Sword

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186874500037?_skw=1933+penny&itmmeta=01JGRYS2YCJVC4PXVE4DGWNXJ0&hash=item2b829693c5:g:CRgAAOSwrRFneSIA&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnF3Q3fYucxxY6swpUitIN2vEedSoyiOfoEncHlr0ehRFMkWG6e6CACI2coFtVO%2BuhYAysM%2Fd15EgeLD49lidE15qg90bjtmrzAMTbPqA7ZS7f2CUAVrpyqtH5sNZN4UyKPCSEx3t83NCwzYX9C4mwjjcMTHa%2F7X33%2FAuGFFoHuXtCHY84x1AKkPeLntCsgfCYnuTvDBGtRZmZf1AFz1Ci3XZ6fsGUSjy8MOuXfa2hUsL2yBwzexLwK7f%2Bc%2BXv2f6qgWdGyqwqvABfD2kMFI6z70IrH51AZr2ca4BxNjfs44Q%3D%3D|tkp%3ABFBMpK_knoZl 1933 penny using photos of the coin currently held in the Royal Mint Museum.

But I think the groove at the edge has to be made specifically (for whatever or no reason). Also only the obverse has been rubbed which might suggest it was once mounted or just someone has got bored after cleaning one side.

I think a smuggler's box wouldn't normally have a raised rim. Just did a web search and coins with raised edges appear to be quite common. Here is a video showing some examples.

Merry Christmas and to all! Hope you will have a fantastic time with family and friends.

https://www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk/learning/learning-zone/the-tower-of-london/hand-striking/ From the Royal Mint site.

I doubt I will ever achieve 5. But it is a hobby for me and I know better not to devote "serious" money to it given my limited knowledge. But judging how high inflation has been in the last few years, I might not have done too badly with coins compared to savings in the bank.

Nearly all coin collectors are sentimental and prefer to collect coins from their own countries. For example, an English collector might pay 2K for an early milled crown but would just say "meh" to a continental taler of the same age and condition. With regard to your shilling, I imagine it does have sentimental value given it is one of the first coins you brought. My suggestion is that if you still like it and want to keep it, then don't worry about how much it is worth or whether you will get your money back. Just enjoy owning the piece and it is a rare variety after all. But if you don't get pleasure from looking at it, then sell it on eBay and get what you can. You won't think about it anymore once it is gone. We all (hopefully) make money on some purchases and lose money on others. They do kind of cancel out in the end.

I think collecting coins appeals to people who appreciate: 1) history, 2) beauty , 3) intrinsic rarity , 4) condition rarity , 5) investment potential I know I am generalising when I say the type of coins we collect depends on which factor(s) matter to us most. A few rate history and intrinsic rarity beyond all else and are happy to collect washers. Intrinsic rarity is prized much more highly by bronze collectors and you have many people paying thousands for a "rare variety" penny in terrible condition. I would never do such a thing as I don't value intrinsic rarity so highly (and I view all hammered coins are unique). For me, I value factors 1), 2) and 4). If I ever buy a holed coin, it's for the history (and what's left of beauty) and will use my "fun" budget rather than "coin" budget.

Looks it eBay might have done something as the page is now "missing" rather than listing ended by seller.

I don't think it's worth the effort as your guess is as good as anyone else's. Guesses from dealers are fairly meaningless and might not be what you wanted to hear. No one can know how much it will sell on say eBay until it is actually sold on eBay again.

I think the coin in the link is "16 rose 44". 16 followed by mintmark rose followed by 44 (rather than 1644 on left of mm.). I did post the wrong link initially but have corrected a few minutes afterward initial posting.

It is a difficult question to answer to answer as there is no market price for a holed coin. In my opinion, it is worth whatever someone is prepared to pay for it on e.g. eBay. A lower grade example (without hole) was sold by Noonans in 2020 for £750 hammer. https://www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/archive/lot-archive/results/370743/?keywords=1644+shilling+exeter&discipline=&category=&date_on=&date_start=&date_end=&lot_no= I personally would always choose a lower grade or more common variety than a seriously damaged rare variety.

The decimal era was well in by the time of my teenage years and there weren't anything remotely exciting to be found in change. Just the CuNi florins and shillings circulating as 10p and 5p coins. I still have some of the stuff I collected but they only have sentimental rather than numismatic value. But it has occurred to me that the "modern" commemoratives I saved are not so modern now as decades have passed. The most notable set I have kept is the 1975 Panama proof set which featured then the world's biggest and smallest "circulating" coins. I would hardly be impressed by that sort of gimmick today. Even the humble rocking horse crown is now 89 years old and will soon reach "antique" status.

The bun pennies would have circulated for ca 100 years by the 1960s and would be in very low grades unless saved for some reason. Glad you kept it. That would be like finding a Kew garden 50p before people got crazy about them. Hope you have kept it too.

"Indefinitely" is a long time. Although, they are very unlikely to ever be sold, strange things can happen when a regional museum needs money urgently?

I might have be able to look at them in the British museum when they goes on display. But I would still be a bit edgy if I have some of those coin types. They are not so rare now.

The listing has now been withdrawn.

I just couldn't figure out how the mark was caused. Doesn't look like a bag mark and doesn't look like graffiti. Strike through would make sense.

Are you tempted to find out what's in the sealed envelope? But an envelope with mystery content could be a lot more interesting if it turns out to be a low grade penny inside. On reflection, I would probably leave it alone myself to maintain the suspense.

My opinion is that damage is damage. Calling it pre or post mint damage is just an attempt to sugar the pill. I would just view such damage on the level of bag marks and they don't necessitate stating on the slab. The term "mint state" has never been taken literally by TPGs.

I have long admired the very high quality of late Victorian coinage. I agree that the Jubilee Head and also the Old Head coins have such wonderfully reflective fields. Even standard currency sometimes have frosting on designs. The highly reflective surfaces also promote beautiful toning too.

I think if the layer of tarnish is "thin", then it will be transparent to the eye and let light reflect back on the smooth surface below. Once the tarnish layer gets too think, then it will no longer allows light to reflect from the surface below and the coin no longer have reflective fields.

The fact that there are many methods available would imply that there is no clear winner. In many cases, the winning method is to leave the coin alone ... I don't think dipping can generally restore the cartwheel lustre of a mint coin but can be helpful if the toning is ugly.

The official weight from the Royal mint is 28.28g and so spot on.

The thing is if people has got one in change, they would likely to keep it for a bit and so there will be a very limited number in circulation. People will get bore after a while.