Hi Folks, http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad158/marbury518/GeorgeIVCrownSecundoEFOB.jpg http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad158/marbury518/GeorgeIVCrownSecundoEFREV.jpg Purchased this George IV 1821 Secundo Edge Silver Crown (Spink 3805) yesterday, lovely addition to collection. Graded by the seller at EF but the reverse looks better to me. Would be interested in opinions about the grade........maybe what it might be according US grading criteria.........ball-park value appreciated. I'd like to hang onto this one a worthy addition to my collection. Thanks, Marbury518
Thanks Siggi and Andy for commenting.......it's refreshing to buy from someone who doesn't overgrade their coins........although I did see a British Auction coming up in early Nov on Tooveys (access site direct or through thesalesroom) where they are selling a coin collection from someone who's passed away......same coin there described as aEF and it looks FDC.......I imagine 'a' means almost.......est £400-600. Prices for this coin seem all over the place as Spink says £800 in EF. I didn't really have the spare cash but I bought it anyway ...........paid £360 having deliberately waited until last couple of minutes to bid on it. One of my better decisions, though I remain a failure at selling! Bye and thanks...Julian
Julian You're welcome! (and yes, 'a' means 'almost' and 'g' means 'good') I'd say you got it for a great price. I don't have any crowns from the C19th, but have some nice Wreath crowns (inc a 1934!). I do like your coin, though - very impressive. And yes, I am good at buying, hopeless at selling! By the way, I'll be visiting Liverpool (home town) during November to see family ...
Actually, the 'a' stands for about though I think of an AU as almost uncirculated. I think 'almost' is probably a better word for the purpose. Would you agree? With great overall appearance it deserves a couple of positive ticks in my book. Yes, in my view the coin grades gEF there in bonnie England, or AU-58 here in the U.S. : ) I doubt that any top-tier TPG would grade it as UNC, but don't see them saying 55 either. I'm sure that some very strict and stodgy graders might assign a 55, youngsters a 63. That's life. I think in Europe it would be solidly a gEF. It's a very pretty piece and worth a good deal of study. : ) Thanks for sharing. : )
I've rarely seen European sellers grade anything AU, a good EF is their equivalent. In US terms I'd say that coin is AU all day long.
Heritage in Dallas just said this coin would go for around $2,000 at auction, so they seemed quite impressed with it. When I've seen a similar coin for sale from same seller via Buy it Now as opposed to auction the price was getting on for three times what I got it for through auction mode. It did make me visit that sellers shop for similar such bargains but none to be had it seems. Anyway, it's nicely tucked up in bed at the bank and not for sale. Business has been very slow here in the UK so my coin buying has ground to a halt though it should pick up soon.
I believe the seller's grade was accurate but not as specific as a buyer might wish for. I'd say EF in the UK, AU-55 in the U.S. gEF, a possibility, includes coins and tokens up to MS-63 or Near Gem, imho. It's a beauty.
reply Thanks Larry.......seller has another described as higher grade (Bucks coins) and it does have a sort of shimmering sparkle about it but also has what I think is a nasty horizontal line/scratch across the neck on the bust. This is up for about three times what I paid and is described as BU so I recall. I really am so pleased with the coin though.....that and my 1785 EF+ guinea have to be my favourite coins from my collection at the moment. Marbury
I'd probably avoid the coin with the apparent scratch, considering the much higher cost. In addition, your coin is an extremely attractive piece. Can't imagine needing better. : ) I think you scored a great bargain. : )))
Hi Larry, not allowed to message you apparently. I am a teacher too, well lecturer but feel like high school teacher most of the time. That has always puzzled me. Why do sellers and 3rd pary companies grade high when there is the most obvious defect to the coin? My latest challenge is how to store my coins at bank with limited space and avoid plastic and envelopes, etc.......especially when I have undated Charles 2nd Maundy set EF+ and 1689 Maundy set EF+ that I want to keep as a set. The very tiny coins and the big expensive Crowns would all need to sit in a pretty small space...............by the way, the bank charges me every time I want to open my safe deposit box in addition to annual fee and insurance. Add the import duty I've been getting in recent months and it really makes an expensive hobby even more so. Marbury
Marbury... Here are a few of my non-scientific observations... Grading in the U.S is undergoing changes not seen in the UK, imho. For non-MS coins -- wear must be FLAT to be considered wear in the U.S., according to top TPG's. Nothing else would be roughly quantifiable or easily observable. FLAT wear is easy to defend, to 'guarantee.' A slight scratch doesn't really affect the grade in the U.S. or the UK; UK collectors are highly aware of the skin on a coin and cherish it. Any cleaning will of course diminish or remove it. It's a secret that only a million collectors may understand. ; ) For MS-60 and higher coins, scratches, dings, tarnish, attractive toning, etc. can affect grading; there, any detraction from eye appeal, including rub or decreased luster, even fingerprints, may be subjectively assessed. And many, even most collectors, give a coin an overall grade considering as many factors as they manage to notice. The rarer a coin, the more lenient the grading; that's where experts and TPG's come in; they often know the striking characteristics and progression of a particular die pair.
