Peckris

Thanks for that - I've downloaded it and will spend a happy hour or two reading up on it all.

Yes lol. But I'd say that 1913 halfcrown isn't a million miles away from the one you had such a great result with?

The only dealer I know of down here (Devon) is Glenn Ogden. You could try his website to see when the next Fair (Phoenix?) is - they have a few coin dealers among all the postcards and stuff. But I'm afraid it's very much a coin-free region.

Buy a jar of Goddards Silver Dip. Lower the halfcrown into it and keep there for NO MORE THAN 10 SECONDS. Lift out and IMMEDIATELY rinse. Examine - if it looks good, dry by dabbing carefully with a clean towel. But if halfway to improvement, try another 10 seconds, then rinse and dab dry. Don't dip for any longer or you risk an artificial and 'dipped' look to the coin. Ultimately, it's your decision, but that halfcrown looks rather too heavily toned with all its lustre hidden; dipping briefly might be just what it needs.

That looks a sure fire EF to me, though possibly cleaned?

Must be. CGS used to charge £12 per coin, but now it's ... what? 2 or 3 times the value of that 1806 anyway.

Blimey. I'm looking for a really top class 1806 (surprisingly difficult), but even my existing one is WAY better than that sub-average example. Totally baffling why anyone would incur the expense of slabbing that - as Rob eloquently puts it - sh*te.

Yes indeed. There are many surviving examples in high grade - it underscores the fact that not many entered circulation. One of the reasons I downloaded various issues of the BNJ - that article is well worth a read, will teach you more about the 1787 issue than you ever wanted to know.

Obviously that was the SPQR-IP...

If you've not been an attender there before, then go with open eyes, and a closed wallet, at least at first. I say that just because of your inexperience, but having said that, it's one of the best fairs around, and if you see one of our forum members there with a table, like Rob or Derek, I know they will offer you a wealth of advice. Your collecting area is pretty modern, but the early part especially Edward VII can be very pricy unless you are prepared to collect low grades (not my recommendation). However, George VI you could get at your budgeted price - say GEF up to UNC.

KM#877 18,52g of .900 silver mintage of 110,000 pieces The Virgin Mary as Brünnhilde, and the baby Jesus as Richard Branson - well, that's a novelty...

I've picked up some of the books either as a later collector (CCGB '79, '99, 2000) or at auction (CYC 'blue' 1968? and CYVC - Victorian - 'green'). Those early editions were minimalist to say the least! The values for most Liz II issues were a matter of shillings, down to "-" (face value only). Hardly any varieties were listed.

No, I agree with you Richard. All I was saying is that IF there have to be TPG companies (for whatever reason), there should be a 'no slab' version. But as you say, better still that people learn to grade properly.

I haven't changed mine yet, but anyway it would seem like a case of "stable doors" "horse" "bolted" as the BBC report suggested that the hackers now have your address. Changing your password? If what they said is true, then a change of address seems to be the only solution.

The growth of slabs does not sit well with mahogany cabinet owners, and I for one will not contemplate the demise of them at the expense of some pathetic plastic tomb. I hope your prediction never comes about, but if it does, we need a grading service that does NOT involve slabbing. By the way - that 1912 halfcrown has been cleaned, but you wouldn't think so from the slab description. They ARE the same people.

That's an absolute classic! Everything about it is just so wrong...

Mine was the 1968 "Part 2" - I've still got it, complete with all my biro marks against what I'd got

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1906-PENNY-/221429592379?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=p8177%252BUyGd4szQ2vUVs4PO3S%252B7k%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc The seller says (quote-copied & pasted, spelling mistakes 'n all), "I would point out that this coin came from an old collection from Collin cook, and were sold as B.U.coins by him. I have sold the hole collection with no complaints and thy all looked the same". Holes do tend to all look the same, I must admit...

Yes, very sad. 'Check Your Change' was a fixture in the newsagents when I was a late 60s schoolboy. And he had the nous to change the name once decimalisation was done. Having said that, my 1979 edition of CCGB is very much a CYC-type pocket booklet, though with ever-more useful bits of information added with every issue. Even by 2000, it was still very much a booklet, though by then it had evolved into the A5? landscape format. It was cheaper than Coins & Market Values, and IMO far better though it didn't go back to early milled. I never met the man, but he must have had a deep passion for the hobby. "Another one bites the dust".

Or S for shite short

Yeah, like any of us would have bid on that washer even if it hadn't been cleaned

You might want to except Maxentius - there was a horde of virtually 'as struck' specimens found not so long ago. I have one.

My pictures are usually scans - you don't want scans I think?

I have the 1928 proof set, unfortunately I really am pretty hopeless at taking photographs of coins.

That's a nice, respectable, in-between grade penny. Worth a few pounds in that condition, but they increase exponentially in value as you go up towards the Grail of mint condition. But certainly worth more than the 'washers' you see so often, e.g. on eBay.