Sword

It is rather unusual that the pattern was struck using worn reverse die. Hence the flatness on St George's chest and helmet. I remember reading somewhere that the 1951 crown was struck using a left over die from the Victorian era with the date altered. Might be someone experimented with a worn old die as an experiment and then a previously unused one was employed for striking the real thing?

Haven't heard of it before. Am I alone in thinking that St George's face looks like that of a middle age lady?

It's the Royal Mint unfortunately...https://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/mr-men-little-miss/

Possibly. But my young nephew would be very upset if I brought him that coin instead of a toy he wanted.

Not you I think, and definitely not I. A fair number were brought by investors hoping for a quick profit I would imagine. Coins reusing historical designs always have greater chance of becoming wanted at least in the short term. The mint is quite clever not to do this too often or it will lose the effect.

Not everyone buying coins are numismatists. They include impulse buyers, investors, misguided investors, souvenir buyers, present purchasers and one-off buyers. The offerings from the Royal Mint are rarely aimed at numismatists these days, but at the other groups. Their mission is to simply to make money (banknotes rather than well-designed coins). It's easier for numismatists to just ignore the souvenir coin market.

Just his surname on coins I think.

But seriously, it is the norm these days with the Royal Mint. Wallace & Gromit, Paddington, Snowman, Winnie the Pooh ... Described as "uncirculated" and they can never be circulated...

"That's not fair! We weren't allowed to put our full names on our designs!"

That's why I really like your example. Well struck fringe and hair band make a big difference to eye appeal. Nice toning and clean fields. The deeper marks (one base of neck and hair) are out of the way and not distracting. The strike is a little weak on the top of the crown on the reverse but this is relatively insignificant. For me, its a definite keeper as it would cost a fortune to upgrade to something significantly better.

This specimen was described as "cut on cheek and other light surface marks, otherwise nearly extremely fine". Sold in 2020 for £360 which went cheap I think. Lower estimate was £500. Finally, this specimen was described as "some surface marks, otherwise good very fine, reverse better". Sold for £300 in 2017.

The next example is described as " few surface marks, otherwise extremely fine or better", sold for £1200 in Sept 2017.

As Eric has pointed out, the weakness of strike does complicate grading of Young Head. For me, eye appeal for this series is as important as grading. Just out of interest, I have been to the DNW website and look at some examples. Then again no auction house's grading is always right or consistent. The example below was graded as GEF, sold for £1350 in 2013 and so would be much much more expensive today. A very impressive specimen.

Is this just a case with some US collectors chasing the highest PCGS grades and paying over the top for the "finest known"? Would the price be a lot less if it say PF66 on the plastic rather than 67?

To be fair, no grade is given on the slab. Someone starting a new grading company. Interesting. Not yet taking any paid business though.

I doubt the prices of coins would come down. Although some people have unfortunately lost their jobs, others are sitting on more money as a result of not able to spend during lock down. Besides interest rate is now so low making saving less attractive.

I don't find Victoria Young Head easy to grade. There is also such a big difference in price for crowns once you get close to EF grade. Nice GVF might be about £400, nice nEF could be £700 and nice EF could be a three figure sum and an UNC example would cost several thousands. The example in the OP is certainly nice in that it hasn't got many contact marks. I have been waiting for a nice example of a young head halfcrown as it would cost too much to get the more impressive crown.

Young Head crowns below EF grade tend to have rather high numbers of contact marks. I think this is very nice for its grade. About nEF I would say.

The "vending machine" is the "original box" and so it is not currently gradable by PCGS. It is becoming a joke what constitutes a "coin" according to some countries and seemingly also to TPGs. So PCGS is accepting a bottle cap as a coin. Would they eventually end up slabbing buttons, beer mats or even chocolate money too?

Apparently, the 2020 coin has been released as a part of 4 coin set in a Vending Machine. https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces131407.html

The reverse of the "coin" if anyone is curious.

You just got to laugh:

I picked up this one 3 years ago.

Thanks Eric. Your comments are always interesting and instructive. How can you tell? Is it because there is no sign of wear on the cheek and brow? (I thought there might be slight discolouration in that area and hence suggested a trace of rub). I do like the fine hair details of the shallow cut portrait.