Sword

EF or near so would be my attempt.

In my view, "very high grade" simply imply that you need to grade the coin yourself. It is a very popular phrase because it means different things to different people and the seller cannot get into trouble for using it. For me, I might think that MS65 onward are very high grades for a Old Head florin. I haven't got an example yet but will only consider getting one that is UNC or very near UNC. Another might reasonably argue that the coin concerned, VF/GVF, is indeed a very high grade when compared to the large number of worn specimens around. I totally agree with Mike regarding the photos. Generally speaking, I think "very high grade" for Victorian coins usually mean it is less than EF.

Just out of interest, what are the PCGS grades?

Neil's forum name is NRP and he last logged in a fortnight ago. I think he still owns Colin Cooke. Colin Cooke's website has catalogues (with photos and realised prices) of the 10 "collections" they sold in the last few years. http://www.colincooke.com/collections/collections.html

I particularly like the clip of the Chinese burglars. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-46473801

Seriously though, Citizen makes eco drive watches which are powered by light. I changed the battery of my Rotary once at Timpsons at around £20 and they gave me a certificate so that all future battery changes will be done for free. (Obviously, it is not the place to go for expensive watches)

Ha, Ha! It's probably less accurate than the stories in the Daily Express. 😀 And £212.38 is a really expensive way of declaring insanity

I do like vintage watches. I was indeed tempted by this Longines Conquest Heritage. At the end, I decided that owning another nice watch is an extra bit of hassle I don't want. One need to get a watch winder to keep it running and it cost quite a bit to get it serviced every so many years. So I am sticking with one for now. The choice of a watch is of course a very personal thing and depends on what you want it to do. For me, I want it to tell the time and date, be water proof, looks good, have a decent movement, and not so obvious. I also prefer if the brand is not so well-known. Obviously, I am just being a bit old fashioned and many people nowadays like their watches to do a lot more and literally to double as a computer.

My current Ebel. I brought this classic wave slim version before they succumbed to fashion and started making oversized chunky watches. The bezel is gold and the waves of the bracelet are indented and so the gold plating does not wear.

I have been using lighthouse self adhesive 2x2s for a couple of years before moving to quadrums and never noticed any issues. I rather liked the way the coins were sealed in. Ian's question on how you store the coin trays is valid I think. There are different types of PVCs and the "unplastacized" ''safe vinyl''  - '28UN should be low risk enough if used with 2x2s. But I personally won't use any type of PVCs and would stick with mylar / PET. (You can now even get quadrums which prevent the coins inside from toning but they cost more than the standard ones.)

How did you guys tell the time then? Nowadays, many people don't wear watches and just use their mobile phones. But mobiles weren't exactly common in the 1980s.

Upgrading every year? Love to see the timepiece you will be wearing in 15 years time.

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I have been getting a 403 error when trying to post. Tried Chrome and Edge and rebooting. Let's see if it works this time.

ESC lists both a proof and a VIP proof for 1928 with rarity of R5 and R6 respectively. CGS is claiming they have slabbed at least 4 proofs. Would love to see what the alleged VIP looks look.

We all knew the police was under great pressure to find the culprits but it would be totally unacceptable if they had made the arrest without sufficient grounds. That would simply be an easy way out. I was one of those "stranded" and unable to fly back to Gatwick. The flight was eventually cancelled after a 10 hours wait in the airport. No worthwhile communications from the airline. Then the rule was that the airline had to find hotel accommodation for the passengers and get them there. Had no idea regarding the location or name of hotel when I arrived at 10pm. It turned out that the hotel was really rather nice and it was three nights stay before the new flight. Net effect was 2 more days of sightseeing and so it didn't worked out too badly after all.

OK, Mike just beat me to it.

No problem VS. Photos below. A nice and well struck coin all the same. I don't think I can tell the difference between currency and proof wreath crowns. If pushed, I might suggest that the rim is not that sharp. Top of ear is not that well defined and the 5 marks in the hair looks like contact marks with the rim of another coin which is more likely for currency. For this particular coin, would there be a significant difference in price difference between a proof an a MS currency?

I brought a nice looking ebel many years ago. However, I have had a few regrets since as it cost so much to change the battery. £95 it cost me last time. Automatic watches are really nice but they are less accurate than quartz and require servicing every 5 years or so.

Exactly. The Tories "rebels" have wasted their challenge now. It might be better time to launch the challenge in the event of May's revised deal failing to get through parliament in January. In that situation, May cannot go back to EU to renegotiate for a second time. However, it is conceivable that a new leader might be able to do that (difficult task!) and get an extension to the March deadline if desirable. Politicians often make clear that they won't do certain things, e.g. delay the meaningful vote, raise taxes, get into certain coalitions or in this case, remove the backstop. Yet, they do U-turns without blushing.

The difference in price is huge. A decent 1887 proof crown can cost £2000 and a decent UNC currency crown might cost two or three hundred pounds. The word "specimen" is often printed on unofficial boxes and is not helpful in this case. For 1887, it is either proof or currency.

A no deal will cause immediate issues for the UK and Europe. It's a game of chickens and the question is which side will budge first. This game might have to continue past March. But if our MPs declare that we must have a deal before the March deadline, then the EU will assume we will budge first. May certainly has to go and I don't think the Tory MPs are scare of getting rid of her. The only question is when. With hindsight, the confidence vote was probably too early I my view. They probably should have waited until the "meaningful" vote after Christmas.

Well, May managed to win the confidence vote 200-117. That's at least much better than Corbyn's confidence vote by labour MPs not so long ago 😀. But she had to declare that she would not led the Tories into the next election which surely weakens her position somewhat. One wonders if she can make it to the meaningful vote without another major crisis.

The JH portrait is surely too shallow cut for ghosting? Might be just some unlikely toning?