Martinminerva

And here's the eBay one... Quite a difference!

Here's what a genuine 1853 threepence should look like (sold by London Coins a few years ago). The larger and fewer reverse beads are the most diagnostic, whilst the obverse has a very different portrait, plus there is a distinct gap between the D:G: and BRIT that is not present on the later obverse 3 ( I got the die pair wrong in my above post - it's actually a 3+B which is right for 1873 ).

Just seen this finish on eBay... NOT an 1853 threepence, but an 1873. The die pair is 2+B rather than the 1+A it would have to be. Certainly an honest mistake by the seller as the third digit is blundered/worn/damaged and bears a resemblance to a 5, but you would think someone willing to spend over a hundred quid would know their stuff! Hope it wasn't anyone on here who bought it! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-3-Pence-1853-Rare-/353646172040?mkpid=0&emsid=e11002.m43.l2649&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=21b00d5cd5a8478089b047bb7bd97776&bu=43098541495&exe=0&ext=0&logid=nqt%3DAAAAAAAAAFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAAAAAAAACAAAAABAAAAAAAAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgAAAAAAAAEAAEA*%26nqc%3DAAAAAAAAAFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAAAAAAAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgAAAAAAAAEAAEA*%26mdbreftime%3D1630857662908%26es%3D3%26ec%3D1&osub=-1~1&crd=20210905091455&segname=11002&sojTags=ch%3Dch%2Cbu%3Dbu%2Cnqt%3Dnqt%2Cnqc%3Dnqc%2Cmdbreftime%3Dmdbreftime%2Ces%3Des%2Cec%3Dec%2Cexe%3Dexe%2Cext%3Dext%2Cexe%3Dexe%2Cext%3Dext%2Cosub%3Dosub%2Ccrd%3Dcrd%2Csegname%3Dsegname%2Cchnl%3Dmkcid&nma=true&si=G8MMtpNLMSH%2FzVDr1pcX7gtwdUs%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 Blimey! Why is the link so long?!

Shame about the fingerprint, but it's great for minimal wear and lustre... @secret santa Richard - feel free to add this one too to your penny website if you like!

Really happy it went to a forum member, and so glad you're pleased! I managed to get an upgrade for it at a good price too (see below), so karma has worked out brilliantly for all concerned! Still got some other things for sale!!

Ha ha! 😝 If this is proof aFDC, then my collection is beyond proof or must be MS120 !! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265257478771?hash=item3dc293ea73:g:LcMAAOSwEqphDn3w

I remember reading years ago, and goodness knows where (but might have been in an ancient Coin Monthly), that there was a conjecture that these open 3s might actually have been overdates on a 1902 die due to the matching curve at the top of both 3 and 2 and some hint of a flatter straight at the bottom of the open 3 to match the remains of the horizontal of the 2. If so, perhaps a numeral punch was not in fact used at all, but rather the open 3 was skilfully hand-cut into the die, by a meticulous engraver. Such hand cut digits do exist elsewhere in the UK coinage series according to eg. Davies and others. Just a thought - perhaps a punch search might be in vain!!

Iain Dracott says in his 2004 Coin News articles that he discovered it, but doesn't mention when. No references I can find that pre-date that, but only Iain would know for sure. Don't know if he is a member here, or if another member is in contact with him?

Obviously not a lot of halfpenny collectors out there... ! I know it's crappy, but how many of this type do exist??

The shield rim IS indeed slightly recessed, like the original 1860 rev C that it appears to be based on. As specimens wear of course, that becomes a flatter part of the coin, so not a reliable definer. Much better is the lighthouse itself, plus the fact that the PE of PENNY are much closer to the linear circle than on the normal 1873 reverse.

Found it! http://www.predecimal.com/forum/topic/3664-coin-aquisition-of-the-week/?page=502&tab=comments#comment-141727 And here's a screenshot of it :

Probably because the original post is 13 years old now!! I remember seeing on the forum a while ago that Bernie had found a lustrous A.Unc specimen of the 8+C# and posted pictures of that, but in another thread that I haven't been able to track down yet, but I'll keep looking...

The one I have listed on eBay is definitely obverse 8. Compare it with my (much better!) obverse 7 one above... Especially the position of the top leaves in relation to the colon after G of D:G: and the bottom of the truncation - obverse 7 above has truncation right up to linear circle, whereas obverse 8 on the eBay specimen has a distinct gap between bust and linear circle.

I have just listed on eBay a pretty grotty but identifiable example of this 1873 8+C# die pairing halfpenny if anyone wants to fill a gap... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284372897001 Wonder exactly how many are now known? Still think it's pretty rare though! cheers!

Have LCA stopped sending out printed catalogues?? I never received one for the March auction and have yet to do so this time too. I much prefer browsing through a proper catalogue than squinting at one on a device... Needless to say, if they have stopped sending catalogues to customers of many years on their mailing list. they haven't deigned to tell me!

In this day and age, who says it's a she...😏

Oh god, that makes me feel even worse now... I hang my head in shame...

And thanks for your understanding too, Jerry. Yes, I have certainly learnt today!

Oh, I must be then. I thought it was you who arranged for my user name to be changed when people were assuming I was a person called Martin Platt. I am not he !!

So sorry again...

Thanks for your understanding, Mike. Indeed, I have seen many, many other heads ups over the years on here that no-one has ever been reprimanded for which is why I didn't give it a second thought. I believe @secret santa might have clearance to remove things? Many years ago he kindly changed my user name for me...

I am most terribly sorry! I did not know that convention. Unfortunately, it won't let me remove the post now. If any member has moderator status or authorisation, indeed please remove it. Mea culpa - and I won't ever do it again. 😩

I am pretty certain this really is one though: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1911-King-George-V-Bronze-Penny/193915563743?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160727114228%26meid%3D0b4ae74e5165491189eda494b13bd6f6%26pid%3D100290%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D193915563743%26itm%3D193915563743%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2060778&_trksid=p2060778.c100290.m3507 And in very nice condition too, though appears to have been rather badly cleaned? Others have spotted it I guess by the bids already in, and wouldn't be at all surprised to see it go well into three figures...

It is the DIE, not the individual struck coins that are altered/repaired/corrected before more coins are struck from them! No-one could possibly go about changing each and every coin of the tens of thousands struck by each die! Besides, any alteration to a coin would be incuse, not in relief. But dies are mirror images of course so an incuse detail on a die becomes a relief detail on a struck coin. Just like potato prints or play dough prints when we were kids!

The other so called vip lots in this sale are: 229 - crown, which I am prepared to accept as a vip, lot 231 - halfcrown, really don't think so as I say above, and lot 236 - farthing, which I have my doubts about too.