Prax

Back then verdigris was not a problem - I meant to say "Back then verdigris was not a problem on really low grade coins". I recall a 1865 penny that had the minutest spots of verd was flagged up during inspection and I was warned that it may not pass grading standards. So I did not book it in for grading.

If I am not mistaken I might have had this coin graded (because I graded a 1882 penny which was in similar grade and there are only 2 more of this date graded). I sold this when in 2009 I quit pennies and sold a huge part of my collection to invest the proceeds in bullion. The point to stress is that this coin and a 1861 6 over 8 that I had graded at pretty much the same time were pretty run down when I bought them. Both had verdigris and they both graded (albeit at very low levels). Back then verdigris was not a problem, this is going back a good 5 or 6 years, it was more about establishing CGS as a brand. I would doubt if these would grade if you took them to CGS for grading today. To give you an idea back then the 2 coins graded in less than 3 weeks and I gave 40 odd pennies for grading. 20 for an encapsulation only service which cost £5. I don't think they have an encapsulation only service anymore. It gives you an idea of where CGS was at back then.

1983 two pence labelled as a New Pence, the undated 20p, 50p of the EEC, 50p of the Olympics, 50p of the Kew Gardens. There are many error coins but each is unique so look for things like spelling errors.

Couldn't agree more, regardless of denomination or year ... But it's what they go for! Is it any different to a two-pronged trident?I do confess it's not for me, unless I was close to gathering the whole series of something, and a particular coin got added into an addenda or revised edition of a book, or similar, as a definite type? But this wouldn't happen to me, as I have an interest in too many areas...fortunately! No, two-pronged tridents are just as silly. Unless it was engraved using a specifically intended two pronged trident, then it was just a defective tool. Although discussed before, this opens up a whole can of worms because you then have to consider the various development stages of the variety raising the salient point of when can a variety be said to exist? How do you price the intermediate stages and why are they so defined? Die fill and breakage are two continually evolving states which are virtually impossible to quantify until complete, or the die has fallen apart setting the maximum limit. I suspect the main driver for including a variety in a price list is the owner and definer of said variety. Finally someone who feels like how I feel about varieties. I felt the same way when I first came across the fish tail or the dot pennies. However as most people have pointed out the future drivers of penny variants is die anomalies and tooth spacings. Personally I would not bend backwards for variants but when I come across a penny that is XF plus and is a minor variant I can’t resist That said I am also guilty of going after low grade BP1890Aa http://imgur.com/0M09dzx

The 1922 came with a mega premium. The 1902 was affordable (£40 on top of the cost of a AU lowtide).

Goodeve All, Acquired a 1902 and a 1922 filled 2 in date pennies today. I am aware of the filled 2 in 1922 but the 1902 is new to me. Here is a pic of the 2 filled along http://i.imgur.com/K7DtYJI.jpg side a normal 2 penny http://i.imgur.com/fzaqwA1.jpg. I have compared about 30 1902 pennies mostly in VF grade to the new specimen (which is a low tide) and did not find any which resembled the filled 2. On a related note does anyone have a recent sale price for a 1922 filled 2 please? Regards, Prax

ahem ahem if such a situation happened??? So far it has not happened in my case. But if it did

Very well said. Things a looking a lot better than they did 12 years back. These days I havee been able to spot errors with the catalogues and ask for a refund than to put the coin away only to find a few years later that the auction house had made a miistake. Even with the last Spink auction I was able to spot and return this http://imgur.com/a/DXLbE listed as a low tide. Makes me nervous how many more horrors there are in my collection which have come about due to my previous 100% faith in auction houses, their grading and incorrect description.

True. Very true.

I would have said VF on the 1943 threepence, but then Silver is not my domain

My heart skipped a beat at first. But nice work on the date though the obv would have given it away.

227 is a serious collection. I did look at your site and some lovely coins there!!! You also have a 1933

Nice 1930 HC pretty scarce in that grade

Sorry to disappoint but I will go with what the others have said. That said the 1967 seems to be done a lot better than the others. There are a few scratches on it but there is no underlying signs of another metal. Usually if the coin were dipped a scratch to it would reveal the surface underneath to be in a different colour. In this case that is not the case so either the dipping took place after the soin got its scratches or it is perhaps a rare coin. It does not by any means look like a proof coin. So I would take to 1967 coin to someone for inspection, but keep your hopes low. There is a slim (very slim in fact less than 1% but still a chance) chance that this is big. The others I am afraid are staring in your face as dipped coins. Welcome to the hood and happy collecting.

Second that. It can be dipped. The fact that you have two pennies in white makes it more likely. There are some proofs struck in silver but these are extremely scarce. Photos could help. Regards, Prax

Sorry to hear Peter. May you find the strength to pull through this difficult patch.

Very kind PWA. damn I so wish you were into collecting Farthings or Hapennys then the offer would have been for free pennies. Merry XMAS to you too.

Really neat

I have a similar problem with temperature changes. My house in winter is like a sauna and does not really help by buns. I have tried various options on storing my coins long term but few have helped. The option that I find worked best for me is wrapping the coin in fine paper (thin translucent trace paper – the sort that JD Sports use to cover sneakers) and putting them in airtight plastic capsules. I have seen that some collectors use a transparent plastic flip to house the coin, which is then held inside a pvc coin flip. Most of Freeman’s coins which we see in auction houses seem to be protected this way. I have also seen the same transparent plastic flips protecting the coins with some 1950 and 1951 proofsets. Arguably the sets which contain this protection mechanism seem to house better coins with very little toning or scratches. Is anyone aware of any better mechanisms to protect bronze please? I want to photograph the coin once and leave it in a locker for dog’s years. The only thing is I don’t want to see is green clomps around the coin when the time is due. Also if anyone knows where I can find these plastic sleeves I would be very grateful. I have already purchased acid free coin flips to act as the outer layer. Thanks in advance. Prax

Friendly too (in real life too) - you should see the snobs you get on some of the American forums.

One more penny the most common of the beaded http://i.imgur.com/jMo04Af.jpg http://i.imgur.com/IszS1zt.jpg graded 78

Re this lot https://www.spink.com/lot-description.aspx?id=14007000847 Does anyone know what the bold 2 that the auctioner is referring to here is please? To me it seems like a normal coin and all the books I have referred to Peck/Freeman/Gouby do not mention about a bold 2.

I heard (rumour????) about an Indian eccentric who is bidding on some rare Indian coins purely to ensure he is the sole owner of some of the major rarities (supposedly the reason for bid war in LCA about the £700 estimate gold coin). Once he accumulates all known specimens of a rare variant he destroys all but one in a public showing. Things like this make me feel great sticking to GB bronze wherein the most scare bits hardly ever make it to the high 4 figures. It's still a lot of money for someone like me pursuing a hobby whilst clinging on to 9 to 5 job; but at least I get the odd rarity in my possession once in a while.

Acquired this today from Stan http://i.imgur.com/aHP4RXx.jpg http://i.imgur.com/YzKsH4d.jpg Also was happy to meet some of the veterans from the forum today including Mike and Dave at LCA.

H He must be from the future where inflation has caused a Churchill crown to sell for £ 600. That said he must be a good few 1000s of years from the future. Some people ehhh.