jelida

The only way to get an accurate rarity with respect to the Freeman estimates will be for an individual to review all the (individual) F10's on the market, past present and future, and extrapolate the proportion of 2* coins identified. I feel that I must have seen 2-3 hundred since I started looking, searching the bay, LCA past sales , dealers lists etc but sadly I did not keep a record for accuracy and to avoid duplication. This exercise could still be undertaken, though the highlighting of the five known examples might skew the figures, perhaps excluding them and starting afresh would be most accurate. Hovever say one in a hundred F10 had the new obverse, the new coin would have a rarity of R15. One in two hundred would give R16, and one in a thousand would be R17 to R18. My own feeling is that it will end up R 15 to R16. Still a scarce coin. Jerry

Well spotted! I must have looked at hundreds , and haven't spotted another one. I wish I'd kept tabs on how many, did you? These will remain quite rare, I think. Jerry

Not discounting '9's, the above comments apply to all digits where variation has been noted. From steamy Kyoto, where we have just walked miles to see red arsed monkeys being fed peanuts. Jerru

It is true that there are minor differences between individual digit punches, even where the font was the same. This is inevitable, as are date spacing variations, in the days before technology was microscopically precise. I suppose it is a question of degree as to whether we recognise them as different, and collectable. Judicious work with a micrometer (or hi tech equivalent) could possibly differentiate all the individual dies used in the era where date digits were entered by hand, but I do not feel this would make each die a different 'variety'. However there are collectors in some series particularly hammered who will collect different dies. There is nothing wrong with this approach, nor collecting differing date spacings, some of which are clearly rare. It is a question of terminology as to whether these are considered true varieties, or in numismatic terms something else such as minor variants. I dont think we disagree . Jerry

Changes in font are legitimate differences, as in the varieties of 1864 penny, also the 1863 open 3 and 1898 second 8. It is not obvious (to me at least) where these fonts came from, whether a deliberate trial, or inadvertent use of a number punch destined for some other coin, perhaps for an overseas issue. There are differing spacings of 1864, probably an officially sanctioned '4' change, though not to my knowledge in the others, presumably products of a single 'accidental' die. Jerry

I would say it was of much greater interest if there was any actual change in the design of the master die, rather than minor inconsistencies of application of date digits to a working die prepared from an undated master. Erroneous or erratic repairs of a worn working die are also of great interest, but the effects of normal wear and tear much less so. While unintended date variations are of interest to some, I doubt they will ever command the top prices unless associated with other design changes. Jerry

Thats right, and he had found it in a dealers 25p bowl! Jerry

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Quite so Pete, but I'm following the tracking with this one?! Jerry

It certainly beats my previous specimen, a fine example that cost me twice as much! I doubt the other will arrive before we leave for Japan and my boys wedding, so here is the Ebay link. An F25, really quite scarce in this condition, and better than my one that I paid a couple of ton for. All for about £14 inc postage. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331890976914?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Jerry

Here is the first of last weeks Ebay bargains that I alluded to in another thread. Not bad at all for £9.95 including postage! Jerry

But the FTSE 100 is still higher than it was 2 weeks ago, and much higher than in May. Most of that '$350 billion' has already been recovered since this morning. There is a lot of scare-mongering, people trying to justify what they said before the vote, but the decision has been made by the will of the people and we all have to come to terms with that, and hope for a smooth transition and good outcome for us all a couple of years down the line. For me the restoration of full democracy for the people of Britain trumps all other issues, and I am ecstatic with the outcome. God bless the working class voter. The right decision has been made, if not always for the right reasons. Jerry

I have to say that the young French lady at the PCGS stall at the Midland coin fair was extremely pretty, I felt obliged to take a brochure and would have taken more Jerry

Research on the web suggests that his name is Benjamin Stocks, there is a Jane Saxby at the same address, perhaps his partner. I am amazed that the police or inland revenue or both have not shut him down. With his feedback, and the average sale value of his fakes, he must have made tens if not hundreds of thousands of pounds selling dubious stock as genuine over the years. How can he be stopped? Jerry

Here is another offering from this rather notorious seller, apparently graded by NGC, though the coin photos dont suggest that it is in the slab. It is however interesting that these particular photos are so poor and out of focus, wheras those of the rest of his sales are really rather good, crisp and well lit. Is he trying to hide something? Well, its certainly not high tide as described. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322148343756?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Jerry

Hmm, not sure about my photo quality; these are my first efforts with a digital SLR, more effort required! I might try a lighter background. Jerry

And secondly, a rather expensive 1862 overstrike from Baldwins. This coin has been sold twice before in the last few years, at Baldwins November Argentum sale in 2012, and then by Spink USA in January 2014, as part of the Gerald W Jackson collection. In both cases, the price with premium was close to that I paid. I trust it will stay put now, as I'm not likely to find a better. Jerry

A couple of my acquisitions in the last week. Firstly an 1894 that appeared as a b-i-n on Ebay at £49.99. So I bought it. Really lovely in the hand.

I got one, mid estimate, missed another which went way over. But I like the format. Jerry

Please..... But sadly I may not be able to play with the big boys for a couple of months, I spent most of my penny fund with Baldwins at the London Coin Fair yesterday. Hopefully photos in the appropriate place in due course. Jerry

That is an absolute stunner! I almost hate to ask, but did the vendor know what it was? I have still to spot one in any condition! Jerry

Well done Richard, I thought the 1922 might have headed in your direction. Jerry

That is lovely Pete, its one I'm still after in decent grade (let me know if you spot another!) . Jerry

Likewise. The unsold lots will be at the London Coin Fair on Saturday, so a chance to see the remainder in the hand. Jerry

The second 1880, beautiful coin but somebody wants it more than me, it would have been an upgrade. There'll always be another, and more auctions in the pipeline. My F69 is only AF, and still looking for an F76. Jerry