DaveG38

The purple dye used is called Methyl Violet and is a triple benzine ring molecule. As such it isn't going to evaporate quickly as its basically a solid at room temperature. However, pretty much all solids have some sort of natural vapour pressure, so it may well disappear over time. In the meantime, however invisible it may be, you will still have a slight purple layer on your coins. I'd avoid dyed meths if at all possible. Edit: Just noticed that Methyl Violet is green in powder form, so expect a green tinge to your coins, not purple. Also, the dye is quite soluble in water, so having removed any fingerprints etc. with meths, you can rinse off under the tap and that should then remove the residual dye. Of course, if you then drop it down the plughole........

You may be right - I'm just going by the angle and the apparent shape. In hand is the only way to say.

Personally, I don't like the curve on the cut. It doesn't look even to me, and it tends to curve inwards again slightly at both ends.

Presumably, they didn't like the mottled colouring, so reminscent of US 'natural toning' and concluded that it was the result of cleaning and artificial toning. Unless that is, your photo isn't an accurate depiction of the true colour.

I do my books direct at a discount on the RR price for forum members. The Silver one is £9.99 plus £3 P&P. If you are interested. I'll even sign it as a freebie, if you want!!!

I've just been looking at Spink's photos of the Obv 11 and Obv 12 and I'm going mad trying to spot the differences, and that's on two high grade coins. What's the clincher that even works for worn specimens?

Looks to me like the whole area around the date has been lightly ground, thus removing the H. Even so, I reckon I can still see the remnants of the H.

Completely agree with this. But to add one other point - in the case of those who have 'made it' i.e. started out with nothing and become extremely rich (Alan Sugar (?) and one of the men in the programme last night who started out in a caravan) it's highly unlikely that they gained their wealth by sitting around on their backsides doing nothing. In my limited expereince these people have had to both work hard for it and take considerable risks to accumulate it. In which case they deserve the success and good luck to them.

It's obviously the rare gilt over helmet variety.

I hope so!Anybody know defintively? I looked on their website and couldn't find much detail about the products. I'm guessing that they are so popular that its taken for granted that they are OK.

So, are Lighthouse adhesive coin flips OK for long term storage?

Rob, I have, very politely, asked the seller for the tracking number, so that I can take the 'loss' up with Royal Mail. Answer came there none. I'm not holding my breath. My initial point wasn't so much the methods for chasing up the seller, but more that for reasons I can't quite fathom, I 'knew' this was going to happen. All sorted now with ebay refunding my payment, all within an hour or so of raising the complaint. Negative left for the seller, who is now at 87.5% positive.

Rob, I have, very politely, asked the seller for the tracking number, so that I can take the 'loss' up with Royal Mail. Answer came there none. I'm not holding my breath. My initial point wasn't so much the methods for chasing up the seller, but more that for reasons I can't quite fathom, I 'knew' this was going to happen.

Does anybody have them regarding coins? Very occasionally, I make a purchase on ebay and right from the start I think to myself 'this isn't going to work out.' And sure enough it doesn't. In early December I bought a fairly cheap reasonable grade 1898 penny, and right from the start I had the idea it wouldn't arrive. Sure enough after a few weeks my 'premonition' turned out right. Not only that, but the seller doesn't respond to contact, so clearly it's a scam. The sum involved was only £5.00 plus postage so no big deal, and ebay will no doubt return the money, but I wonder why I get these feelings about the occasional purchases. I can think of maybe two or three occasions in the past 10 years or so when I have 'known' things wouldn't work out, and they didn't. Spooky, or just an unconscious feeling based on something about the seller or the fact that the item is cheap or what? With all due respects to any members on here, but could it be because the seller is called Darren or Wayne or whatever?

Back in the pre-decimal days, I got a 1866 Jersey 1/13 shilling in EF condition in change. Jet black but little wear. Still got it in the collection.

Just the one coin - a nice 1707 Roses and Plumes shilling of Queen Anne. Reasonable grade - NVF and decent old toning, so quite pleasant and another gap in the Queen Anne wall.

Which one of the 3 is in the greatest need of help? Piers Morgan, Simon Cowell or the woman - whoever she is? Amanda Burton? I agree! I thought I was listening to The Pav when he opened his mouth. Amanda Holden.

Is that really you saying that Azda..??..lol ! I think there's a certain member of parliament he'd make an exception for I didn't think Alex Salmond was a Westminster MP yet!

Depends what exactly he means. Threepences have traditionally been popular with casual collectors, and there is no problem obtaining a date run in reasonable (say VF) condition. However, in higher grades this becomes much more problematic, which kind of implies that the threepence circulated widely and relatively few seem to have survived in top condition. So, it might be argued that the coin was popular with the public because so few high grade specimens survive or that it is a popular collectable with casual collectors. In the case of more serious collectors, I don't think I would put the humble 3d at the top of the list. More likely the Victorin bun penny, maybe.

That's the man - well done sir.

There was a guy in Essex who was knocking out repros of rarities a few years ago. As I recall he produced a 1945 silver threepence, a 1952 halfcrown and a 1954 penny, plus I'm pretty sure a 1933 penny. Whether this is one of his I'm not sure.

Just to add a little to the idea that this item is for 'professional' or 'serious' coin collectors. As I said in the opening post on this, I thought that the 1893 set came in a black case. London Coins have sold one or two and sure enough they have all been black, with one exception. However, I've also found this on the 'Coinageofengland' website http://www.coinageofengland.co.uk/case-28493.htm Looks suspiciously like the type for sale, and if that's the case, then this was made in the 1950s by Hearn, admittedly for a 1893 Proof set, but it's hardly contemporary, and therefore, hardly for the 'serious collector, as they would presumably want the real thing. LOL.

The : points pretty much directly to the centre of the tooth. If yours points more or less to the edge of the tooth then it's the common 2+B variety.

Got the usual line out of the king's mouth I see. Straight out of the chinese presses that one. Made to deceive and dangerous to the integrity of the hobby.

It's coming from China - I need say no more.