Charliemouse

Very much. Full sovs often fetch prices equal to or even above the doubles.

2024 Tudor Beast Dragon 1oz Silver Proof and Reverse Proof Set OK, here are some zoomed out microscope shots. I really do like the design. The dragon is mediaeval, so it is ugly by modern standards. But it does look like the statues at Hampton Court. You can hopefully see the road rash near the edge and some of the marks that meant I have to return them.

Lovely doubles. Best value of all the sov sizes, and big enough to see.

Don't get me wrong, both are gorgeous coins. I love the lettering on the 89. But I appreciate the fineness of the EIC. Neither coin is going to sell me on the obverse, though. 🙄

Figured you'd like that. And honestly it's true. The design itself has more detail, and the execution is better.

2024 Tudor Beast Dragon 1oz Silver Proof and Reverse Proof Set Let the RM bashing continue. Disappointed with the latest arrival. The RP came with some road rash, and the proof had a collection of dings. All easily visible with the naked eye. These are actually lovely coins, but I didn't bother to take 'proper' photos of them, as they are going straight back in the post.

So what are the differences? Frankly, not a lot between the two grades. Example: The PF69 has this fine line on one of the lions. where the PR70 doesn't. But I don't believe that would make a difference. I don't think it is visible even under a loupe. What does stand out is that the 2021 is much finer. Sure, it's 32 years newer, and the design is slightly different, but it is clearly more detailed.

Agreed. Having taken a lot of microscope photos as well as macro, dust and fibres are everywhere. Unless the mint is in a clean room, like an electronics fab, you will never be rid of them. And the moment you take off the top of the capsule to photograph it, it will be covered. Not to mention the micro plastics that shed from the capsules themselves. With the microscope, even slabbed coins are covered in tiny dust particles. Air dusters are useful (don't use the canned stuff), and there are some electrostatic options, but you won't ever get rid of all of it.

I am comparing 3 coins here. 1989 Proof Double Sovereign - PF69UCAM (NGC) 1989 Proof Double Sovereign - PR70DCAM (PCGS) 2021 Proof £2 St Helena (EIC) - PF70UCAM (NGC) I will try to highlight any differences I find, especially between the two coins with different grades. Will keep to the above order with photos. I will post more pictures of zoomed in areas of the coins further down the thread. Feel free to ask questions and put in requests.

Also, since I know you have an interchangeable lens camera, for a similar price to a plastic clip-on lens, you could try... You will get far better pictures than any phone will produce.

I generally agree with all of the above. For further info, this is one of the first guides I did on here...

1989 Double Sovereign Still my favourite sov design. Thanks @9x883. I will do some microscope pictures, comparing this with the 2021 EIC homage version.

Fame at last! Silver 50p five coin set - Bagpuss 50th anniversary I feature on every coin. 😁

Thought you'd like it.

Good. 🤣

Yeah OK. If this is still going, I'll take it.

I've had another look. Definitely nothing in the lettering, like on the roo and quokka. It must be the P on the far left of the rock on the reverse. It's much smaller than the other lettering, but you can still see it with the naked eye (just). Maybe a quarter of a millimetre tall.

I have plenty of roos. I even have some in that yellow metal some people like.

Yes, there is a very small P there. It's in relief, like the rest of the small writing, and not what I'd call micro-text. Definitely not laser. I'll have a look when I get the coin.

RAM Lunar series - Tiger and Rabbit I have a lot of the Perth lunars. But these are the first RAM ones I have. Very nice, very different.

Where am I looking for it? I actually don't have the coin in front of me right now. If it's on the reverse, you'd probably see it in my full image on TIR.

I have never noticed until now that the title text is inset below the 'frosting', but the underline and small text, plus the bird are above it. Excellent quality for a bullion coin.

Always works for me. One parcel at the door. One coin. 😉