Peckris

No problem - it won't spread to silver, as I said above.

Yes, I'll have to have a look at my 1911-1926 pennies to see how many I've got with a 'good' Britannia. I suspect it will be a minority, which will include the 1915 'recessed ear' variety, an experiment I never understand why they never persisted with as it seemed to fix the problem to a large extent.

Verdigris won't spread to silver - it's a copper/bronze disease. However, if you're worried, keep it separately from other coins, preferably in a capsule or flip. I couldn't comment on the value as it's not my area at all, but you should expect some depreciation.

I would say so - it just looks like a faint incuse C formation that's sort of vaguely near the right area, a complete coincidence and definitely not in any way conclusive.

The link took me straight there (heaps better than the awful 'bucket ). It might be 'treated verdigris' which would look black, or else it's straightforward spotting (you often see black marks on brass threepences). As for the groove, you'll have to live with that I'm afraid. Still, the BoE dollar makes up for any shortfall in the other two

It is graded MS64 and looks better than an EF. I would grade it UNC. Agreed, on both counts.

That's an unusual London example of the 1919 - presumably because of the wearing obverse die (quite apparent from the lack of hair detail and flattening ear, and common enough in the years 1915 - 1919), the reverse has been fully struck up as can be seen from Britannia's face and breastplate. It may well be that even a minute reduction in the obverse profile - in this case due to die wear - could lessen the 'sucking away of metal' problem so often seen in the general mushiness of Britannia's upper.

No, that makes sense. Unless the guy responsible at the Mint had OCD.

I think $36 was a bargain really, considering its condition. By the way, it's the 1926 OE as opposed to the ME - is that larger? Perhaps, a little. But not rare! Not in the slightest. Value? Possibly around twice what you paid for it, perhaps a bit more. Oh, and don't forget to add on an extra $1950 for the slab.

Do we know if counterstruck coins were always obverse - to - obverse, and reverse - to - reverse? Or do sometimes original reverse details appear on what is now the obverse, and vice versa?

What you're calling 'blemishes' is the trace of underlying legend from the original coin, and hence desirable. I'd rate the obverse as VF+ and the reverse a bit better, so you're spot on.

The coin weight was made in Britain for the Portuguese (Johannes V) - there's one for sale here : http://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/pavlos_s_pavlou_numismatist/131/product/great_britainae3_pound_12_coin_weight_for_portuguese_gold_coin_1747signed_by_kirk/383097/Default.aspx in about the same condition as your example. Get what you can for the Crown, it's not worth much more than scrap. The dollar looks presentable and would be worth the outlay alone in that condition, especially as there is some evidence of the underlying original Spanish coin. I'd say you did ok there!

Are air tattoos like air guitar? A bunch of guys go up on stage each hunched over the bare shoulder of another guy, who regularly yelps in pain to the rhythm of a heavy metal band, while a row of girls paint imaginary dragons, hearts, swords, and "MOTHER", in the air?

Interesting - I've not seen one of those before. It looks remarkably close to the Lavrillier pattern (too close for comfort!), unlike the usual fantasy 1933 repro's, which bear only a slight resemblance to genuine GV issues or patterns. http://www.garyphelps.co.uk/1933%201D%20BU.JPG

First, it does look like the Lavrillier pattern, but those didn't get used when Georgie-boy laid foundation stones, so the 'where' and 'why' of its (alleged) burial doesn't check out. Second, I can't see some 'ordinary Joe' coming into this not knowing what he had; if it was a Mint worker getting it by clandestine methods it wouldn't get buried in a tin. Third, if it does turn out to be genuine (2 chances of that : fat and no) it wouldn't be seized by the Mint or any other authorities - remember, the 1952 halfcrown and Edward VIII brass 3d's weren't legally acquired either, but the Mint had to accept responsibility for lax security and the coins were sold quite legitimately. Possibly one difference between the UK and the US? However, in the unlikely event of its being genuine, somebody got a bargain! But my thought is that the seller made a very fast buck...

Webmail (e.g. Googlemail) aren't an alternate provider - they're a different kind of email altogether, though you don't necessarily see any difference at your end. Compatibility simply isn't a factor. I've got 2 providers AND webmail with Google and Windows - that's 4 "providers" and I don't have headaches.

Ooh no, that BU 1874H both Gs over might be worth hanging on to..?

Interesting - my accountancy firm was JSA : James Smith Accountancy? Probably not, but coincidence of initials. (Actually, I think mine was JOHN Smith?) I never had a problem with VAT except to 0-rate anything I bought specifically for the company - which as a computer consultant, isn't much! If the company you're freelancing for have said they prefer permanent, you can ignore that to some extent as they wouldn't hire a freelance if they didn't need that extra body. Once you're there and proving your worth to them (at much better rates than the permanents get ), you could test the air, and if it looks like they might just do away with freelancers in the future, you could ask about a permanent position... but negotiate the best you can!!

He must have loved you!!!! Well, it was kind of a corporate arrangement - the agency sorted out an accountancy firm who specialised in computer contractor limited companies, and there were supporting videos on how to do invoices and the ins and outs of the tax law etc, so it was all fixed-fee stuff where we did some of the work ourselves.

Good work on getting a picture up - any chance of a close-up of the date?

No its ceasing trading. You can't trade and cease trading all at the same time. Technically you cease trading and go into voluntary liquidation. There used to be a very good company north of the river who could arrange this for you, if you'd pissed it all up against a wall. Peter, umbrellas (aka managed service companies (these days)) are not the answer for IT contractors. You will fall under the IR35 regs whether or not you plan on being there for two years or less). You need to buy an off the shelf ltd company, with two shares issued (£30 + £2). Register for VAT and flat rate vat and run your own payee scheme and file to do company tax returns all via your Government Accoiunt. This will take you no more than 30 minutes online. Pay yourself £968 per month and take dividends for yourself and company secretary. Run a spread sheet to keep a track of incoming and out goings and pay your NI, payee and act each month using the HMRC website. You dont need an acct. You are doing all the work anyway so why give it to a firm of accounts for doing nothing. Don't feed the beast. Aardhawk, IBM mainframe contract AP (retd) for the last 30 years. I had an accountant even before IR35 came in - I never regretted it, and I'd have needed one even more in the IR35 world. I just thank my lucky stars that most of my contracting was done in the pre-IR35 days so being a one man limited company was more of a 'nice little earner' back then, when you could pay yourself very little, and most of what you declared was dividend.

I have, as usual, made it sound more complex than it is. Just go here : https://accounts.google.com/ and follow the steps to set up an account.

Maybe. But China is a far greater problem than eBay, even though many of its "exports" end up there.

No its ceasing trading. You can't trade and cease trading all at the same time.

You going to close the international borders with China as well?