I did a bad bad thing...

coinpictures

If there's one thing I *hate*, it's not having a set of Krause catalogs here with me at the office.

I'll occasionally browse the new coin auctions on the Bay, looking for nice BINs. The only problem is that when I *do* find a coin, I have no way of looking it up!

(hmm... maybe if I scanned in all 8,000 pages of all the Krause catalogs, converted them to PDF, and...).

At any rate, this morning I saw one I really liked, and didn't want to chance that it would still be there this evening. I have other examples of this denomination, but none in true red. I think I may have a different date in 63RB.

So, I may have paid too much, but oh well... it's pretty.

-Dan

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8325629107&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEAFB%3AIT&rd=1

Steve27

Nice coin!

With a BIN, I would have waited until I had a chance to check the prices.

coinpictures

<< <i>Nice coin!

With a BIN, I would have waited until I had a chance to check the prices. >>



That's just it though, there's a good chance that someone else might do a BIN before I had a chance to check. At any rate, it's not a huge amount of money, and it looks to be a nice specimen.

If memory serves, I paid $30-40 for the RB specimen I have, and that was almost 10 years ago...

-Dan

ajaan

I think you did OK for a Red piece.

SYRACUSIAN

I think you did OK for a Red piece.





Translation in the ajaan dialect: I'll gladly take it off your hands if you have buyer's remorse.

rhound1977

Nice

wybrit

As far as I am concerned, you did well. It is a common date, but good reds are hard to come by!!

coinpictures

In the Krause I have, it cats for $40 in UNC. Don't know how much of a premium there is for red. It's more than I would usually pay on a percentage basis, but the actual dollar amount isn't bad.

As it turns out, it wasn't a date that I alread had, so bonus.

I may try working on a set of the fractional farthings. They're neat coins, and the 1/3 and 1/2 generally are generally pretty inexpensive, even in UNC.

Question #1: Looking at the figures in Krause, the 1/3 have considerably lower mintage figures than either the 1/4 or 1/2 farthings, yet the 1/3 are priced lower in Krause... ideas?

Question #2: I see listings for fractional farthings in proof, but have never actually seen one in person or on Ebay. Anyone have any? I'd love to find me one.

-Dan

lordmarcovan

I've never seen any in proof, either. I would imagine they're impressive, even with their small size.

wybrit

Looking at the figures in Krause, the 1/3 have considerably lower mintage figures than either the 1/4 or 1/2 farthings

¼ and ½ farthings were struck in copper and shipped to Ceylon (Sri Lanka today). Being surounded by salty water, Ceylon did not provide the nicest environment for copper coins. It is very difficult, in fact, to find examples of these coins without spots. Many of the pieces minted have been utterly decimated by corrosion.

The 1/3 farthings such as the one you have pictured are bronze. Although still not an ideal metal, it is tougher and a little harder to corrode. These were struck for use in Malta. Don't ask me why they didn't corrode also - Malta is also surrounded by salt water! Nonetheless these 1/3 farthings, which were practically valueless even in that day, are quite easy to find in top grade.

One last comment, a BU full lustre 1/3 farthing catalogues for £55 (about $100) in Spink. As I said before, you did well. The Krause prices mean very little these days.