1949threepence

Really? I've got a 1974 proof set. Maybe I should offload it.

Thanks Ian - yes, reckon I got a bit lucky there.

Talking about the no WW types of 1858, I managed to get a Bramah 26a a week or two back from Cambridgeshire Coins (first I of BRITANNIAR has no serifs) - about VF, although they described it as EF, and apart from being a tad dark, problem free ~ £70 ~ I've no idea of their true scarcity, but there's a lot of 1858's, and it's the first one I've seen, so thought it should be snapped up forthwith. I think they'd either missed what it was, or didn't care either way, as they made no reference to it.

Good question. No idea, but have noticed the same as you. Very few pennies. Kleeford Coin auction is due out on 30th August. It'll be interesting to see what they have. Conversely, as you say, gold is booming. Maybe as a security hedge in these uncertain times. I've noticed nearly all the coin cabinet auctions are 100% gold.

I think it may well be the same one, Ian. It would have been about then. My error with regard to the price, but £190 still a bargain for an F78 in that condition. You don't often see them for sale. In the end I settled for a GVF example from Dave Craddock.

Ian I mean, not Terry. Apologies.

Nice spot & nice coin. Fantastic reverse and obverse not half bad either ! How much was it Terry, if that's not being impertinent. Presumably the seller had no idea what it was?

Either that or something very similar Terry. Why, were you the lucky buyer?

I know exactly how you feel. A few years ago, someone posted a F78 in a/UNC with considerable lustre. The price as a BIN: - just £150 !!! I spent so long faffing around trying to determine whether it actually was a F78, that by the time I got back to it half an hour later, it was gone - and it definitely was a F78.

Ah.....interesting.

It is a bit of a co-incidence isn't it. He'd had it on sale for at least 3 months.

e mail from me too. Thanks Richard.

I happened to be in the front garden this morning when the usual post guy came. He knows the number of tracked next day delivery packages I've received over the years. I asked him how many go missing. His words were "very few", and that Royal Mail take great care with them because of the cost implications. The main reason they do go missing is that senders sometimes make a mistake with the recipient's address, particularly the house number. Under normal circumstances the person answering the door where it's delivered will point out it's not them, or equally likely, they're not in and they get the card left. Many clearly just ditch the card and don't bother contacting Royal Mail over it. So in either circumstance, as long as there's a return address on the package, it should be returned to the sender after 18 days. We had a laugh because in place of a signature they are just writing "CV19" in the space, for "Covid 19", and as this area's post codes start with CV, people have apparently been contacting the Post Office to say they're not in the CV19 area !!! - apparently there isn't a CV19 post code anyway. It doesn't exist. So it might be worth checking the receipt to make sure the house number and post code match up with the correct details. Although I'd imagine you've done this already.

Judging by some of the tales here, I think I must have been lucky. In 15 years of serious collecting, not one tracked next day delivery has gone missing. They've all arrived safely on time. It's OK saying its insured for its monetary value, but as a collector if it's a coin you particularly want and covet, then it's obviously a huge disappointment if it goes missing.

Bit worrying for a tracked next day special delivery to go astray. This is the first time I've (personally) heard of it happening. It's normally so reliable. Presumably when you enter the tracking number it's never gone beyond "we've got it"? Here's one that I've just received. if yours doesn't even get as far as your home mail centre, it might suggest that it's been misplaced at your local post office, or lost at the mail centre without ever being scanned in. . https://www3.royalmail.com/track-your-item#/tracking-results/JS220236496GB

I note the government has revised and extended the list of public places in which face masks must be worn in an attempt to inhibit the spread of covid. Included in that list are "auction houses". So I wonder if this means that some auctions will be opening their rooms for public gatherings once again, or whether online only will continue to be the order of the day for the foreseeable future - link

Not everybody refers to it as the Medusa variety. Certainly the two sold by LCA and the one being sold by Jack Relph, make no such reference. But they do pinpoint the other unique criteria related to the coin, such as the shield. The Medusa head will disappear with any wear, but the other features won't. Mind, I wouldn't buy it either unless one appeared cheap. Despite it's rarity it just doesn't have enough of a "wow" factor for me personally.

Now then, now then......

Yes, imagine how quick it would have gone if it had been an 1877 narrow date penny in the same condition, also for £815. The 1877 narrow date being of roughly equivalent rarity.

Indeed, Pete. Even the bog standard 1847's aren't exactly plentiful. Still it might help Richard with his new slot for the Medusa's on his rare penny site, as they hadn't yet been mentioned. I thought you would know their history. Do you know where the others are?

If they haven't already been accounted for, LCA sold two medusa's in 2018. One was lot No 2420 on 2.9.18, VF and went for £500 hammer, & the other was lot 766 on 3.12.18, EF and went for £2620 hammer - link

It's the shield which makes it instantly recognisable for me. Completely different to all the rest.

Well at least we know a little bit of its history now

Another medusa/no colon 1847 - this one went unsold in June 2019 - link

They are not easy, and often wrongly attributed as you indicate.