Hussulo

and thought I would share. JULIA MAMAEA. 231-235. AR Denarius JULIA MAMAEA, mother of Severus Alexander. AR Denarius (2.62 gm). IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, diademed and draped bust right / IVNO CONS-ERVATRIX, Juno standing half-left, holding patera and sceptre; peac ock standing left below. RIC IV 343 (Alexander); BMCRE 43 (Alexander); RSC 35. and TRAJAN DECIUS. AD 249-251 AR,Antoninianvs TRAJAN DECIUS. AD 249-251 AR Antoninianvs Obv. IMP. C.M.Q. TRAINVS DECVS AVG, rad, dp & cuir hd r. Rev. ABVNDANTIA AVG. Abundantia stg r, emptying cornucopia. Quite silver looking for their age, but they are bursting with lustre. Very hard to photograph.

Seller also listed this 1818 half-crown as 1818 IN aUNC it made £63 plus postage: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&item=251118716484&nma=true&rt=nc&si=cShqpmRP5%252FtTjSrbgaKoYnJPnRw%253D&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc It was listed by Noble as Cleaned, extremely fine. and sold for AU $340: http://www.noble.com.au/auctions/lot/?id=292421

Yes I noticed some of the coins that seller had for sale. They have all been sold recently in Noble auctions Australia. It looks like the seller also used Noble's pictures: Sellers listing: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GEORGE-III-proof-silver-shilling-1787-plain-edge-IN-SPINK-EXTREMELY-RARE-/251118704184?pt=UK_Coins_BritishMilled_RL&hash=item3a77d75638 Noble sale: http://www.noble.com.au/auctions/lot/?id=292405

Acetone, not great with plastic. Also if you are ever dipping a coin in acetone, use a glass container. NGC will simply re-holder your coin for a small fee, they won't re-grade it unless you ask for that but that costs more.

And now without further ado, the winner randomly drawn out of a hat by my wife is: Accumulator Congratulations! and thanks to everyone that took part. I'll contact the winner by private message (on this forum) tomorrow night to get your postage details. So I can post your coin out to you.

Hi Patrick, I hope they turn up but I would also like to offer you some free coins to get you kick started again. Send me a message with your address and I'll post some coins out to you. Regards, Hus

Last few days left so if you haven't got your name in, make a post in this thread to enter

Just incase there are newbie collectors reading, I was being sarcastic. Don't bid on it at that price because it has obviously been cleaned.

What do you mean, it must be unc, look at the colour of it. Fresh as the day it was made

Ah that's good Geordie you had me kind of worried for a bit there I hope you enjoyed your trip. I'm away from home just now but we have Internet access so I'm stil "around".

I haven't seen him on any of the boards for a while, I hope he's okay?

No just one per person regardless of number of posts. I don't want to derail the thread so I posted a new topic about counterfiet coins here: http://www.predecimal.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=6897 If they decide there is money to be made in hammered's I don't think it would be long before they cut some dies and hand hammer a few coins out.

If anyone hasn't read or seen this before it makes an interesting but scary read: http://coins.about.com/od/worldcoins/ig/Chinese-Counterfeiting-Ring/ Buyer beware!

Thats neat. I have seen these before but don't know the value of them. Have you tried to research it yet?

That's pretty cool thanks for sharing. If I was being critical the horses head looks a bit small, where as its neck looks a bit large and I agree that St George looks a bit small in preportion as well but its nice to see a different design of this type.

Sorry I'm all out of those. I've got the lads in China working on a new batch round the clock but I don't think they'll be ready in time.

To celebrate the re-launch of CoinsGBforum.com we would like to have a giveaway on this forum. Prize: India 1923 1/24 Anna (Bombay mint, Unc) picked from a small group I acquired. Like the one pictured here: If you would like a chance to win, post a reply in this thread. Only one entry allowed per person allowed and the winner will be randomly drawn (My wife will pick a names out of a hat). I will post the winner their coin anywhere in the World at my expense. For a chance to win more coins check out our newly re-launched forum. The winner will be chosen on Mon 16th July and announced here. All entries must be in before 10pm GMT on Sun 15th July. Any entries made after this time and date wont be counted. Good luck!

It is Hus and his fat thumbs Single Malt and working in the small hours, that's my guess! Close but more of a lager or real ale and if spirits a Brandy man myself. To be honest I think there may be a possibility I am partially dyslexic if that's possible? I've never been very good at spelling or using correct punctuation but I get by. I do tend to get a second wind at night when I am tired as well, which doesn't help.

No I don't mind, I just typed it up quite quickly last night. Please send me a personal message with the things you've noticed and I'll amend them. Cheers, Hus

I've now added a page on error coins: http://gold-sovereign.net/category/error-coins/

Thanks to all that allowed me use of pictures. I have been adding more content, including this page about how coins are minted (made): http://gold-sovereign.net/category/coin-minting/ any other suggestions for pages/ articles always welcome.

P.s, if buying from America or from a historic overgrader seller on eBay, ALWAYS take their grading with a large pinch of salt Followed by a shot of tequila and then suck on a lime that usually helps. Grading takes a while to learn but I would also recommend what many have mentioned and also Derek's book. You're probably past this stage but for any new collectors reading, I have written a small post about grading here: http://www.coinsgb.com/Grading.html

Well it was half in jest but we live in crazy times. As much as I like to share advice, we live in "where there's blame, there's a claim" and being a chess player I like to keep all angles covered

That's interesting, Huss. Do you do that with all metals? Would the deionised water that you get for car batteries do the job, or do you use something purer than that? Are there any coins you wouldn't do that to? How about drying? Sorry for the cascade of questions...but I am going through my collection at the moment getting them all into selfadhesives, and a quick dip like that before they go in might be a good idea if, as I'm sure many have, they've spent some time in PVC. I use it for all metals but can't vouch for it being okay with all metals. I have read somewhere that you shouldn't dip copper coins into acetone but I haven't seen any adverse effects. The only time a coin may dramatically change is if the surface has some fake toning or other substance on it, as the acetone might strip it off. Acetone shouldn't effect original toning or colour of a coin. I use 100% pure acetone (nail varnish remover, but make sure you buy the chemical grade 100% because if you use bog standard nail varnish remover it might only be 95% acetone and have other stuff you don't want to get onto your coin). I also use 100% distilled water. Both products can usually be found on ebay, just make sure you search for 100%. I have a little shot glass I pour the acetone into and another glass to put the distilled water into. I use a pear of small rubber tipped tongs to hold the coin by the edges and dip it into the acetone a couple of times and then into the distilled water a couple of times. I then lay it on some soft kitchen towel or soft plain toilet paper and either let it air dry or dry it with the soft plain toilet paper VERY carefully by patting it, DON'T rub it. Don't put coins into poly envelops or self adhesives until they are fully dry. Some collectors just dip their coins in acetone and let them air dry (acetone evaporates) but I feel this could still still leave surface contamination on the coin so I then rinse them in distilled water. PS To all that novice collectors that are reading Never clean your coins if unsure post pictures and ask. Cleaning a coin will ruin its value. Dipping in acetone is generally accepted as it wont leave any noticeable effect (if done right). It is advisable to always use a common or cheap item to practice before using your better items. PLEASE NOTE: To all that are reading, the above statement is what I do, and I do not offer it as any form of guidance or state that it will work well 100% or any time. Nor do I take any responsibility for damage or loss if you try and follow the above procedure. What you all do with your coins are your own responsibility. I am just offering it as entertainment purposes on a forum. WARNING: Acetone is a harmful substance, use in a well ventilated area and and as per all harmful substances if you plan on using any, follow guidance instructions on the packaging.

A couple of points. The slab does look genuine (but hard to tell without seeeing in hand). It is an older PCGS slab and they where much looser with grading a while ago, I believe they have tightened there grading of British coins since. Again hard to tell without seeing in hand but an old trick that was often used, was to use "putty" on gold coins. I have never tired this and have only seen one puttied gold coin, a US Liberty $10 in hand and read about it during research. I won't say what this "putty" was because I don't want to arm any unscrupulous people reading threads but basically it was a substance which was applied to the scratches on the surface of a coin, it covered over the scratches making the coin appear a lot cleaner when it was submitted for grading, thus the coin would receive a loftier grade. A puttied coin is hard to detect when it is done well and recently but slabbing companies are good at detecting it now. Years later this "putty" losses its transparency (clearness) over time and looks a more milky colour on the surface of the coin. I believe a dip in acetone is one way of removing "putty" from a coins. Personally I make a habit of dipping all my new (unslabbed) coins in acetone and then in distilled water as acetone removes "putty" as well as other surface contamination like PVC etc. A word of warning though, acetone is harmful (possibly carcinogenic) so always use in a well ventilated area and read the warning instructions provided if using. I can't say whether this coin has been puttied or not without seeing it in hand.