Sword

I assume they would have supplied a photo if asked? London Coins was prompt to email photos when I asked them. Likewise, I have got additional photos from Lockdales before.

Personally, I think having adequate insurance is the only way to get peace of mind. Some people even use security boxes in banks. However, it is not much fun collecting if your items are not easily accessible. I would probably go for something serious like a floor safe in the unlikely event of ever having a decent collection one day.

I would distinguish wear from weak striking by the loss of lustre. With regard to the second example, practically all the lustre is gone (from what I can tell from the photos) and so it is really difficult to distinguish between the two. As such, I think technical grading is not important relatively to eye appeal and the actual amount of details remaining.

Wales was once a Principality but has been a country since 1542. Surprisingly, many still think of Wales as a Principality today.

Nice coin and a keeper! The dealer's grading is more accurate this time.

Agreed that 1887 is very common in high grades. Many must have been saved that as it was the first year of a design and the Golden Jubilee was a significant event with people wanting a memento. I am missing Old Head and Edward VII shilling from my type set too. I think there is no urgency to get one if you know they turn up fairly frequently. And you would also be more picky.

For me, having a 19C coin in a slab is more acceptable from the aesthetic view point than having a hammered coin slabbed. A 500 years old coin encased in plastic looks rather strange. Any potential advantage of slabbing is greatly reduced for hammered. Grading is much more subjective and less significant compared to eye appeal. Hammered coins can be handled more easily without special precautions.

Good suggestions gents!

I guess the number doesn't matter now as it is in collection. But the option of resubmitting it always exists when it is time to move it on. Deep Cameo is always so impressive an older coin with no contact marks.

Has now been withdrawn.

I would be a lot more keener on slabbing if I collect high grade copper coins. I think it is just a lot of effort looking after coppers and slabbing is an easy way out. With regard to the 1926E, it is a little strange that the coin has been fine for 80 years before toning kicking in. But I guess we are probably living in a more polluted atmosphere these days.

I do remember seeing that crooked I in QVI in an otherwise very convincing example. This example is not particularly convincing. I agree that it is strange that it shares the same telltale crooked I.

It must be something really unexpected. PF62? (61 would be my second guess)

I think it is unlikely that there will be any issues. However, if you want peace of mind, then I would suggest buying branded products like Quadrums. https://www.coingallery.co.uk/quadrum-coin-capsules-36-c.asp Quite a few people here swear by them. A cheaper option is 2x2 coin flip (cardboard with transparent window). The option for traditionalists would be the coin cabinet.

And you have made a good informed start to collecting. Your coins are "honest" collectible examples without serious issues like harsh cleaning, holes, soldering, gilding etc. Grading skills will develop with time. Will be interesting to see how your collection will develop.

I agree with the others, the 1887 is definitely not VF in my view. Grading is subjective and you will end up buying a lot more from dealers you agree with.

"The age of milled coins should not affect the grade". This mean that you shouldn't relax your grading standard just because a milled coin is older. (Things are different when you are dealing with hammered coins).

Your English shilling could well be UNC but it is best to avoid coins with this type of discolouration. The grade is not the only consideration and eye appeal is also very important. I think my Scottish shilling is UNC (completely lustrous). Likewise, the 1936 shilling is also UNC in my view.

Welcome to the forum. I too started with collecting shillings when I first took up the hobby as a teenager. It's a very good series for the type collector. Books are very helpful to learn grading but there is no substitute for experience. It is all too easy for beginners to overgrade. My suggestion is to start off with cheaper coins (like George VI) but in UNC condition. Once you have seen a few coins in top condition, you will know what UNC truly means: absolutely no wear and no loss of luster on high points. Some George V unc shillings are economical too. Edward VII, Victoria old head and Victoria Jubilee Head are still affordable but things will get expensive before that. Also bear in mind that the age of milled coins should not affect the grade. One mistake I made in my early days of collecting was thinking that better grade = better details. But the loss of detail could be due to weak striking (which doesn't technically affect the grade). The lion's noise on the reverse of Edward VII and earlier George V shillings are usually rather flat due to weak striking. Happy collecting.

I missed that also 🙂 DNW is a well respected auction house. But I think many of us here would agree that the provenance of "Nick's collection" would bear more weight. I didn't bid because I thought (and it turned out quite correctly) that the lots I like are more then I can afford.

It's a indeed a very sad incident and I have a great deal of sympathy to the current owner. But the coin is so obviously a fake. It is simply very risky to spend thousands of pounds on the words of a stranger.

I don't think I can be certain even with a better photo. One need to see if there are hairlines and what the luster is like in that area. I would simply ask the seller and see what type of answer you get. Asking about a potential issue can't do any harm even if you want to buy afterwards.

I agree it is possible that area had been wiped in the past.

16 weeks wait to get a replacement base pad with enough holes. Not exactly speedy.

Even an error in the packaging can only make the set more interesting and there is no reason to return it.