This just sold today - £700 for a worthless coin in a holder with PL66 on it. How it got this grade and how it achieved £700 beggars belief.
https://auction.royalmint.com/lot-details/index/catalog/41/lot/3166
That is the standard dies 4K D of DEI to bead, I to a gap. On the 3K the I of DEI is to the right of a bead but not to a gap. Also, the rim on your 4K is visibly thicker than the 3K.
After all those 1000s of coins it's strange to think that, other than commemoratives, there won't be a 2023 or any other new coin with the Queen's portrait on it.
From NGC's T&Cs
'An owner of an NGC-certified Coin (“Owner”) who believes the Coin is overgraded or not genuine shall submit it for evaluation under NGC’s free “Appearance Review” service. It is not necessary to be an NGC member to submit a Coin for Appearance Review.'
I believe LCGS are no longer running a grading service. I had thought it was due to COVID but I don't think they have restarted. Unless anyone knows any different.
My view is that they will stick to commision bids only. If the better lots don't get enough interest to meet reserve then they will just re-appear in the September, ie. post lockdown, auction.
Yours is definitely a light finish. It looks from the photo as though it did pass through some mint darkening, just to a much lesser extent. Good to know what to look out for.
Just looking through the Colin Cooke 'Staines Collection of Farthings' catalogue, which came out just yesterday. Interestingly there are no Edward VII 'light finish' examples even among this comprehensive collection built up over 30 years.
I've bought coins via live bidding that I didn't even know I wanted when I woke up that morning. It's these impulse bids that LC are surely missing out on.