numismatist

Not tried on a slab , but I always use a smear of brasso to remove the sticky gunge tapes and sticky labels leave on plastic items. I alway tend to " smash the slab " as I like to know whats hidden away around the edge of a coin even if I can see the Obverse and Reverse well

I would say AEF or perhaps EF , if it looks really super in the hand .

I am right in thinking something very odd about this 1817 Bullhead ...the muscles in the cheeks, hair , ear etc...just seems all wrong to me (Ebay 120899857720) See second picture for one that looks okay

The Archived Lot Archive was a wonderful resource , but now I cannot find date sold or search all similar lots etc. OR am I missing something out when I'm searching ?

Thanks " Rob " it amazing what detailed research now exists

thanks all, I keep hoping !!

Hello all, is this recorded. Is it a broken O ? or a C on its side...thanks

Good find by " seuk " that DOT may be very important if they are fakes and worth making more comparisons on known genuine ones that have a long time provenance. On some discussions on the fake Gothic Crowns they say the HARP STRINGS are not straight. The PCGS one seems to have harp strings that curve and I wonder if other dountful ones have that problem as well but its not obvious though shown on some I think I can see some curviture ?

and a detail from its REVERSE (cannot add the whole reverse as too large)

Heres the GOTHIC that "Azda" refers to .It fetched about £400.00

Heres the FAKE GOTHIC REVERSE ---sorry it was to large to add in last post I'd love to know if any Forum Members know EXACTELY what to look for on these FAKE GOTHIC's . As Gothic's are selling on the "bay" for £1000/£2000 region in quite a quality seemingly every week. It seems to me there are many more around than were ever minted !! One report says the HARP STRINGS are NOT precisely straight on the fakes ?

The GOTHIC CROWN Ebay 180919089610 fetched only £400.00 ,but it is damned hard to see whats wrong. I posted this Gothic sold by Laura_5268 from China previously. She (he ?) is the well known 1763 Northumberland Shilling forgery seller. Most collectors cannot see whats wrong with the Gothic Crown in my pictures, but it is listed as a FAKE and the seller alone makes that a certainty. If things are this good, anything could be out there ,as if only a few are sold slowly it will take a long long time for them to be noticed, and as we have seen the 1763 Shillings fakes have passed through the major London Auctions quite happily.

Seabys in their 1969 English Silver Coinage say " Mr Stride formerly Chief Clerk of the Royal Mint, informs us that the Gothic Crowns were never issued for ordinary circulation and that they were all struck in Proof state. Some appear with the raised design heavily frosted, these apparently were early strikings. Spinks in the 1998 Coinage of England were NOT calling them Proofs . I dont have the earlier Seabys editions to see when they or Spinks removed the " Proof " definition . So its " up in the air " though I believe ALL Gothic Crowns are in fact Proofs .

Very cleverly done and seemingly a long time ago, as toning is very natural

I agree even FAIR is stretching it a bit

Heres another...Seems to be some in just about EVERY sale now

and heres the CROWN

Last post showed the Shilling and Sixpence Heres the HALFCROWN

I tried goggle "Fake rainbow toned coins" quite an eye opener E-How even tells you how to cook your Morgan Dollars in the oven. More seriously I now keep seeing incredible toned coins in the top london auctions..See photos of these 1746 proofs. They fetched world record prices . Are these " fake " tones ? ALL the 1746 Proofs I've seen in the past had dull tones.

Most of his coins are what he calls " Rainbow Toned " His 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar is $2000.00 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They normal sell for silver scrap price but he has thousands of sales so the USA must be full of mugs !

Ebay had these two just for comparison 140744342273 £50.25 6th May 370593101657 £131.00 8th April

Ebay had these two just for comparison 140744342273 £50.25 6th May 370593101657 £131.00 8th April

I think " azda " has got it right. Even at £20.00 each I would leave well alone. Spink had this one estimated £100/£120 and it was unsold as no one wanted it ( Lot 553 28th March 2012 )

and EF ones from 2004-2005 period Are we getting this quality now ? and what about say 50 years ago,anyone got clear photos from then to compare grading of that period and maybe todays grading...to see how grading standards have perhaps deteriorated

Spinks Grading 6 or 7 years ago. All three look pretty well acceptable as VERY FINE to me . Is this the quality we should expect for VF today ?