Peckris

Well if you will go around carrying horses on your back

It might be worth a punt - it looks like the real thing. But what if ... the Mint were experimenting with other alloys, like they did with those nickel 1923/24 shillings??

I like gambling on poor eBay pictures, got some of my best bargains that way, and listings with only one pic ... EF for me, never quite sure of the difference between EF+ and GEF, I am only 6 months in myself! EF+ and GEF are interchangeable really. They simply indicate "better than EF but not quite UNC". I was trying to find wear and not succeeding. Yes, the thistle on the reverse looks worn, but the spines of the fleur-de-lys on the crown are razor sharp and they'd be the first points to wear normally. The harp is superbly crisp, but not all the lions' faces are equally sharp. There appears to be no wear to the legend and the portrait looks much like I would expect an average strike of an UNC example. I would tend to dismiss the less detailed elements as die wear, as they are inconsistent across the coin - some parts looking crisp and unc, others a bit more blurry. Of course, a scan doesn't help with anything except detail - there's no indication of tone or lustre.

Can you post some pictures for us? It could have been done deliberately, but it's very unlikely to happen as a result of coins rubbing together in a tray, even over a period of time. For example, it could have been done by someone experimenting with chemicals or maybe an electrolysis kit, something like that. You could just take one snapshot of a few examples side by side, and edit it down (you only have 150k per post to play with here), or post it to somewhere like Photobucket and post the link here.

Yes, you could be right. But remember, the world's first seven-sided coin must have been a bastard to design for! And it did look a lot better on the large 50p.

Thanks Peck, the coin does look really attractive in hand. I will have to invest in a decent camera soon. I have ordered myself a x30 loupe, hopefully this will help me in educating myself to grade more accurately... Trial and error I guess! Have you bought the book on grading? and yes don't be too harsh on yourself with grades.Bag marks are acceptable on UNC coins. Your 2/6- is welcome a home at Peter Towers. I am awaiting a £10 amazon voucher, so the grading book should soon be on its way! along with Chris Perkins price book too I think that's a lovely series of halfcrowns. You'll find the 1927 proof hardest, and a decent 1930 ain't cheap. A top notch 1934 will set you back a bit too (less than EF is affordable), but the rest are pretty affordable even in high grade. The easiest is 1936 of course, but 1928, 1929, 1931, 1933, and 1935 are all fairly readily available in GEF to BU.

I thought the 50p Britannia was one of the best portrayals ever (though the standing Britannia of Ed VII florins takes some beating). I liked standing Britannia but the date (forth digit)disappeared after 5 years in circulation. Good job none of them are rare enough to make one with a worn date worthwhile (No, I don't want a worn 1905 thank you very much )

How did you manage to post that? When I try to reply to it, I get "The number of opening quote tags does not match the number of closing quote tags." I've amended your quoted post to correct it, otherwise it wouldn't let me post. I do seem to have the knack of pressing a few buttons and breaking things, never to see them work again! LOL - but you didn't get a message when you posted that? Interesting, no I didn't! I do normally get warned off however when I'm cutting out links and text without concentrating! Strange! Can we call this one an extremely rare 3 over 4? Hahaha, why not! Make sure you post it in the "Unrecorded varieties" forum

How did you manage to post that? When I try to reply to it, I get "The number of opening quote tags does not match the number of closing quote tags." I've amended your quoted post to correct it, otherwise it wouldn't let me post. I do seem to have the knack of pressing a few buttons and breaking things, never to see them work again! LOL - but you didn't get a message when you posted that?

Thanks Nick. Seems I may of been a bit generous, but not to far off for one of my first attempts, I am learning I'd say your estimate of GEF is spot on. I've allowed for the dramatic enlargement as a result of your scan, which always magnifies any flaws even if invisible 'in hand'.

Wear patterns are often surprising. Look at the device between the ribbon and SHILLING - one side of it is worn right away. I think it's probably ok. Honestly would you want it? Maybe I have seen the light on crap coins. I am sitting here eating lobster and supping up some fine wines (10 am start tomorrow) Mrs Peter has just advised I have to be up early for the school run and there is no more wine left.(just a couple of crates of French larger). Good night You REALLY wouldn't want to see the image this conjures up in my head

How did you manage to post that? When I try to reply to it, I get "The number of opening quote tags does not match the number of closing quote tags." I've amended your quoted post to correct it, otherwise it wouldn't let me post. Ah Peck...are you stumped I got a few nice Eddies from Germany (not Chris). I've stopped looking now because upgrading GEF is not an Ebay option (or a coin fair option) after I have gorged on steak,red wine etc the night before. It's always been the case. Forum software has certain rules that are independent of whatever computer platform you use, and I'm baffled how they can be broken even accidentally?

I thought the 50p Britannia was one of the best portrayals ever (though the standing Britannia of Ed VII florins takes some beating).

The strange stamping of 404 around it refers to the fact that your linked page can't be found

How did you manage to post that? When I try to reply to it, I get "The number of opening quote tags does not match the number of closing quote tags." I've amended your quoted post to correct it, otherwise it wouldn't let me post.

....

Wear patterns are often surprising. Look at the device between the ribbon and SHILLING - one side of it is worn right away. I think it's probably ok.

When the artificial 'rainbow toning' bubble bursts, there's going to be a lot of unhappy owners left with negative equity. I won't mourn... The toning scene is fully established in the US...can't see it bursting. HA!!! That's what they said about the housing market...

At least he's got some clothes on. Looks to me as if that lance has just gone through the creature's lip which means St. G will have shortly have one mighty angry dragon on his hands. And being that small, and encased in armour, he won't be able to do the "fisherman thing" down the pub, to show the size of the "one that got away".

That's the first time I ever heard a seller say "Don't go buying my coins" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not so much caveat emptor as cave coinem (One for Classical scholars )

When the artificial 'rainbow toning' bubble bursts, there's going to be a lot of unhappy owners left with negative equity. I won't mourn...

This is my post

Aw, it was chucklesome!

Obviously, the Dick Emery engraving - "Awful, but I like you" is on the companion coin.