1949threepence Posted June 12, 2010 Posted June 12, 2010 The light seems to bounce off it in a way it doesn't normally do with ordinary lustre.Any thoughts guys ?If genuine lustre, it's brilliant.1878 penny Quote
TomGoodheart Posted June 12, 2010 Posted June 12, 2010 (edited) Hmmm ... this is the problems with buying on the basis of a photo. As we all know, changing the angle of the light can make a significant difference to a coin's appearance. And there's just nothing like seeing something 'in the hand'.But as for this coin, well, I'm no expert on such coins and their 'mint' appearance. My only concern is the rim. Particularly near VICTORIA D: G: when you view the enlarged pic. See how there's a raised edge that catches the light? It reminds me of one of the signs I use to identify good quality counterfeit £1 coins. Odd rims and an unusual appearance to the metal which I can best describe as 'glittery'. Rather like when you mix up metallic paint (or nail polish), the coins seem to have a lustre made up of particles. Difficult to describe but maybe you can see it in this pic. The coin itself is not (I believe) 'grainy; it's a characteristic of the metal alloy it's made from.Of course, this could just be a very nice genuine coin! Edited June 12, 2010 by TomGoodheart Quote
1949threepence Posted June 12, 2010 Author Posted June 12, 2010 (edited) Thanks Tom. I'm inclining to the POV that it's genuine lustre, as there appears to be almost no wear whatever. Of particular note is the shield, which looks well nigh perfect. Yet those produced between the latter part of 1861 and 1881, had a slightly convex shield which wore very readily.Just wish I had the money this month to make a realistic bid for it.(unless, of course, it's a fake. Where's Falmer Palmer when you need him ?) Edited June 12, 2010 by 1949threepence Quote
TomGoodheart Posted June 12, 2010 Posted June 12, 2010 Well, if it is genuine, I agree; it's a tremendous coin! No obvious bag knocks and pretty much as it would have been fresh from the mint. Quote
1949threepence Posted June 12, 2010 Author Posted June 12, 2010 Well, if it is genuine, I agree; it's a tremendous coin! No obvious bag knocks and pretty much as it would have been fresh from the mint.That's the trouble. It looks almost too good to be true Quote
£400 for a Penny ? Posted June 12, 2010 Posted June 12, 2010 I'd say a flash has been used (unless the table has lustre as well..)Difficult to tell what's going on with a flash photo, bleaches everything as you know. Quote
Peckris Posted June 12, 2010 Posted June 12, 2010 I'm inclined to say that it looks and 'feels' genuine (with the proviso that there's no substitute for "in the hand"). Probably photo'd with flash, always tricky with lustre. But I see nothing suspicious about it, and I'm watching it Quote
VickySilver Posted June 12, 2010 Posted June 12, 2010 I too feel genuine, but there do look to be some issues with the cheek and I think with the flash that a bit of the contacts that would downgrade it are disguised. Will have a look at my own in an hour or two... Quote
Red Riley Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 I too feel genuine, but there do look to be some issues with the cheek and I think with the flash that a bit of the contacts that would downgrade it are disguised. Will have a look at my own in an hour or two...I feel 90% certain that it's genuine but 10% of me says it could have been whizzed. Having bought a whizzed coin some years ago and I didn't realise until the thing started to tone a couple of years later, I'm always rather cautious about these things! Quote
DaveG38 Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 I too feel genuine, but there do look to be some issues with the cheek and I think with the flash that a bit of the contacts that would downgrade it are disguised. Will have a look at my own in an hour or two...I feel 90% certain that it's genuine but 10% of me says it could have been whizzed. Having bought a whizzed coin some years ago and I didn't realise until the thing started to tone a couple of years later, I'm always rather cautious about these things!What exactly is 'whizzing'? I understand dipping polishing but not the technique of whizzing. Quote
1949threepence Posted June 13, 2010 Author Posted June 13, 2010 I too feel genuine, but there do look to be some issues with the cheek and I think with the flash that a bit of the contacts that would downgrade it are disguised. Will have a look at my own in an hour or two...It's one of those you have to see in the hand before you can finally pass judgement.....and even then..... I feel 90% certain that it's genuine but 10% of me says it could have been whizzed. Having bought a whizzed coin some years ago and I didn't realise until the thing started to tone a couple of years later, I'm always rather cautious about these things!Yes ~ I mean how often do you see a bun penny, even in UNC, where the lustre is mint perfect. The coin would have had to be hermetically sealed for well over a century, surely ? What exactly is 'whizzing'? I understand dipping polishing but not the technique of whizzing.It's re-lustre-ing a coin ~ click hereSelected term: Buffing (whizzed)Explanation: A polishing of a coin sometimes with an abrasive that leaves a finish that attempts to counterfeit mint luster. A buffed coin often is worth less than one that has not been cleanedI've no idea how it's done, though. But I do have a coin which I think has been re-lustred. A silver one. Quote
1949threepence Posted June 13, 2010 Author Posted June 13, 2010 Just as a quick addendum to the above, when azda showed us the 1875 coin below,at post No 65, on the rare bun penny thread, a few days ago, there was something about it which suggested, instinctively, that it was the real McCoy.Yet that looks damn near perfect. Maybe just not quite as mirror like flawless as the 1878. Quote
Red Riley Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 What exactly is 'whizzing'? I understand dipping polishing but not the technique of whizzing.As I understand it, it involves mechanically buffing the coin. Quote
azda Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 (edited) So did anyone bid on it and win? From 67 GBP in the last minute to 255 GBP Edited June 13, 2010 by azda Quote
Peckris Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 So did anyone bid on it and win? From 67 GBP in the last minute to 255 GBPOutbid. Too rich for me. Quote
VickySilver Posted June 13, 2010 Posted June 13, 2010 So did anyone bid on it and win? Too much at 255, these come well struck with nice lustre (mine does look sim.) Quote
1949threepence Posted June 14, 2010 Author Posted June 14, 2010 So did anyone bid on it and win? From 67 GBP in the last minute to 255 GBPOutbid. Too rich for me. No way. I'm skint for the rest of this month anyway, as far as coins are concerned. Quote
azda Posted June 14, 2010 Posted June 14, 2010 I was gonna stick 75 GBP on it until i saw the last 30 seconds Quote
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