Paulus

Indeed so, but I don't believe they have done anything so radical as move the goalposts on grade (their description of Fine condition remains the same as 2 years ago), just that the James II Crown in fine pic looks better than Fine (to me) (and Pokal02)

To me their 'Fine' example of a James II Crown is definitely better than Fine, I agree. Of the guide prices I have looked up so far for milled silver, in most cases F and VF have stayed put or fallen slightly, EF is up a little ... kind of what was expected I think?

Many happy returns!

They will definitely be fakes. If some items look good, it's because the pictures are genuine and have been taken from other vendors' sales. You can still see the gkcoins watermark on some of the images. One of the most blatent I have come across, at least some leave it up to the bidder to decide whether genuine or not, here, in many cases the seller is stating GENUINE and depicting coins in US TPG holders, which may or may not also be fake. As several thousands of pounds are involved it does surprise me that these cases don't seem to be easily referred to/investigated by the serious fraud people (or whatever they have in Germany (or China, which might be little or nothing for this sort of thing)) ... perhaps it is all regarded as caveat emptor and after all covered by eBay buyer protection and/or credit card purchase protection? Increasing danger to the integrity of our hobby

Thanks Pete, your kind gift is very much appreciated, I will confirm its arrival

Pete, I am sure Peter is not taking the mick at all

Oddly my records say the price dropped to £575 in the 2012 edition, so there is a rise there. And of course, Spink doesn't distinguish between relatively commoner marks such as castle and say, negro's head in their pricing. There can be significant differences within a Spink number for different mint marks ... Up to £750 in Spink 2013

At risk of putting a silver moon in that dark night, though? Leave well alone until you have sussed what the reds and greens may be, tis a nice coin

That was my thought too, take it out and examine it in hand, I suspect all may be ok

Carry on Collecting Peter

I have lost all interest in these most recent modern decimal commems, to me they have no numismatic interest whatsoever, with very few exceptions

I don't understand? If you're going to keep the coin in a slab, where is the enjoyment of looking at it through a scuffed slab? Absolutely, and we know presentation counts for a lot, it doesn't cost a lot just to have a coin re-entombed (by the same TPG)

Posted by Ringram on Facebook today: "Today we have been grading Groats and Silver Threepences.Small silver is always very popular, and the Threepence is arguably the most popular of all the denominations." Not sure I agree! Perhaps they meant to say "the Threepence is arguably the least popular of all the denominations"

I believe that's the only reason they did it, yes, a shame

Rob's absolutely right of course, it's unfortunate that for me (and others I'm sure) such adjustment marks detract from the eye appeal ... I don't imagine they were too bothered about it at the time!

I agree with all of these points, especially that TPGs should regard cabinet friction and bag marks as wear, I really don't care how it occurred after it was struck, it is wear. And many MS60-61 coins, as I have alluded to in another post, require quite a leap of faith to be seen as Mint State, even given the dubious latitude of conveniently categorising some wear as 'non-circulation' wear ... my opinion! I just prefer to take a coin at face value, comments from sellers and dealers such as 'small scratch across the face that doesn't detract' (okay an extreme example!) wind me up and smack of estate agent style listings!

I start with eye appeal ... after that I care little whether the state of the coin I am considering acquiring is in the state it is due to circulation, weak strikes, cabinet fiction, bag marks, etc etc, I just decide whether I like the look of the coin, and will enjoy owning and handling it. That does present challenges for some issues!

I'm with Peck on this one

And he still does copies of the 1933, and others: http://www.garyphelps.co.uk/

Optimistic?

His second post was almost word perfect! Seriously though Morpheus (if you're still reading these posts), the advice given is correct unless amongst your Kgs you have some coins that are close to 'as they left the Mint'

Happy birthday!

Sounds about right to me!

That book is universally recommended Arthur!

Yes, where 2 grades are given the obverse is always given first. But where only a single grade is given, as is very often the case, how is it arrived at if the obverse and reverse grade differently? So you see it as a straight average Stuart?