1949threepence

That tilt to the right is also on my F73, F74 and very slightly on the F76. There is a slight difference between the feature on the F73 and F74. The F73 is like the photo of the one you show above. But on the F74, there is no gap - the R & E actually touch. Also, on the F73, as with yours, the base of the E is slightly above the base of the R. On the F74, it is level with it. Photo of F74 obv.

OK, thanks. I'll give it a go and report back.

I don't know if it's me being thick but I'm at a loss as to how you actually join. A link to their site is here, and although the benefits of membership are pointed out, there doesn't appear to be any signposting on how to become a member. Clicking the log in is purely for current members. It doesn't also offer a gateway for registering. Can anyone help? If it's me being dense or non observant then I apologise and hold my hands up.

That's probably it.

Having received Ingram's latest magazine today, I see that he has 2 more F41's for sale. Of course they might be specimens that are already on your site, but it's nonetheless indicative of the fact that they are much less rare than we thought even a couple of years ago.

Then never subsequently spending them, but rather, forgetting them completely. That is one additional possibility. It's interesting that there don't seem to be that many truly high grade 1914's around. As far as I can tell anyway.

Indeed it is. With specific regard to the 175's and 176's, clearly there are a few worn ones, as you would expect, but they are predominantly high grade. Just to expand slightly on my personal theory, I'd say that when coin collecting (strongly including pennies) really took off in the mid to late 1960's, these "sub" varieties (for want of a better word), were not known about. In fact, having bought one of those original small "Check your Change" booklets from the 1960's, off e bay, I note they only mentioned the well known varieties, such as the LT, H's and KN's, plus the 1926ME. Nothing else. I'd bet many novice collectors of that time were working off those booklets, and hence would overlook the varieties not mentioned. Hence their current rarity, as opposed to the many worn LT's, H's and KN's up for sale. Mind, the one I have is issue No 1, so maybe there were additions in the subsequent issues. Far from totally clear whether I'm correct or not, but I think the theory stacks up logically.

That's an interesting theory, because I'm sure that at some time or other, (earlier than we think), collectors did start collecting base metal coins. For example, note the relatively high number of a/UNC F175's and 176's on Richard's rarest pennies website. Both Freeman and Court estimated the pre withdrawal figures of those types to be well over 1 million and just under a million respectively. Given that the varieties are now so rare, I would say that they were not readily recognised by collectors, but some (a few) were collected by default at a very early stage in their lives. Not so with the open 3 1903, the F164A, and the F169 - all of which had a much lower mintage estimate, and which now are not seen in high grade. The obvious implication being that date examples collected from those years, soon after mintage, would be almost certainly have been the common varieties, owing to the much greater initial rarity.

Well you can't beat a bit of nose when sniffing out bargains......

Just pure greed. I would have understood it more if there was never any reward.

I can't believe nobody noticed and collected this 1865 coronetted head pattern penny (F272) before about 80 years of wear. Incredible - link

A couple of Swann's cabinets being auctioned by DNW 12/13th February 2020 - link

Whilst I don't necessarily agree with the harshness of the sentences, thanks for the detailed back story & low down, Jerry. Very informative.

Exactly what I was thinking - plus GBH. After all if they hadn't found it, it might have lain there for who knows how much longer. In the annals of really serious crimes which hurt others, I truly don't think this is up there with them. Moreover, as I said earlier, I bet lone detectorists have made major discoveries which they've never declared - and who would ever know? ETA: just to emphasise the point, these two bastards ('scuse my French) just got 7 years each for rape - link

Very stiff sentences indeed - perhaps surprisingly so. Seen much much less given for arguably much worse crimes. They should have taken the honest, but still well rewarded route.

I'd bet serious money there have been other major finds, left undeclared, that nobody else knows about except the finder - especially if working alone.

Indeed - wonder what happened to the rest of the coins?

Ian............no. Neat capture anyway.

Blake, it's something we have commented about in another thread. The differences can be amazing. For another very striking example, see Richard's rarest penny website for the F175 & 176. There are examples of each where Richard has highlighted massive differences when photographing the same specimens.

...and this is the pic, I took when I received it - the colour shown being the actual one visible to the naked eye. Quite what cause that degree of variation I don't know. Didn't make any difference as I was perfectly happy with the colour they had, and the one as it turned out to be. But it does appear that the type of photography can hugely influence a coin's appearance on a photograph.

I don't know whether lighting is the cause of the colour misrepresentation for the F8 I won at the September 2019 LCA. This is the photo they uploaded to their website:-

I make my own judgement on any given coin, and all I would expect is a decent representative photo of it, or 7 days approval, combined with basic honesty. I get very pissed off if I'm deliberately lied to. I'm not bothered what grade the vendor assigns, as long as not absurdly out, or what price is asked. I will decide whether or not I want the coin, and if I do, then I will pay the asking price whatever that may be. The market finds its own level.

Mick, which is the closest in terms of how the coin looks to the naked eye?

Of course the other main driver of society possibly going cashless (and maybe even shopless) is the massive rise in internet shopping. Jerry is spot on about protecting the vulnerable - the only problem being the rise in the number of outlets who opt to no longer accept cash. Often an excuse as they find handling cash time consuming and inconvenient. However, as long as the government compel banks to accept it, there will always be an acceptance of money, especially among small traders for whom it provides a foolproof tax dodge.