Another one that got away

[ozjohn]

Again I have a problem with this one graded by NGS as MS 62. I think that consistency in grading is very essential for both the collector and the third party grader. My example is included for comparison although not graded I think in the MS range.

[Paddy]

I checked it out on Ebay, where, surprisingly, the price has now increased to $720!

Even allowing for a weak strike, I don't think I could give it much over VF UK grading. I guess that is what you get when you surrender your own critical judgment to a TPG.

 

[ozjohn]

34 minutes ago, Paddy said:

I checked it out on Ebay, where, surprisingly, the price has now increased to $720!

Even allowing for a weak strike, I don't think I could give it much over VF UK grading. I guess that is what you get when you surrender your own critical judgment to a TPG.

 

Yes it is always caveate emptor for collectors. Here in Australia we have self managed superannuation funds where you make your own decisions on your investments of which collectables such as coins can form a part of. Assuming you go this way you want to be sure you are making a good investment and rely on TPGs. In this case you would be badly misinformed on the value of your investment. In addition there are limits to the amount of investment for tax purposes and auditing that rely on an accurate estimate of the value of your assets.

Edited April 28, 2024 by ozjohn
more info

[VickySilver]

What did that one grade? If I had to grade from pictures alone, I would personally go higher than VF certainly - maybe AU53 or 55?

Of course the 1925 date comes very softly struck and often without a lot of lustre, but as you will note the sensitive cheek, brow, mustache, hair look to be virtually free of wear, with a very nicely [for issue] struck reverse. Main concern: base of the neck truncation that probably has to be seen in hand to judge severity of friction IMHO. On second thought this may be at the 58-61 level. I will see if I can show a picture of a "raw" 1925 that was hand-selected 20 or so years ago later today.

[VickySilver]

[VickySilver]

Won’t let me post even low info obverse file

[ozjohn]

1 hour ago, VickySilver said:

Even this one has a nasty ding to the RHS in the 2nd lion in the shield. I think you have to size up the whole of the coin when grading and not enough attention is paid to the milling and edge of the coin. In the example I posted, if you look carefully at the top rim you will see a slightly raised edge from the minting process. This IMO is a good guide for grading especially when weak strikes are concerned as it would be the first place to start to wear . As far as the king's mo there is little wear and the hairline goes to the end of his mo.

[ozjohn]

Another TPG 1925 half crown. Perhaps flogging a dead horse but I think I prefere my one

Edited April 30, 2024 by ozjohn

[copper123]

On 4/28/2024 at 10:46 AM, ozjohn said:

Yes it is always caveate emptor for collectors. Here in Australia we have self managed superannuation funds where you make your own decisions on your investments of which collectables such as coins can form a part of. Assuming you go this way you want to be sure you are making a good investment and rely on TPGs. In this case you would be badly misinformed on the value of your investment. In addition there are limits to the amount of investment for tax purposes and auditing that rely on an accurate estimate of the value of your assets.

You can also do this in the uk to some extent though most tend to stick with their final salary plans and company pensions .

the best thing to do is make your own business decisions and never bother too much about what someone else considers is an "Investment" this also insures that you really have noone to blame but yourself for picking a turkey.

[Peckris 2]

17 hours ago, ozjohn said:

Another TPG 1925 half crown. Perhaps flogging a dead horse but I think I prefere my one

Yours is superb. As to the other, can you post a link rather than a picture, which is too small to see useful details?

[ozjohn]

 It was listed by Atlas Numismatics on Ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186286960398

[Paddy]

20 minutes ago, ozjohn said:

 It was listed by Atlas Numismatics on Ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186286960398

That is certainly a lot better coin, but I would not want to spend £1200 on it!

Increasingly I feel I will have to stick with my existing collection and give up on upgrades - the prices are just too crazy. What budget I have left I will focus on filling the remaining gaps.

 

[Nonmortuus]

I have 2 1925's at the moment, one is impaired due scratches on the bust (not mentioned by Spink when I bought it) and the other was graded as CGS78 (I think). Neither are as good as yours @ozjohn

[VickySilver]

A lot of friction at the base of the neck and that yellowish oxidation on the Atlas coin. The above sadly cleaned and the first with some of the yellowish oxidation it appears that is so frequently seen on this vintage of G5 halfcrown. Mine is alright but then again gotten 20+ years ago from a source I do not remember & keeping it raw as I have it in the Capitol Holder I had made that covers 1911-1936.

I had the 1925 florin which graded out as MS64 at PCGS and IMHO not generously at that. It is even less loved than the 2/6!

[ozjohn]

On 5/1/2024 at 5:43 PM, Paddy said:

That is certainly a lot better coin, but I would not want to spend £1200 on it!

Increasingly I feel I will have to stick with my existing collection and give up on upgrades - the prices are just too crazy. What budget I have left I will focus on filling the remaining gaps.

 

The only problem is most of the gaps are the expensive ones.

[SilverAge3]

On 5/1/2024 at 3:43 AM, Paddy said:

That is certainly a lot better coin, but I would not want to spend £1200 on it!

Increasingly I feel I will have to stick with my existing collection and give up on upgrades - the prices are just too crazy. What budget I have left I will focus on filling the remaining gaps.

 

Atlas upcharges quite a lot on their items. I've lost auctions, to later find the item on their site, with a good 50 to 200% increase over auction price (incl juice). If I was already priced out in the auction, I'm def not buying from them with such a huge premium tacked on.  I know they need to make money, but ouch.

Edited May 3, 2024 by SilverAge3

[VickySilver]

Yes he is quite defensive about his practices as well, and yet they are right out there like "The Emperor's New Clothes".....He's quite the predator as you've pointed out. With some coins that come up for auction that are rare enough, it has forced other collector/buyers to higher levels as once he gets it, its a wrap as the price will escalate quite a bit.

1925 halfcrowns in truly mint condition and well struck are much scarcer than most people admit. The 1930 seems to be nearly everywhere at GEF and better condition.

[Kipster]

A recent case of this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186477186768?itmmeta=01J17X26BQ5YV14DP7SCNJ9GM8&hash=item2b6ae80ed0:g:pfkAAOSwL6NmX~5t&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwJnSyAqcZOwLBTaocEchnjEg4gTKNlZNWjnAsSSfL1adKBwakFH7Vfn78Y4bEVKXfZ%2FqcdsDdp93jl%2BDXj6Bdis67antlL%2BLTmvSQuIb4PEbHng2p5g9p198Vg5WyB6TWLvp%2ByAwb7R6YEdQjy31cMfBbhttNtQp77HJIUFlm%2Ffj%2BRFfR0jDwlbhs5LRacZ1YSVhT6CkOO46J9PnlAP5l7AWxQfvBlRsg2XCxTQKIs4IjxolyAAE%2BY0WxItw4iw80Q%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR_jliP2JZA

This hammered for 3000CHF plus juice, so roughly $4000.

[Peckris 2]

On 6/25/2024 at 2:38 PM, VickySilver said:

1925 halfcrowns in truly mint condition and well struck are much scarcer than most people admit. The 1930 seems to be nearly everywhere at GEF and better condition.

I probably paid way over the odds last year for mine from Noonans, though it did fill the last remaining top grade gap in that series. Yes, I'd also like the 1925 but as you say you rarely see them.