secret santa

The downside is that one is no longer able to download the images, something I am particularly angry at since I use them for my websites. I have raised the issue with DNW and I believe that they are investigating the possibility of changing the process to allow downloads (but they might just be politicians' weasel words).

When someone offers you advice that is "the bleedin' obvious" people describe it as "teaching your grandmother to suck eggs" - don't ask me why, I think it's a stupid phrase.

Thanks for this very useful advice gents. Just off to suck a few eggs..............................

Not necessarily - he's gone to repair the 8 with an "8" punch but altered the 6 by mistake. If he'd got it right it would be 8 over 8. There would only be a 6 over 8 if he'd tried to repair the 6 with a "6" punch and repaired the 8 by mistake. Or am I talking cobblers too ?

I have been toying with the creation of (yet) another website on the subject of fake coins, showing pictures of known fakes alongside their genuine counterparts, as it seems to me that you need to look at the two side by side to really understand the differences. My questions are, therefore: Does such a website already exist ? Would this task be too huge to accomplish ?

I quite like the look of these - they seem to be a cross between Ebay and Colin Cooke's auctions in that bidding is allowed to continue past the deadline although only for 30 seconds per bid. Calls for quick decision-making !

Following an email from Bernie, I've added a pic of the ribbons on an F76 obverse where the ribbons are no thicker but seem to be closer together !

I've looked at Freeman's footnote 18 and have now added a comment with photos to the Obverse L (Freeman 8) section of my varieties website. But in the grand scheme of things it does seem a trifling difference (IMO) !

Terry, the middle picture above which you describe as F71 with wider ribbon is actually my 1874H F73 7 over 7 !

My thoughts are with you.

None of my 3 F71's have this wider ribbon.

The biggest difference between 7 and 8 for me is the gap between the tie ribbons - obverse 8 has a thicker outer ribbon and the 2 ribbons virtually touch for the first half of their length (i.e. almost no gap between them).

Quite often, auctions (both Coin and General) have bulk lots of coins. Are these bulk lots unsorted with possible gems lurking therein, or has someone generally gone through them looking for the valuable items ?

Another tricky crossword clue: Pertaining only to the female gender - 4 letters ending in UNT Answer, of course is AUNT

But it could conceivably be confusing if something is described as, say, Freeman 28 which, based on the earlier logic, could mean a particular 1861 penny or Lot 28 from his Christie's sale. But, as you say, anyone interested in this information will probably know what the difference is.

They've done similar things before in terms of creating additional Freeman numbers, I believe. They also regularly quote Bamford numbers which are actually just the lot numbers from his sale rather than definitive variety identifiers, although Rob has said that this approach (using lot nos from major sales) has been used several times in the past.

I once mailed her to politely correct a listing and got the reply "Who do you think you are - Michael Freeman ?" Charming !!!!!!!!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1866-SCARCE-QUEEN-VICTORIA-ONE-BRITISH-BRONZE-PENNY-SUPERB-SCARE-COIN/303046211168?hash=item468ef63660:g:kwwAAOSwqVVbN5~u:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true Shelley's up to her tricks - she describes this as a "scare" coin - it's the price that scares me !

Many thanks for this information, Rob - are you OK with me adding some summarised details to my website ?

I'm printing it off right now - are you R J Pearce by any chance ?

Can you provide a link please.

And take a look at the Victoria Unofficial Patterns section of my varieties website for more information.

Nice example with just a trace of colon after R and possibly after G ?

Physicians were unable to reach a consensus: Should Brexit take place? > The Allergists were in favour of scratching it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. > The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Brexiters had a lot of nerve. Meanwhile, Obstetricians felt certain everyone was labouring under a misconception, while the Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted. Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, "Oh, grow up!" > The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it. Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and the Internists claimed it would indeed be a bitter pill to swallow. > The Plastic Surgeons opined that May's proposal would "put a whole new face on the matter." The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea. Anesthesiologists thought it was all a gas, and those lofty Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no. > In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Parliament.

It's good that we can still find things to discuss - I love it !