Leo

Well, the polarising filter did not improve things, but sounded like a good idea, cheers Sleepy. It just darkened the picture and did not get rid of the reflections unfortunately. Ripping the coin out of the holder is obviously the way to go - result below. The subject is nothing to write home about in terms of grade, but I chose it because it has a nice tone. So the decision is Quadro album, or encapsulated or even naked coins in trays, I guess? I think Quadro makes sense for valuable coins but not for cheap stuff. Including the Quadro itself, the Encap sheet and the album it works out at about £1 per coin on the basis of a 60-coin collection. Things to think about this weekend...

You guessed it. I have followed BRG's excellent guidance and purchased two small LED spotlights, fitted them with some DIY paper diffuser, and arranged the setup but then I realised that all of my coins are in Leuchtturm holders and the mylar plastic gets in the way - not to mention annoying micro-creases in the plastic that I was not that aware of. The result is quite dull I have to say. Any ideas, apart from the obvious one of ripping the holder away?

I hope you're right

It could be worse: certifying that the slab is legit

This is a very interesting post. Many thanks to Nonmortuus, Sword and you all for sharing this stuff. In regards to Sword's HC, I see wear on the King's ear and end of moustache which I would imagine would place the coin in the 60's, but the reverse is very well struck and maybe that bumped it to 80 under CGS' judgement, and this is coherent with (nearly) all of Nonmortuus coins being weaker at the seam between the shield and the crown. Then we have the 1911 from Noonmortus which got 15 points less than Sword's. I don't get it, they seem nearly equal grade to me.

Thank you for all the useful info BRG. I'm driving to IKEA now to get myself a couple of Jansjos, and hopefully I can start with trials this weekend.

I'm very tempted to purchase that kit, but it looks like it would be challenging to place the light sources right above the coins, and I'm unsure if those lamps are GU10. If they were, I could purchase a set of different temperature LEDs to play around with them. Nobody here does that thing with a sheet of glass at 45 degrees and horizontal light?

Are they by any chance these?

BRG - May I ask you what temperature LED do you use for those photos? I am looking at obtaining a couple of the IKEA lights that you have mentioned a few times, and to re-create the setup that you have also described, but I think these come only in 3000-3500K, am I right?

Incidently. I've just come across this half sovereign in catawiki. The color is so wrong. Could it be a white balance issue? It can't be a fake, surely not

Like you said, not for the fainthearted

https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/4672/counterfeit-Australia-1917P-gold-sovereign/ The claw above the first 1 looks particularly different to the original

That tone! Is it really that deep? Looks like dark bronze! Beautiful

Probably not the same though http://www.londoncoins.co.uk/?page=InvestSafeHavenFive

Just reading your previous posts. I can't see how that is a weak strike in the centre, looks like wear to me? Again I don't know this series

I don't collect this series yet so I don't know how the wear pattern develops here, but I'm quite intrigued at how worn the center of the reverse is (top of English lions) while other areas of the shield are pristine. Is the coin convex or something? Lovely heraldics by the way

Nice! I like the rusty tone. Much better than mine. EF Is it in a holder?

Jaggy, which British coins have the most demand in the US, international and investment market? Am I right to think sovereigns and gothic crowns? From all the Spanish coinage, there is one piece whose market prices have been maintained high through the recession, thanks to international demand: the 8 real. The reason is that the US collectors are interested in it because it was legal tender there at some point. A good collection of 8 reales coins, VF+ and slabbed, is a good looking pension fund

It is! It's just that we, as rookies, we get too hung up on getting whatever coin at the 'fair price' but, if you buy it from somebody, even another collector from eBay, this person must make a profit and sell it for 2X. So if you pay X, the value really is X/2. I've assumed this and live happy. You'll keep it for 20 years and sell it for 4X and, taking inflation apart, you end up with a minimal increment and that is why coins will never be a good short term investment. But the fun in the process is priceless!

A blogger I follow is in the opinion that the trend-setting coin collecting power is the US, and everything that happens over there eventually comes to Europe, albeit with a delay. E.g. the preference for exquisite graded coins, the premium carried by 'rainbow' toning, or their obsession with getting the coins certified and slabbed. Funny, with the recession and all... in Spain the market of coins suffered very badly, as traditionally coins are seen as a safe investment, for all purchasing power classes

Thank you all for the information! Isn't that good? Or just a fad? When I was a kid quality was not as important and just wanted every year of every type no matter how worn it was. Now it's more about getting a common date in stunning condition rather than the key date in a mediocre state. With cheap coins too.

It happens with cheap PVC holders, they contain a substance to make it more flexible but it decays and leaves the coins green and sticky, particularly around the edges. You can remove with acetone but have to be careful not to rub too hard or may leave hairlines on the coin. Always try before with a cheap coin. Some of the materials used in proof sets in the 70's in Spain and collector's albums contained this type of PVC. I got a kilo of sticky Franco coins still to be cleaned... They're worthless anyway

I agree, EF based on wear I note a knock on the edge, in front of the King's head, maybe that will demote it It is a beautiful design though, one of my favourites, and one of the first British coins I bought!

Indeed On the subject of price research - do any of you hold a premium account in acsearch? I wonder if it's worth for british coinage as I think DNW, LC and Spink are not listed.

I'm bumping this topic. I am looking at the DNW catalogue for the upcoming september auction and it seems to me that the estimates are low, at least the few that I have randomly looked at (multiple silver lots with Victoria OH and Edward VII, all around £100-200). I have never bid there. Is it part of the auction house's strategy to attract bidders? Are DNW renowned for setting low estimates? Or maybe is that they make wonderful photographs and grade high?