Accumulator

Shame

Yes, but everybody's different, and most people set their own personal parameters when it comes to collections. I doubt there are many who have every single example/die combination in the bunhead run. But it's their decision to what extent they go, and not up for criticism ~ any more than I would criticise you for your coin collecting/selling choices. You came across so strong in your two posts last night, that I wondered if you had some sort of vested interest in that particular coin. Did you ? I have to confess myself, and I feel that I can, in view of the fact I'm going to be sidestepping the forum for a while, that I can easily relate to a decision to stick to high-grades only, in view of the fact that for most people there is no need to spend large sums on washers, when there is mostly still a number of 'affordable' high-grade coins to accumulate, and I reckon most of us fall into that category! However, when/if a time ever arrives for us humbles, where we have nothing left to spend our money on to complete a collection, then I guess the mega-expensive, low-grade, filler would be a hurdle we would all have to face, and very few of us could honestly predict their actions in that situation. It must surely always seem like a mad concept to any collector to sit a Poor coin in a Top-Flight collection, when there are still numerous other coins to collect in the series? I can only speculate, but gap-filled high-class collections must still irk nearly as much as the original gap? Surely most collectors must set out having psychologically prepared themselves for the fact that a 1933 penny is not going to grace their collection in ANY grade, and equivically, surely a great many others must have done something similar with the other major rarities and, fortunately, have never stressed about it? I for one would not feel niggled at a tray of pennies that numbered 1932, 1934, I would never have attempted the series otherwise! This is a really interesting discussion, and there's no reason for it to be heated or emotionally charged in any way. After all it's just a hobby for most of us, and we come on here to relax I think you've almost hit the nail on the head for me Stuart. I do have some low grade rarities in my collection but, short of the fact that I have them, they provide little visual satisfaction. If really good examples of rare coins appear I'll empty the piggy bank but otherwise I'm probably happier filling in the less-rare gaps with top grade examples than shelling out on washers. The 1882 in question was worn but it was the nasty pock-marks that did it for me. It just didn't excite, no matter how rare.

I agree. Despite the rarity it would look totally out of place in an otherwise mainly UNC collection. Well bugger me with a rotating cactus...............I did'nt realise there was that many 1882 no Hs out there that you had to choose from. Show me those UNCs, real interested in those, or those in worse condition, fuck, do you actually have one? Don't hold back Dave, say what you really mean! Lol, sorry, but i'm thinking, if we actually left coins sitting on the shelf because it looks ugly then no collections would ever be complete because some coins just don't get any better than shite grade. You'll be leaving a lot of blanks and be very frustrated eventually. I know what you mean and I, for one, have some fairly poor space fillers (open 3, 1908 1*+C etc.) but this was a really rough example. We know from Bernie's 1882 that there are better ones around. As I look through my collection, especially on-line, I find myself enjoying the nice EF+ lustred or toned coins but just can't find a lot of pleasure in looking at anything less than VF, no matter how rare. Perhaps this is just me. I know that others, like Scott, enjoy collecting all coins and aren't put off by grade, and that's fine for them too. Horses for courses I guess.

I agree. Despite the rarity it would look totally out of place in an otherwise mainly UNC collection. Well bugger me with a rotating cactus...............I did'nt realise there was that many 1882 no Hs out there that you had to choose from. Show me those UNCs, real interested in those, or those in worse condition, fuck, do you actually have one? Don't hold back Dave, say what you really mean!

It's a raised dot, so a sunken 'dot' on the die that produced it.

Well it finally went for £871. I didn't bother, there comes a point where a coin is just too ugly, no matter how rare. Especially knowing that better examples do exist.

That's one of the beauties of collecting coins, unlike some hobbies I can think of such as golf or footie and horse riding! However not so good if every coin that you collect is unique! You can sell horses... Ask Findus!

Considering that the 'dot' is supposed to have been a deliberate mark rather than a die flaw, the "lighter thinner" variant must be a gradual infilling of the die, i.e. in an older state. I'm afraid I can't see the third dot at all (with the die crack) - how do you know it is there? I'd not heard it described as a deliberate mark? Freeman says it "occurs as a result of damage to the the die". If it was deliberate then, to me, it's collectible but, as Rob says, if its an unintended die flaw, it's not. The other school of thought (sorry, can't quote chapter and verse here) says that the dot is too perfect and round to be accidental. Considering all the activity surrounding the bronze coinage in that year (treating farthings to a dark finish, and all the 'high tide' varieties), it may well be that the Mint decided on a die identification mark. It's only a theory, but you must admit that the dot looks far too even to be a die flaw? Surely, if it was intentional, the mark would have been placed in a more subtle location, perhaps around Britannia? The dot does seem regular though, which suggests the use (accidental or otherwise) of a punch. Alternatively, I was trying to imagine whether the it could be part of a die repair, perhaps a recessed pin, but this seems unlikely.

Considering that the 'dot' is supposed to have been a deliberate mark rather than a die flaw, the "lighter thinner" variant must be a gradual infilling of the die, i.e. in an older state. I'm afraid I can't see the third dot at all (with the die crack) - how do you know it is there? I'd not heard it described as a deliberate mark? Freeman says it "occurs as a result of damage to the the die". If it was deliberate then, to me, it's collectible but, as Rob says, if its an unintended die flaw, it's not.

That's a lovely specimen Gary!

I agree with you David. Baldwins have a full lustre example in their Winter Fixed Price list for a hefty £1,750. Mine has a the remnants of lustre: Beautiful - that's the best I've seen. I dare not ask how much you paid! I paid £420 about 3 years ago. I know that a significantly better one would be over £1k now. I just checked Baldwin's website and note that their 1897 High Tide is no longer listed, which suggests it sold for around the £1,750 asking! That would have to have lots of lustre IMO. Anyway, I really like the toning on yours. Thank you. The Baldwins example was genuinely full lustre, so you wouldn't find a better one. I guess that justified the price.

It's hard to tell from a photo but, as Dave says, it looks more sprayed than gilded. Gilding tends to peel off rather than become 'misty' (can't think of a better description).

I have every intention of selling my redundant coins on, as I'm really only interested in a owning a single collection. I don't need spares. One day I'll have a good sort out and put a few on eBay, probably. There's no rush because prices seem to be rising still, though so are purchases!

Mine sits in a square 2x2 cutout somewhere. I haven't seen it for quite a while. The only 'coin' I own which doesn't fit in a cutout is one of those macabre, iron Lusitania commemorative medals. We must all have one of those somewhere! Not me. I was given mine by an uncle, at the age of about 10, and treasured it for years thinking it was rare and valuable. They even featured them on Blue Peter, as I recall. Now I look on eBay and they're cheap as chips. Edit: just checked. There are 15 on eBay right now!

Mine sits in a square 2x2 cutout somewhere. I haven't seen it for quite a while. The only 'coin' I own which doesn't fit in a cutout is one of those macabre, iron Lusitania commemorative medals. We must all have one of those somewhere!

I agree with you David. Baldwins have a full lustre example in their Winter Fixed Price list for a hefty £1,750. Mine has a the remnants of lustre: Beautiful - that's the best I've seen. I dare not ask how much you paid! I paid £420 about 3 years ago. I know that a significantly better one would be over £1k now. I just checked Baldwin's website and note that their 1897 High Tide is no longer listed, which suggests it sold for around the £1,750 asking!

Which is why, as a very junior employee in that era, I stopped collecting coins once predecimal stuff couldn't be got from circulation, just too expensive for me then - and that was before mortgage and kids I was fresh out of school - even more poverty-stricken than a guy with a mortgage and kids I was using my pocket money to pull coins from circulation. 6d a week didn't go far, though I sometimes got a shilling or even a florin from my grandparents. Then i put some of my coins back into circulation to buy stamps... that was my big mistake!

I agree with you David. Baldwins have a full lustre example in their Winter Fixed Price list for a hefty £1,750. Mine has a the remnants of lustre:

Agree, here's mine again That's better than average, David. Here's my rather poor example:

Sorry, photos only! And scans? lol, I am sure they will be permitted, and assistance will be forthcoming! Scans too!

Don't know ~ could be, but need a better pic. Agreed I'm going for not an open 3, but could be wrong.

The seller is also asking 190 Pounds for this coin. Im no expert but thats expensive NO!? That is expensive! Frankly, in that condition, it would be inclined to suggest that anyone saved up a little more and waited for a much better example. They do appear on eBay quite regularly.

Sorry, photos only!

Well thank you for that, Accumulator! Your contribution to the idea is already significant...and if we could pinch your brass tray handles that would be even better! As I pinched them too, you are welcome to them! Along with the little brass name plaques and the mahogany veneer

Hi, and welcome to the forum. Without seeing photos of the coins its hard to comment, but if they are generally in a 'low' state of preservation it's unlikely you have anything of value. The exception would be the 1827, which you are aware of. Most examples from this year are pitted or corroded, but even these have significant value. Regarding on-line resources, you can look at Tony Clayton's site (the one you mention) and you are welcome to look at the photographs of my pennies by following the signature below.