Simmoleon

Yep conservation is an option and I suspect would add even more eye appeal to this but it’s a very very nice coin regardless.

Can we see it?

Dont see many of the Rosalind Franklin 50Ps, the mintage on the gold ones is tiny

I’m looking to get them graded, if they are 64 or less I’m keeping them. I suspect I’ll be keeping them because 65 and above are difficult to get by all accounts

I need to stay away from auctions

In a local auction, it cost me about £15 including fees, nobody wanted it and I was the only bidder.

Never expected to spend my Friday night looking at squinted 5s but heyho - I have added a close up of mine outside the flip and higher quality comparisons from London coin sales - a couple may be taken from proofs. Lots of comparisons but not sure what I have achieve as they’ve all merged in to one 5 now

It’s not a double strike, it’s in a flip and reflecting off the flip. My main concern is simply the condition of the coin, it seems too good but it does seem to match a die which was used but doesn’t mean it wasn’t cloned from a die. No idea if it’s genuine so I’ll send it NGC and let them decided - it’s size and weight even check out

Yep, a bit too clean for my liking. It wouldn’t surprise me if it gets body-bagged by the graders or this coin has lived a charmed life

Yep, it’s far too clean for my liking ignore, no idea why my reply is in this topic

Finally got these from the auction house, probably send them to NGC just to confirm their authenticity as I am no expert in copper coins from this era but its an 1806 Hibernia farthing and the 1853 half penny (previously seen in the auction pics I shared)

Not in hand yet so it could end up being an utter dog of a coin but got this for a tenner

I’m sitting this one out (again), the mintage numbers of the sov means I’ve likely got some time to think about this and if I want it picking it up graded in the future. Good luck to anybody buying today though, it’s a nice sovereign

It prevents the eBay style of everybody bidding with 6 seconds left and the lot ending. It just extends the time left so other bidders have time to counter bid. It’s becoming standard in most auctions

My guess is an Iceni One Unit. Horse facing right, reverse has the Iceni symbol of two opposed crescents. 1st century bc Coins of England & the UK, Spink #436

It’s this Philip I AR Antoninianus. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right / AEQVITAS AVGG, Aequitas standing left with scales & cornucopia. RIC 27b, RSC 9.

To be honest, I have posted my thoughts on this previously so no reason to repeat myself but I kind of respect the RM for sticking to their guns on this - the series is the Great Engravers and they’ve taken a leap with Simon and an historically important coin. Simon was a next level engraver for his time so fits the remit. All logic suggests RM knows what sells and know there are numerous designs which would appeal to the masses more than this one but they’ve gone with something different. The designs are very nice and look good but definitely not everybody's cup of tea but credit to them for sticking to the remit, spirit of the series and picking something a little different. Now if they lower the premium, mintage a bit more and re-create a coin maybe with a man riding a horse stabbing a dragon I’ll be on noodles again to ensure I have a chance to own it Steve

I’m sitting this one out but nice coins, definitely one for the coin purists, historians and collectors.

As I said a while back on one of the previous Great Engravers threads, this coin has a wonderful back story if you like engraver history, is a masterpiece for its day, has the rarity and is hugely historically important for British coin design but do I think it’s the right coin for this series, probably not. Una and The Three Graces have mythology and legendary design, this seems to be the sweet spot in my opinion. Also I think the Gothic first coin was stunning but the feeding frenzy off the Graces burnt too many fingers and many lesson were learnt which dampened the Gothics. I’ll try and buy the 2oz silvers just so I have them but if I don’t get them I doubt I’ll be losing sleep.

Noticed Malcolm’s website had a message that they were hoping to re-open in a few weeks. Checked it just now and it just says closed now. Very sad to see

NCS conservation have done an excellent job with this coin, especially on the reverse. IMG_3572.MOV IMG_3569.MOV

Also the maximum mintage numbers 😂

It’s a very nice coin in-hand, it’s different and I think that helps it. I’m just hoping others now have the same strike as my obverse and this isn’t a quality issue. I suspect this is how they are struck but time will tell.

Sorry about the second post but slightly improved pics - also the obverse feels like an old style proof strike rather than the ones the Queen was using. The reverse in my opinion is too cluttered when viewed from a distance but spectacular close up. It’s a nice coin tbf.