1949threepence

I knew there was a 10 year "guarantee" but I'd no idea it only applied to the metals referred to.

We are looking back a year to 29.9.21. In the <5 months timeframe involved before the invasion (maybe 12 months looked at by the bookmaker), i think the higher odds are quite realistic. Over a much longer timeframe, I would agree with you.

Yes, i think if they arrive damaged in some way, and it's not the fault of the postage/delivery process, then you'd have a good case. It would be quite deleterious to the reputation of any auction house if they refused to accept the affected coin back. In this instance the only thing that might go against you, in mitigation, is the length of time you've left the item unopened. What is the condition of the coin itself? Can the capsule be cleaned if necessary?

Wonder what the long delay was all about. OK, so you live overseas, but that shouldn't affect posting dates. With regard to the capsule being wrapped in Scotch Tape, I find that inexplicable. I've had soft fabric round a coin, and that soft fabric wrapped in tape. But not the envelope or slab itself. As you rightly point out, you'd know immediately if the outer package had been tampered with, and the fact it was undamaged suggests the wrapping took place at LCA.

Something like that? Possibly, maybe.

I'm no metallurgist, nor expert on hermetically sealed slabs, but paragraph 8(b) of this link is quite revealing:-

That's really disappointing. You'd also have thought that once in the slab, there would be environmental protection - unless the damage from humidity had already occurred whilst unslabbed, and just took time to appear once under the slab. Given that the lustre would already have existed unaffected for many decades, it's telling that higher average humidity levels would tend to degrade it quite quickly than the average 40% to 60% levels in the UK.

So there you are reviewing your collection, as you do from time to time, when you suddenly come across an old and familiar coin which you've owned for a number of years, and notice a little mark/scratch/carbon spot on it, ponder for a second or two and then conclude that the blemish concerned was not on the coin when you first had it. You hurriedly try and retrieve old pics, but often they're no real help as not all pre existing blemishes show up on the photo. So you're left wondering - was it you who accidentally allowed a minute droplet of saliva onto the field of the coin, to cause that carbon spot? Invisible at the time, but now look at it. Did you inadvertently catch the coin with whatever you were using to get it out of the tray recess, and leave a scratch there? Or is it all your imagination? Anybody else get this?

Who knows. It certainly looks unique. But it just doesn't look like a 5/3, which typically show a line at a roughly 45 degree angle running South Westwards from the top bar of the 5 - as shown by Michael Gouby here

Interesting one, Terry. Looks like a half Moon, as though part has been cut off.

Certainly hope he does. I too took a break between about 2013 and 2015 because I was getting a bit fed up with certain things at the time. I remember you taking your break as well. I actually bought the coin off his e bay account on 25.11.18, and received the coin 1.12.18 - posted on "Penny acquisition of the week". Looked through my hard copy receipts from the time, and found Paddy's ("pbowen24" was his e bay account). Only £19.95, and free postage. But neither his address nor e mail address are on there. So I honestly can't recall where I got his e mail address from. It's not in private messages because we didn't exchange any. Mystery. Maybe I'm thinking of someone else.

Chris, I too have wondered about Paddy. A great contributor to the forum, and easy to get on with. I bought a coin off him once (gorgeous 1919 penny), and I had his e mail address. But unfortunately I' can no longer locate our e mail exchange. Otherwise I'd drop him an e mail to see how he is. As you say, hope he's OK.

That's ridiculous. Presumably this is to do with the volume of stuff they're getting in to be graded and slabbed. Reduces confidence in their findings.

Well if I recall correctly (and it was discussed on here at the time - I'll see if I can find the thread) it was to do with the fact that you could only see a 1974 fifty pence inside a proof set. Peculiar logic as the same fact applied to 1975 sets and they weren't in the equation. Also 1972 as none of the coins in that set were ever issued for circulation. ETA: Yes, here we are. Just scroll down to PWA1967's post of 21.8.20 and continue on from there - link to thread

Precisely my thoughts. But Colin Cooke are asking £1750 for it as a 5/3. Also mentions that it's a Satin 56c. Not sure if that makes any difference, as I don't have a Satin, unfortunately. I think the one above it, for £975, definitely is a 5/3, but like you, I don't see any trace of a 3 in the expensive specimen. link

What do you reckon chaps, 1865/3 or just plain 1865?

Remember that odd mini craze for 1974 sets a year or two back?

I'm so impressed with Ukraine. They are unexpectedly giving the Russians one hell of a pasting. When the Russians first invaded back in February, I expected them to take Ukraine in a matter of weeks. But the spirit and incredible fighting ability of the Ukrainians, combined with advanced weaponry support from the West (especially the UK and USA) told a very different story. They didn't read the Putin script. But then Ukraine is fighting for its own territory and country - for its life. Russia is not, which perhaps explains the low morale of the Russian troops who probably wonder what they're doing there. I stand and applaud them.

letters written to the council by tenants: 1. It's the dogs mess that I find hard to swallow. 2. I want some repairs done to my cooker as it has backfired and burnt my knob off. 3.. I wish to complain that my father twisted his ankle very badly when he put his foot in the hole in his back passage. 4. Their 18 year old son is continually banging his balls against my fence. 5. I wish to report that tiles are missing from the outside toilet roof. I think it was bad wind the other day that blew them off. 6.. My lavatory seat is cracked, where do I stand? 7. I am writing on behalf of my sink, which is coming away from the wall. 8. Will you please send someone to mend the garden path. My wife tripped and fell on it yesterday and now she is pregnant. 9. I request permission to remove my drawers in the kitchen.. 10. 50% of the walls are damp, 50% have crumbling plaster, and 50% are just plain filthy. 11. The next door neighbour has got this huge tool that vibrates the whole house and I just can't take it anymore. 12. The toilet is blocked and we cannot bath the children until it is cleared. 13. Will you please send a man to look at my water, it is a funny colour and not fit to drink. 14. Our lavatory seat is broken in half and now is in three pieces. 15. I want to complain about the farmer across the road. Every morning at 6am his cock wakes me up and it's now getting too much for me. 16. The man next door has a large erection in the back garden, which is unsightly and dangerous. 17. Our kitchen floor is damp. We have two children and would like a third, so please send someone round to do something about it. 18. I am a single woman living in a downstairs flat and would you please do something about the noise made by the man on top of me every night. 19. Please send a man with the right tool to finish the job and satisfy my wife... 20. I have had the clerk of works down on the floor six times but I still have no satisfaction. 21. This is to let you know that our lavatory seat is broke and we can't get BBC2. 22. My bush is really overgrown round the front and my back passage has fungus growing in it. (Yes, that's very serious I think )

Thanks Jerry. Pleased to hear he's OK, but it's obviously disappointing (though not unexpected these days) that the police have closed the case on the robbery.

Does anybody know how Dave is now? It's clearly going to take time for him to build up new stock, hence why he's not sent out an e mail since the incident.

Any coins dated 2022 will have the late Queen's portrait on them.

Oh absolutely, this is essentially academic. In reality I wouldn't have the time or resources to take legal action. I'll just go for it and see what happens. It could be that he'll just take the pragmatic approach that he's got a sale anyway, and will let it go at the lower price.

Of course Bramah got the information on the "smaller" 7 from the Spink Numismatic circular of March 1895, which the Fitzwilliam Museum sent me a copy of in September 2020, and which I'll link to here

Ian, thanks so much for providing such detailed knowledge on the 1857 "7's", and thanks also to Richard for the additional information. Really interesting - and given none of them are overly scarce, definitely worthwhile pursuing the various types as an addition to any collection.