ozjohn

Errata $US 4713.56

Probably a lack of trust in the honesty of the US enhanced by the unpredictable policies of the Trump administration coupled with a $30 odd trillion debt that's still increasing. without limit as numbers on a computer. The poo will hit the fan when someone asks for their money as I doubt if this money exists as your comment regarding the amount of gold to support a gold standard suggests. As for gold it depends what value you put on it. when Nixon broke the link between the $ US and gold was at $ US 41/oz. in August 1971 now $US 471/oz One advantage of gold is you cannot make any more like paper promises on a computer. Many countries are increasing their gold reserves at the expense of the $ US. You are right about China wanting to replace the $ US with the Yuan with the Petrodollar system starting to breakdown along with a policy of isolation are symptoms of the decline of the US as the number one power and will be accelerated when and if China takes over Taiwan and the US loses control of the Pacific Ocean. Not a situation I relish but the signs are there.

There are many people who are of the opinion the fiat currencies US$, GBP etc have been devalued by printing too many paper promises. Probably the cashless society is making things worse as the central bank has even less control of the currency. China and many of the BRICS countries are now hoarding gold to the extent that some are suggesting some sort of return to the gold standard. Even France and Germany are repatriating their gold reserves from the US to their own countries.

While surfing YouTube I came across the post titled " Why They Stopped Making Silver Coins in 1964. The Real Reason They Hide". makes interesting viewing on how the US stole the silver from the people as did the UK earlier.

Cannot comment on predecimal UK silver coins as they have all changed size. However Australian silver coins florin, shilling and sixpence still remain in the same format as the old imperial coins. With the florin now 20 cent, shilling 10 cent and sixpence 5 cent. However sovereigns and half-sovereigns are deemed to not be legal tender for some reason although sovereigns etc. were minted in Australia at Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. because of this they attract a 10% GST (VAT). Pure gold coins do not attract GST.

Finger limes are an Australian native https://aussiegreenthumb.com/finger-limes/ used by TV chefs. The soil here is volcanic in origin from the eruption of now extinct volcanoes. Good luck with the poinciana seeds if you want some more let me know.. They we certainly growing fast on the vacant lot next door to me. I don't think they will amount to much as the owner is building after Xmas. PS I think it was you who posted the photos of Jupiter from your telescope. What type of telescope were you using? They were better than my efforts with Celestron Nextstar 4" reflector.

Very nice and well struck for a 1923 half crown.

Seen on Ebay. It's graded at MS 64 by NGC which is a reasonable assessment but GBP 492. I would have paid less than $AU 50 say GBP 25 for the one I have which is a pretty good grade. I've seen the prices from this seller and Heritage auctions and wonder if anyone buys these coins. Tony Clayton gives a 9/ 2025 value of in UNC of GBP 65.

The house next door has just been demolished including a poinciana tree in the front yard. A couple of weeks later seedlings are sprouting everywhere.

Sorry I missed this one earlier. Nice photo. What telescope do you have?

The price is on the low side as well. Tony Clayton's valuations gives GBP 5000 for a 1905 half crown in EF condition. I think I would ask for a better photo if I was considering bidding for this coin. Again a TPG by PCGS or NGC would add more credibility and price.

A 1905 half crown advertised on Ebay at GBP3400 and graded at EF condition. It's hard to see if the I in QUI is broken as the picture is indistinct there. However the orb on top of the pearls in the crown over the shield seems off center which I think is unusual. Any comments.

A good crop this year. Pollinating the vanilla orchid flowers is a tricky business.

PS the tree in the foreground is a jacaranda from South America.

Poinciania time. Trees just coming into bloom and an eastern water dragon a common harmless lizard in SE Queensland. Grows to about 2 ft in length.

The coin attached is not the prettiest coin in the world with the speckled toning. Nevertheless it's in the higher grades and a brief dip in Goddards may improve its apperance. Any thoughts?

Half way along Route 66 also the weather in Arizona. Much cooler in Brisbane being the middle of winter 22 deg C or 71 deg F.

The tsunmai warning ruined the last day in Waikiki.

Sorry posted in the wrong thread.

A light strike perhaps? For the most part 1913 half crowns are much better than the ones minted in WW1.

Have trouble is accepting a grade of MS 64 for this coin.

Finally reached the end of Route 66 in Chicago. Back to Australia via Hawaii.

Before and after using cloudy ammonia that I had to hand. Cloudy ammonia in Australia is 25% with detergent added. I think it has improved the coin marginally but it has removed the green verdigris by the G in GRA. The coin looks better in hand but a very light strike. When I did chemistry at uni it was called Redox, Reduction, Oxidization depending on which way it was going.

Are you talking about clear household ammonia for cleaning that seems to be 25% ammonia or further diluting this product? With regard to your comment the 1918 half crown is a very nice coin but I struggle to accept it has remained without any sign of toning after over a hundred years.

Attached picture is of a 1911 proof set as advertised by Coins and Medals, Brisbane. As you can see the coins are toned after being left somewhere possibly over a hundred years. This is the condition I would expect to find coins of this age to be in. However the amount of coins for sale of a similar age that are bright makes me wonder how they remain in that condition over a similar age as with the 1918 half crown? Anyone who has silver objects will note the only way of keeping them shiny is frequent cleaning Perhaps it may be useful what toning of silver is. It is the equivalent of rust on iron and steel. In other words corrosion where silver metal is attacked by the oxygen and sulfur in the atmosphere to form oxides and sulfides of silver. Some will argue that toning is attractive and I am sympathetic to that view but not all toning is of that nature. Again the colors produced by toning are as a result of constructive and destructive interference where the incident and reflected light interact with each other. Again I still wonder how silver coins retain their shiny status? Some coins certified by TPGs as cleaned while some it is obvious due to signs of abrasion while others I have been stumped by this verdict. Having said that I can only make that judgement from the photographs of the coin and not in hand.