1949threepence

Oh, I'm sure the image has been enhanced, but it still doesn't detract from the fact that is is a fantastic coin in fantastic condition. It looks too good, too crisp, but in the hand, I wouldn't mind betting that it still looks damn good.

OK, thanks Peck. I was a little unsure about whether or not there was a distinction. I always understood marbling to be the exactly parallel lines of slightly different colour, often running diagonally across the face of a coin. Oddly enough, by way of example, both my 1926 pennies have it. The EF OE, and the barely fine, ME. Not really the same as the 1953 coins, but similar to the 1919 penny & 1921 Italian coin, shown below. Maybe slightly more subtle. As you say, it is possibly the metal content

It's gorgeous. I'd have willingly paid £460, let alone a mere €460

Such an app would be brilliant on an i phone. Save lugging books around at fairs/auctions.

Speaking as Scheherezade (this is my 1001 post ), no I haven't, but Chris seems to be otherwise occupied these days - he hasn't posted for what seems like ages. Yes, I had noticed. Think his last post (or last activity, any rate) was 6th May.

Peck ~ did you get a reply from Chris about this issue ?

The kind of lucky break you can only dream of

I've never noticed that, or heard of it for that matter. Must keep a sharp lookout. Thanks for the heads up (sorry, couldn't resist the cheesey pun) edit: of the ones I possess in my collection (only 7), one is showing the inscription with the reverse upwards, and that is the 2003 "DNA double helix" variety.

Fully agree with all the above replies. The coin looks totally genuine to me.

Although not worth much, these commemorative medallions are always interesting to look at. Strange to think they were produced almost as a fleeting novelty over 100 years ago, and are of course, still around to this day, for us to gaze over.

The Royal Mint give this, which is pitifully short, but does give a superficial insight.

That's a very fair observation, Colin. It could certainly explain why more than one would suddenly appear from exactly the same outlet in a short space of time, when natural odds would suggest a one in ten year event at best.

Question ~ this "streaking" on coins, as discussed and shown above. Is that the same thing as what they call "marbling" ?

Ladies?? OY!!! Is that a typo for 'laddies', or do you need a brain transplant?? From the 25p tray of a dealer at the Midlands Coin Fair (unsorted :-) ): • 1888 sixpence GEF • 1951 brass 3d, Unc with strong lustre From a Warwick&Warwick auction lot of pennies from 1860 to 1967 • 1919H with the usual flat hair (worn die) but in all other respects GEF or better, rich chocolate patina - £20 From a New York dealer : • 1903 halfcrown F+/AVF, lustre - £26 From circulation : • 1926ME penny, GF - £0.005 Some good bargains there, Peck. 995 posts ~ you do realise that with 5 more posts you'll be a "Forum God"

I've had quite a few Trevithick locomotives Well done

Biggest bargain was a 1919 shilling in BU condition, which I got for £4.99 late last year when e bay had broken down, and nobody else was bidding because they couldn't access the site. I was able to because I had created a shortcut on my desktop to the coin, ready to bid. Was still able to access via the shortcut. Evidently nobody else could, ha ha

Bit of a mystery then. Of course, they will have been issued for B/UNC and proof sets. Just as a matter of interest, what £2 Commonwealth games flag do you have, Scott ?

Forgive me being pedantic 1949! but don't you mean a "die blemish"? If there was a genuine die error in the modern era it would be remarkable and valuable, as witness the 1983 2 NEW PENCE error. (Though strictly speaking, even that is not a die error, but a mule - I'm finding it hard to come up with an example of a die error in modern times). Yeah.......I suppose. I'm not really sure what you would call mine either, and I'm very open to persuasion on this one. It appears like a little bubble in the upper field of the reverse. Die "blemish", as you suggest, maybe ?

Ive never seen either of the 2008 olympic varieties. So you were lucky to get them. Does anybody know if any 2009 £2 were issued for circulation ? I don't think I've seen any so far.

I was astounded to get them both within a short space of time and from the same source I suppose that at the end of the day, there are plenty of different designs to choose from, amongst modern coinage

Looking at the £2 coins in circulation, there seems to be adequate variety, and sufficient instances of low mintage, to make this a worthwhile and rewarding sideline. It also affords an opportunity to collect from change, which I personally have never really been able to do, or at any rate, there never seemed any particular point in doing it. What started me off was receiving two Commonwealth games £2 coins (English flag, EF & Welsh flag UNC) over the last few weeks. Ironically enough both from the same place, our staff canteen. Anybody else done or considering doing this ? £2 coin mintage figures here

Just a simple die error. I've got a 2006 2p which has got a raised blob in the field of the coin. I think it must have originally been a bubble in the molten metal which never flattened out.

I believe this is an example of natural bronze toning. I'm really pleased with this coin:-

Thing is, some coins tone beautifully over (as Red says) time, whereas others always look a mess. Not sure what the magic formula is, but I don't think it's dipping in chemicals.

Outbid. Too rich for me. No way. I'm skint for the rest of this month anyway, as far as coins are concerned.