Calling the Edward VII specialists

SYRACUSIAN · March 5, 2004 8:25PM

I need an Edward VII 1902 crown for my GB silver type set album.This and the 27 wreath crown are the toughest and most expensive coins of the entire album. I'm currently checking out what's on eBay and these are three examples I came up with:

Great Britain 1902 Matte Proof Crown-N/R!

1902 British Crown PCGS Matte Proof-62 Coin

1902 EDWARD VII CROWN aUNC

None of the above coins is a truly "great" example, because I'm not looking for one. It's only an album coin.Comments will be greatly appreciated.

cosmicdebris · March 5, 2004 8:52PM

I don't like the first one at all. The second one looks like a nice example of a Matte Proof and the third looks like a great UNC.

Tough choice between the last two. Do you want a Proof or UNC?

wybrit · March 5, 2004 9:05PM

I agree with Cosmic. #1 looks possibly cleaned. I have a problem with the picture in #3 - it is too small. I still think #3 is in the running. #2 looks pretty nice. Remember many examples of proof 1902s are body bagged, per discussions in previous threads.

ajaan · March 5, 2004 9:17PM

#1 is from one of my favorite eBay sellers. I've never received a coin from them I didn't like. Every raw coin I bought from them graded higher by a TPG. As for this coin, I don't know enough about the series to make a accurate assessment.

SYRACUSIAN · March 5, 2004 9:46PM

I can't make up my mind on #1.

#2 is graded, I think I know what I should expect (pretty much), if I intended to buy it.

Finally, #3 , not only the picture is too small, but the seller has a small feedback that is not necessarily built by selling coins....

I think I'd prefer to add a proof to my album, (just like a nice florin that's already there) , especially since they seem to be cheaper. Or not?

Wybrit, I know there have been previous threads on Edward VII coins, and the bodybagging of some of these mishandled coins etc, but I'd really appreciate a short buying guide concerning Edward VII. The do's and dont's , since I also need a halfcrown and a shilling.Thanks.

Dimitri

satootoko · March 5, 2004 10:18PM

I'm about as far away from being an Eddie 7 expert as you will find, but I don't like the spots on #1, especially the one at 7 o'clock on the obverse. At least at the present stage of bidding the price differential between #1 and #2 seems well justified to me.

How urgent is it to grab one now? It can't be super rare if there are 3 being auctioned at the same time.

farthing · March 5, 2004 10:41PM

I like #1 and #3 but am not overly fond of #2. I agree with ajaan, the seller of #1 is excellent!

cosmicdebris · March 5, 2004 10:48PM

Dimitri here are some re-images I just did of the major silver pieces from my set. All matte proofs with varying degrees of handling and matte proof surface retention.

SYRACUSIAN · March 5, 2004 11:26PM

Nice reimaging Bill.What are these parallel lines called? Are they the ones caused by the mint's employees?Your crown is obviously a far better coin than any of the above, but priced accordingly.

Roy,nothing's really urgent the way I look at my coin collection nowadays. As for the rarity of the proof 1902 crown, it's not ultra rare, but it has a very small mintage, and most of them have been mishandled one way or another.

cosmicdebris · March 5, 2004 11:40PM

Some appear to be the ones written about from the mint employees aprons. While others appear to be raised lines on the coin and therefore I would say polishing lines on the dies.

coinrookie · March 5, 2004 11:41PM

It does depend on if you want to go with circ. strikes or proofs. Remember the proofs are usually wiped, so expect hairlines. The circ. strikes come with bagmarks. Which bothers you the most? The circulation strikes in uncirculated grades are much harder to find than the proofs IMHO. It is easier to find a nice proof as opposed to a truly uncirculated circ. strike crown. In ms63-65 in business strikes expect a price range between 300.00 and 500.00+ dollars.

Steve

cosmicdebris · March 6, 2004 4:13AM

3rd auction bigger picture:

At this point I would go with the PCGS PR62. PCGS is really tough on these coins and you are getting more coin than the PR62 really says you are.

Look at the NGC PR60 £5 NEN has for sale. A silly grade on the holder, as struck with the mint made hairlines of the issue.

All of the TPGs are tougher on these coins than they should be.

SYRACUSIAN · March 6, 2004 4:55AM

I tend toward the second one myself Bill. If you think about it, that half sov PR62 was not a bad coin after all (what does Askari think of it?)

Slabs score again, even with a midrange coin.

Thanks for the inputs .