Coinery

Great stuff, thank-you very much! Also, I have to agree, I've never noticed any changes on silver when using acetone, nor on full-lustred copper. However, I have noticed some sort of reaction with the copper on partially lustred coins (a kind of hue can appear), but this improves with a light pat with olive-oil. I do avoid using acetone on copper wherever possible, which is a shame, as this is the metal that has the most to gain from decontamination. Anyway, thanks again, have a Happy New Year! NB: I think the Spencer article is a must then, so if anyone has a copy available, or for sale, I'd very much appreciate it!

Freeman gives virtually all the G5 & G6 proofs as R18 and all the E2s (bar 1953) as R19, which is patently wrong. As always, it is a case of guesstimating rarities because readers demand a number. Spadework is required to establish the relative rarities and numbers for each year. So where is your more accurate source ? On my computer. Spadework produces information. e.g. Someone on the PCGS forum collected 1958 VIP halfpennies who almost reached R18 on his own. Knowing full well that there were other identifiable sales that were not his, the conclusion is apparent. As always, some rarity numbers are overestimates and others under. Whilst you can never achieve definitive numbers from catalogues, you can make a pretty good stab at relative rarity based on images from sales because most will be identified for what they are. At best, Freeman's estimates are taken from auction catalogues with only some of these illustrated because his work predates the internet making any number more unreliable. Inevitably some rarity estimates will be correct, but only by accident and intuition. I would be correct in thinking the VIP coins are the frosted ones, wouldn't I? And that it's these that we have no mintages for? Total proof coins are recorded however, is that correct?

Thanks VS, really appreciate the time, and will certainly PM you in a couple of days, once the mayhem of this period is over. I never dreamed I'd be collating the G6 series, but the currency coins are affordable enough to allow for early errors in purchase (The Modern Milled coins are a totally new animal to me) and, of course, there is enough material out there for multiple 'fine-tunes' with upgrades, for what I hope will ultimately be a very pretty raw collection for Coinery Junior. Now, it doesn't just stop there, as the elitist in me has also taken an interest in the greater prizes of the G6 series, notwithstanding the new learnings that accompany them (incidentally, is the Spencer article available to read online?) so, all in good time, the proofs and gold coinage will also be the order of the day, and these I will very likely collect encapsulated, or at least get encapsulated! 1) I know Declan mentioned the '39 proofs were in Coincraft, are they all documented there? 2) Is there a resource out there that catalogues the G6 series better than say Freeman and Davies, or have they got it cornered, apart from the breakdown of Cameo and micro-varieties that is? 3) Are there any other patterns out there, besides the Double Florin coins and, if so, are they catalogued or written about somewhere? 4) Was it just the VIP proofs that were frosted? Without wishing to spark any big debate on the matter, I have enquired before about the surface contaminants (acidic grease from fingers, atmopheric pollutants, etc.) that must surely accompany coins into their tombs and, being as encapsulation is a relatively new phenomenon, wonder whether we have seen the full implications of such things yet? I do like both raw and slabbed coins, but have some concerns that a fingerprint could slowly begin to appear over the next decade or so on an otherwise immaculate proof. This would of course be exactly the same for a raw coin, however, it would certainly be reassuring if the TPGC's were to actively degrease/decontaminate, or other such thing, before encapsulation.

To an old cynic like me, it looks suspiciously good. Absolute BU specimen. If it's genuine then it's a peach, but could it be a replica? Cynicism would be the order of the day for anyone looking at this, it does look amazing! Very difficult to say any more with such low-res images. Are you planning to sell it?

Wow, even with the pixelation I can see that's a special coin. You will need to provide better images, however, you can link to an external host, such as photobucket, and get some quality images up here for viewing! Looks magnificent, though!

Hammered copper AND hammered silver, I'd say there's a convert on the way!

The interesting part would presumeably be how you might multiply your monthly net income by 3 or 4 times! T'would be a purdy collection however an' no mistakin', a real purdy collection!

I absolutely love Floyd!

You'll find this with all the hammered mintmarks. The LIS, whether it's from the beginning of a period, or the end of a reign, or even for a different monarch, will be 105, so not really a first point of call for identification! I do agree that North is little better, it surprises me it's still majorly used, particularly for Elizabeth. They're all in there, of course, but even Spink's breaks them down better!

Many thanks Rob & Generic Lad, another enlightenment in the bag! I'm always staggered by the Heritage prices, something to be taken advantage of I think, a good way to grow a collection if the funds are flowing in the right direction. It certainly seems like a step too far to separate out the proofs from a mintage of just 2500, I agree Gary, though I guess they study diamonds at this level, looking for any little improvement in one over the other to make an extra buck! Definitely an investment-led invention, nothing to do with just having a 1935 proof as a collector! Thanks all! Very much appreciated...now, about this BCW Rose 9 on my earlier threepence, does anyone...

Can I also ask what is meant by cameo in reference to proof coins?

Can rarity be determined from any other source other than experience and present Heritage market prices?

Does CoinCraft list all the G6 proofs?

Thanks, gents! Does anyone know why spink omit them from their catalogue, and where I might find numbers minted?

I've just been looking at some G6 proof coins on the Heritage website, dated 1939. I can't find any proof coins for this year in Spinks, can anyone clear this up for me?

You've got a copy of the Sharp article in your BNJ downloads! I found it an easy read, and very logically laid out! It's not massive either, so an hour well spent, darling!

Kept everyone gassing! Welcome aboard!

I think exclusive web stuff is a bad thing! We'll need 50 different accounts and, as a result of, will spend our entire lives clicking 'forgot password' and 'user name,' to then have to sleuth which email address it's being sent to, and likely then having to get a phone-texted code to re-access our email account, if we still have the mobile number we originally linked to that account! Shouldn't be too difficult!

Ahh, yes, that old attachment thing...good luck avoiding that one! Re investment, you're looking about as far in the wrong direction as it's possible to look on that front! Royal Mint coins are the weakest link in the coin investment sector! There are other far more lucrative areas, but there are no quick routes there! There is the occasional short-cut to be found within the threads on here and, equally, by your questions asked but, essentially, knowledge, intelligence and experience, as always, will be what's required! As I have said on numerous occasions, I learnt more on here in 1 year, than I ever did in 15 years of fumbling around alone! The best advice I could ever give anyone would be to spend a week surfing this forum, and then stay around for a while! Don't spend 15 years of your collecting life on your own...it's expensive and time wasting! Good luck, hopefully you're on the brink of a new-found numismatic discovery!

Strongly priced crown, it feels, but have asked for high-res images, a very attractive coin! What's the feeling from those who really know about these crowns?

In all fairness to John however London Coins stated the coin was 'around' the fine mark, rather than 'almost' or any of the other variants! In a vaguely similar vein, I do wish auction houses could be relied upon to get grades right themselves. I've learnt the hard way, never to pay more than EF prices for UNC coins, unless you've seen the coin in person! Looks like the coin has been bent at some stage,and then flattened again,rather than a flaw in the flan. Definitely flan flaw, Benny, a straightened coin doesn't straighten like that, and would also show the usual wear marks from being long-term bent, the kind that are always associated with straightened coins. These are stress marks associated with flan prep, a very different animal!

Welcome aboard!

Hi Jay, and welcome aboard! The Gower is going to give you a slightly different problem, as you'll have plenty of Salt hanging around in the atmosphere! Some people suggest slabbing, but not all slabs I've come across are totally sealed around their circumference (they wouldn't be watertight, let's say, so definitely not atmosphere proof), though I guess a fine bead of extra adhesive around the edge would not be beyond the capabilities of most DIYers. I personally feel reasonably happy with the 2x2 glue-shut flips and a purpose-designed wallet/book that holds them. I keep these wrapped in a plastic bag, which I fold around and then elastic-band the whole thing together! I think the silica gel would be an excellent addition, and I know many do use the sachets! As for security, I can't really share my ideas here, but it is a major concern, and I do spend a lot of my life carting a weighty bag around! I'm sure there's a million more ideas to come! Welcome again!

Lashings of ginger beer all round...those first dripping buds were always too strong for me.I spent a night speaking to a horse. My steering wheel home after a Tree fair was bigger than the London Eye.That was a long time ago.

The Pearce kind of provenance? No, the Colin cooke kind i can hear your teeth grinding Stuart I've got a couple of the ex. CC/Shuttlewood coins (via RP), and very pretty they are too! Looking forward to your pictures! They're going to have to be very good coins to survive your high-res imagery, there'll be nowhere for a pit or spot of verd to hide! I'm waiting upon the arrival of my first Irish oval! £69 delivered! There'll be a spot or two on that one, that's for sure! ;-)