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7.jaguars

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  1. I will also bite at 63. There are die prep lines in the obverse fields and even bust but also some hits on the obverse; the reverse appears to distinctly lack lustre. There are some actual dings in key areas on the obverse such as at the base of the ear and at angle of jaw as well as the upper cheek bone to left. On a larger coin, it would IMHO ding the grade somewhat more..
  2. I rather agree with RWB. Doubt this was on purpose and certainly was not a moneymaker either.
  3. Note that the mule coin does not appear to be of "specimen" quality such as would come in a specimen set, but rather of ordinary currency type presentation.
  4. First is the mule, second the “usual” 19 pence of 2009. Then follows the Royal Mint Museum letter.
  5. This coin is quite the modern rarity, and in some ways similar but even more rare than the 1893 Jubilee Head Sixpence evidently. It seems to have first been discovered and offered in about 2015 at London Coin Auctions (went for 750 pounds plus commission) with very little fanfare. Then a Swiss dealer evidently tried to sell one - perhaps this first LCA specimen through ebay within about 2 years of that sale (? 2000 pounds plus fees). The second piece widely panned as possible fake. Another, possibly this coin, was cited in an anecdote as coming from a 2008? Birthday Specimen Set but connection to this coin or other confirmation lacking. Then this specimen, a different coin was auctioned in June of 2023 evidently going for about 1600 pounds. It is/was raw and submitted to the Royal Mint Museum a couple of months later & was returned and certified as genuine of aberrant type/mule just recently. So quite a rare and interesting piece that may still be out there although 14 years later the above is the sum records available. Pictures posted next.
  6. This coin was my last purchase of 2023 - it ticked off several boxes for me: - Beautiful (well, eye of the beholder) - Gold - Rare. Although a total of 6 graded at the major TPGs, this is the only I’ve seen in 20+ years This is mintmarked with the FM logo but struck 10 years after the phaseout of minting operations.
  7. Well I am glad Neil held on to his job and the place is still "kicking". Who are Strand Collectibles? And Baldwin's selling pop culture items and stamps at auction? Yikes! That definitely will diffuse the brand. I guess I am a bit pessimistic but will take this at face value for now.
  8. While I certainly agree, to me the sad bit is that their possible demise (Baldwins, as I care not whit for Gibbons) marks a real change for numismatics in the British and related series, and the stability they seemed to provide. I felt similarly when Spink jettisoned their printed Spink Numismatic Circular, when decently price coins and a bit of scholarship were combined...
  9. Can't say that I am all too familiar with the British legal system nor what it means for the principle to buy it up. Will Baldwin's survive? I didn't have a good feeling about the Gibbons purchase of it, nor the move out of the Embankment premises. Hopefully they do although they are not the same place as they were 20 and more years ago.
  10. I agree with the above re: the 2014 Gold Kennedy Half. However, loved the president with all his flaws and treasure the coin regardless of the mintage. Mine developed one of the dreaded red spots which was easily restored with simple non-abrasive technique and the coin is simply beautiful.
  11. So the fact they were struck to an exact SOVEREIGN standard has nothing to do with it (somehow that does not seem by chance or how one would strike a medallion)? I have a hard time believing that. Also, were they then struck as playthings? They were never used in commerce of any sort? Hmmm, also a hard time believing that. Another issue is that these do not bear insignia or markings directly relating to Saudi Arabia so there may have been technicalities in just what was represented on legends on such a piece.
  12. Was I misinformed?These most clearly do have purposeful denominations though not struck on coin. Perhaps you will recall the British sovereign series which similarly lacks denomination. These 1 and 4 sov pieces were meant at those values, and remind me of other issues without date or "wrong" date. So, no, I will go for coin still and absolutely not bar or ingot.
  13. I am not sure how these are not coins, even if they did not reach commercial channels. They certainly are not medals.
  14. I probably should not rise to the bait, but this post has irritated me. While it is true we have only some less than satisfactory pictures to go from, I too agree that this absolutely is NOT an authentic tetradrachm, and have been collecting coins as well as doing catalogue work for well in excess of 50 years. I have no stake in this game other than to hopefully bring yet another entirely independent perspective to this post. The metal analysis of an unknown coin (as pointed out, said coin is NOT even in your photographs) does NOT support your case. Usual alloys FYI consisted of trace element of lead, gold, copper and bismuth amongst others, and generally not binary such as may be the case of your coin. But neither this bit nor even a putative certificate of authenticity or return guarantee support the case of this being an authentic coin. And this does not address the evident ego component invested within your responses. Perhaps you might think of opening your mind and considering the possibility of falseness with regards to this coin and then look with care at the lines of evidence that have been suggested by respondents. I am only suggesting that possibly a more logical approach would be of benefit to you in considering the balance of characteristics of such a coin & perhaps not just dismissing those opinions provided. More than likely ALL of the responding posters wish that you indeed had an authentic coin. I am not sure why you persist in such a "fighting mode" in your responses. I doubt that you will take the time, but if you actually look at a number of certified coins, and even a few more raw specimens that you might grow from the experience.
  15. Nobody has ventured estimates. I would say the 1f is most common but still now seems to go for 2-300 USD. The 5f is probably next scarcest and goes for just a bit more - I would guess there are several hundred of the 1f coins and possibly 50-100 of the 5f. The others, even the 2f are anybody's guess. The 2f might be less than 50; the 10f probable max 20 or so; the 20f probably 5-10 or so. These are a bit like the Franklin Mint coins that were actually struck for circulation in the host countries in that very few are known and with the larger denominations that seem to have disappeared. Anybody's guess as to whether remainders were melted, thrown out, still remain on shelves somewhere in possession of central bank or just what happened to them being unclear. These, like the FM issues have very little face value nowadays and also very little intrinsic metal value (being nickel-brass in this case).