to "Like" the page...not sure about that though. Thanks for visiting! ps Very noteworthy that Martin and Azda are shown together on the log, I know David feels very close with Martin! Ha,Ha! Reconciliation at last

The 1862/, 8/6, also looks like it is a 1862/1....... http://www.londoncoins.co.uk/?searchterm=1862+penny&searchtype=1&page=Catalogue I looked at that 8/6 coin and couldn't see the overstrike on it at all. It just looks like a normal date to me. The picture of the same coin in the previous catalogue was better and traces of the 6 could be seen more easily. The 6 never shows up well in photographs (other than in UNC specimens) but the 2 is always wide in this variety, as per the LCA coin. OK, thanks Rashenly. Not that I can afford it, anyway.

The 1862/, 8/6, also looks like it is a 1862/1....... http://www.londoncoins.co.uk/?searchterm=1862+penny&searchtype=1&page=Catalogue I looked at that 8/6 coin and couldn't see the overstrike on it at all. It just looks like a normal date to me.

Thanks Rob

I'm interested - how much do you want for it, Rob?

I would dearly love to have some old coin auction catalogues, such as mentioned by Tom above, even if only as an e copy on screen. Such literature absolutely fascinates me.