Hussulo

I was busy typing before you posted the second picture. After looking at the second picture I am pretty certain that is what it is.

Hard to tell for certain, but it does look like a "struck through error". As your friend said occasionally debris falls in between the die and a planchet (soon to be coin) and you are left with an impression. I have also seen Russian ones that have been struck after a cleaning cloth has fell onto them.

I still have some error coins consigned on Coins4u.net I have dropped the asking price on the brockage penny and off-centre shilling. I will also be adding some more soon. You can see them here: http://www.coins4u.net/catalog.asp?catid=412 Please also check out the many other numismatic items for sale by our members: http://www.coins4u.net/index.asp Thanks, Hus

I recently took new pictures of my Victoria Gothic florin brockage, so I decided to try my hand at SpaceMonkey's excellent templates for Photoshop (member on another forum). What do you think?

http://coinarchaeology.blogspot.com/2009/0...uities-and.html

Well not as much as predicted: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=270338086175 Still $1530, not bad price for a slab.

Chris have you heard of any of this? Is it true? Is it over dramaticised?

http://www.fr-online.de/frankfurt_und_hess...n-Kaempfer.html According to the article under (new?) German law any coin or stamp of 100 years old is supposed to have provenance going back to when it was acquired. If not police can search the home and confiscate complete collections. and it is also reported that: Due to the above law by the German Govt. regarding antiquities , Ebay Germany cancelled most or all auctions by German sellers involving ancient coins. This apparently happened over this past weekend.

This from the Moneta-L listserve: German numismatists ring the alarm bells German cultural authorities have begun searching private homes and seizing entire collections of antique coins, if provenance of only a few coins in the collection is not documented. These invasions are being conducted under the new German laws on importation of cultural property. Coins being subjected to such scrutiny are not restricted to ancient coins presumed to have been excavated - medieval and antique modern coins are also subject to the same measures. In one case, a pensioner from the Thuringian Eisenberg recently acquired four old coins on an Internet auction site. Shortly afterwards his house was searched, ending with seizure of his entire collection. Collectors are understandably alarmed, because very few coins in their collections have provenances that will satisfy the new laws. When a collection becomes suspect only a short time is being allowed to prove licit origin before the collection is seized, and then even if the suspicion is unfounded, it is very difficult to recover the collection. Not only coins, but all "cultural objects" more than 100 years old are subject to these new cultural laws, leading to fears that stamp collections, collections of graphic arts and antique jewelry may also be targeted. The list of "cultural objects" in the 1970 UNESCO Convention is very extensive, including such common things as coins, postage stamps, photographs and printed books. The new laws on importation of cultural property became effective in September 2008, after the German government finally gave in to demands that importation of unprovenanced coins and other artifacts should be prevented, because archaeologists allege that looting of archaeological sites is driven by the collecting market. This allegation is unproven - no verifiable, factual evidence has yet been presented to support it. There is however significant evidence that looting would continue unabated even if collecting could be prevented in Europe and other areas where cultural property laws are respected. Meanwhile German coin collectors now feel completely insecure, like criminals suspected of breaking the law. According to Ulf Draeger - head of the Moritzburg Landesmünzkabinetts and chairman of the German Society of Medallic Arts - the entry into force of these new laws, despite their laudable intentions, has led to significant collateral damage in only a short time. His conclusion: "If this situation continues, then we can pack up." The German Numismatic Association is trying to stem the tide somewhat and there is a summary in English of their statement at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Unidroit-L/message/3348 For the original articles in German see http://www.numismatische-gesellschaft.de/ http://tinyurl.com/dfc7sp http://tinyurl.com/bc8pqz

The new 20p coins are minted using an alloy of 84% coper and 16% nickel. The older ones where 75% copper, 25% nickel. Looking at the picture my guess would be that the coin you have has missed a plating process perhaps it missed some stage that normally makes the coin appear more silver. Hus

buy the coin and not the slab? Well in this case: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=270338086175 They are bidding on the slab and not the coin! I think the coin itself is worth about $150-$200, but the NGC black slabs are actively sought after by slab "generation" collectors. It will be interesting to see what it finally sells for.

Looks great James. Obviously a lot of work has gone into it and it really shows. P.s. thanks for the link. I'll add a link to it on CoinsGB Regards, Hus

Yes I am pleased with the new picture. I seem to be getting better at taking pictures. I guess the old saying, practise makes perfect... I'm afraid it is one of the errors I plan on keeping. I am going to be selling some errors on Coins4u.net but this is my personal favourite and I really don't want to have to let it go. I'm finding it hard to let the others go but I am going to hang on to the Florin. I have posted some of the others on another thread as "Purchase Now". There is a very nice brockage penny for sale.

I have consigned some my error coins for sale to my father in law to list on Coins4u.net There should be some listed to meet most budgets. It has been a hard decision to let them go but needs must and my collecting interest are changing. You can see them here: http://www.coins4u.net/catalog.asp?catid=412 There are now over 100 coins listed on Coins4u.net with a total value in the tens of thousands of pounds. http://www.coins4u.net/index.asp Many new additions to the British gold section. I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who has listed, became a member or purchased on our site. Hus

I've managed to take a better picture of one of my coins. I am a lot happier with the new images as they capture the colour of the coin a lot better. for comparison the older picture:

Probably not many would advocate dipping, but how many apart from the example give would advocate "buffing". I'm not saying I'd advocate either, but dipping in my mind would be less invasive than 'buffing'. However if a coin is over dipped then it will loose its lustre and look cleaned. As for the third party graders and dipped coins, you just need to look at the amount of Blast white Morgans etc. in holders to realise that its quite a common occurrence especially in the US. "A coin is not necessarily ungradable just because it is not totally original. In some cases, in fact, altering a coin may actually improve its grade. One example of this would be dipping a coin that has splotchy, mottled, or dull toning and thereby revealing a blazing white gem." Taken from Detecting Doctored Coins, Part 2 by PCGS Maybe there are several coins with hairlines from attempts. It be interesting to hear from anyone that has tried it. Please understand I am not having a go at MR. Davies, in fact I truly do respect his wealth of Numismatic knowledge, and I'm not saying it doesn't work if done properly as I have never tried it. Personally I just think that if you did employ this method there might be some evidence of cleaning under magnification. Cleaning still goes on today. I know someone that uses a rubber to rub off the toning on a coin, or Vaseline to clean the toning off. In both cases he says the cleaned coin is "undetectable". I would disagree, I have never tried it, but the coin I saw that had been cleaned using Vaseline, looked a funny copper colour and not very natural. I agree with your last statement of not to bother doing it. I think most that do engaged in such activities are most likely doing so for fraudulent means. Hus

My view is following this "buffing" advice even with a "clean piled cloth" will leave hairlines and the coin will look cleaned. Especially if the details of the coin are viewed under magnification. The lustre of a coin if it is still hidden under some toning can occasionally be seen after dipping the coin in a specific coin dip, but even a coin with lustre now is going to tone again in the future (unless you keep it in some kind of 100% air tight container never to see the light of day again). I would consider dipping to be less intrusive to "buffing" not that I'd recommend either. I the past a lot of coins have been cleaned and many have retoned over the cleaning. I think nowadays collectors are much more against cleaning coins then they were perhaps in the 80's and perhaps the advice given today by Mr. Davies might be different today. All that being said I have never tried "buffing" nor have I ever seen anyone "buff" a coin and if it can be done without leaving any form of evidence I would stand corrected.

I will be consigning my error coins for sale to my father in law to list on Coins4u.net There should be some listed to meet most budgets. Some of which can be seen here: http://www.coinsgb.com/Error_Coins/Error_coins.html It has been a hard decision to let them go but needs must and my collecting interest are changing. I'll post a link once he has listed them for sale. On a separate note. I have been contacting a few coin dealers to let them know about Coins4u.net and I am pleased to announce that Mr R.Ingram is also going to be listing some coins for sale soon. I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who has listed, became a member or purchased on our site. It will take time but the site is growing steadily. Many thanks, Hus

Very neat. No4 is my favourite too. It is like the system they use on Heritage. How do you add these type of graphic functions to your pictures?

It has been inscribed around the edge at a later date "Lanarkshire rifle volunteers PTE. J.W. Robertson Q Coy 1st. LRV. 1898" . Unfortunately I can't find any information on PTE. J.W. Robertson.

According to BHM, the only ones produced were copper/bronze and Silver. The original box was red leather with red Velvet and silk. I'm pretty sure mine is white metal and comes in a purple/ blue velvet case. My one is 2 1/2 inches and it weighs 74.2 grams. BHM doesn't give weights does anyone have a copy of Eimer's book?

Yesterday I was at a local antiques fair and although I don't collect medals, when I saw the dealer putting this one out I couldn't resist. Its details are absolutely stunning and in high relief. It's a 21st Anniversary of the Volunteer Movement Medal 1881, by N. Macphail after N. Paton, Crowned, veiled, draped bust of Queen Victoria facing, dividing V.-R/St. Michael shouldering sword standing before female protecting children, 64 mm.

"For your chance to be part of London 2012 and coinage history, you must create a design based around one of the 27 sporting events listed below" http://www.royalmintcompetition.co.uk/home.html

It's ok. My first name is Hus and surname is Sulo hence my unusual log in name. I don't know Mr. Freeman personally but he has always been gracious enough to answer any questions I have had in the past, which I am very thankful for. Some people admire football players, some rock stars, as my main focus is coin collecting I admire knowledgeable collectors who take their time out others. There are plenty of members on this forum that fall into the category, Chris, Rob, Chingford, Red R, Scottishmoney, Clive, Geoff, Colin, Jamesred, DaveG38 are just to name a few. I still have much to learn but my passion is still running high and I feel I know have enough knowledge in some areas to help others. This to me is one of the best bits about coin collecting. And what better way is there to transfer your knowledge to others for generations to come then a book? If any one gets a chance, I say go for it! Hus