Binny

Still supposed to be selling. Oh well. 
1895 M and 1912 sovereigns to add to the collection.

I don’t believe I’ve ever been so captivated by a coin before 🙃

I smiled when I read the part of your post where you said before you knew anything about precious metals, you bought some sovereigns from Baird. 🙂
By now, other TSF members have informed you that 1917 sovereigns are not rare. 
1917 Sovereigns Mintage
Mintmark Mint Mintage L London 1,014,714 C Ottawa, Canada 58,875 M Melbourne, Australia 934,469 P Perth, Australia 4,110,286 S Sydney, Australia 1,666,000   Total 7,784,344 Source https://goldsovereigns.co.uk/1917sovereign.html
As you can see, the Perth Mint ones are the highest mintage. The London Mint ones are much rarer than the mintage figure would suggest, as most were melted down.
Although your photos are not great, and as @richatthecroft said "Hard to tell from the photos, but the first might have been polished?", but in this case the obverse (head side) of the first coin is a very obviously a fake. The raised pimples are a dead giveaway, the crack(s) visible on you later photo demand closer inspection. The reverse does not look like the same coin, but mainly due to the colour difference, but it does also appear to have at least one worrying raised pimple.
I doubt that Baird test every coin they handle (it's too slow). Human eye, coupled with some experience, is much quicker and more reliable. I mainly use an XRF machine for a lazy second opinion. The coin looks very polished, probably ex-jewellery, and a dealer who I will not name 🙂 would probably class it as a "grade C" if it was genuine. Its light weight might be due to wear rather than because it is fake. It would be interesting to see an alloy analysis, but you are unlikely to get this if you return it to Baird.
Now you know a little more about precious metals, where would you now buy sovereigns from? 🙂
Even if the alloy content is within normal limits, this is no guarantee that the coin is genuine, although many people do not realise this (including some dealers I suspect).
As it happens, I have never heard of anyone receiving a fake sovereign from Baird, but then I don't remember having been asked to check any sourced from them. They were  originally mainly refiners and scrap metal dealers, and it is quite common for scrap dealers to sell some very questionable quality coins, in my experience.
 
 

I have emailed Bairds and will see what they say. All comments are welcome and appreciated.  I have over 60 sovereigns now and this is the only one which doesn't feel right. It isn't terrible and Bairds may help anyway. Main thing is I am looking to sell a few and I really don't want to be found selling fake sovereigns on TSF.
That is what eBay is for. 👍
Matt

After being able to buy just a couple of quarter ounces since the start of the year, I've finally put my hands on the 1oz 2021 Gold Britannia. I must say... on the bigger full ounce, the new design looks even more stunning.
 
 
https://www.royalmint.com/globalassets/bullion/images/products/britannia/2021/2021-britannia-gold-1oz-reverse---ukb21got-1500x1500-f3a2c67.jpg

Not so much a "today I recieved" but rather a small assortment of stuff a noob (such that I am) has manage to scrounge together these past 2 months.


 
Only just getting started!
 

Another great little pick up from @ilovesilverireallydo a vintage '82 A-mark round 

Hello dear friends,
Yesterday I received a parcel from Belgium with 3 beautiful 5oz silver coins. The coins are all flawless but you have to live with scratches on the capsule of the Poseidon even if it is very annoying.
I wish you all a nice weekend and greetings from Maxe in Germany.

Today I received a set of Britannia, Eagle, Maple, Philharmonics, Kangaroo and Krugerrand from @GreatBritishBullion. I normally only stack Britannia for a store of wealth and collect others for my collection being from the UK. But I thought i would buy the ultimate beginners pack to give me a feel for the Eagle, Maple, Philharmonics, Kangaroo and Krugerrand which are the other popular stackers for storing wealth from around the world. They were a good variety at a good price. I must say I do love the look and feel and history of these iconic bullion from across the pond though my favourite is still the one closest to home!

Slightly off topic ...
I have, of course, wanted a 1917 London Mint sovereign for a long time.  It would complete my set of 1817, 1857, ... , 1957, 2017  (I know, not 50 years, but there are other reasons 😉).  Someone standing in for my account manager at the Royal Mint - a young lad, I think - phoned me up trying to sell me various coins they had, including some guineas that I'm not particularly interested in.  He also said that he had some ("some", note) 1917 London Mint sovereigns for £650.  I said, "Are you sure?"  He must have heard something in my voice, because he said he'd check with his manager.  Anyway, it turned out that the coins they were selling for that price were from various mints around the world.  They did have a London Mint coin, in reasonable condition ... for £10,500 ... which I thought was more like it ...
Ah ... one day ... sigh ... 

In the early days of HGM, you could buy sovereigns and get Shields on a lucky dip basis for a reasonable premium over spot.   
 
Pretty sure no one checked them for rarity based on the coins I received.  
 
Best
Dicker

The problem is, when you and others say things like that, you do cause worry, particularly for newer members of the community. Judging by the number of threads here lately refering to fake coins, anyone would think that one in two was likely a fake. It is making people second guess themselves.   
How is it that very few will judge the grade of a coin based on a photograph, but many are happy to pronounce a coin as likely a fake based on the same photographs.   

The OP is asking for thoughts regarding retrikes (fakes) based on the photographs. He has his doubts regarding the first one.
I'm merely sharing my observations and trying to be helpful.
If the OP had asked for help judging the grade of his coins them I may have done so, though it's not a skill I have expertise in.

One day Rodney

One day Rodney

One day Rodney

After recent good reports from another member about the best value lottery, I thought I would give it a go. Received my first sov older than two years (1914). 

Two parcels popped through the door yesterday  😁  cheeky little 3oz to add to the stack. Been a while since I picked up some sliver. 
The 2015 Panda was courtesy of @Colnago, an absolute gent to deal with, thank you. Coin in great condition, any marks are on the capsule.
The Beasts Completer found its way to me from @SilverTrader and his website. Absolutely perfect condition, individually boxed and capped. Martin with his exceptional customer service as always. 

Thanks for the input Booky.

Arrived this morning! It's absolutely stunning in hand!

All sorts of wrong.
Best
Dicker

I've attached a photo a genuine coin for you to make a comparison against. Perhaps contact Bairds and ask them to exchange it.

Is this better Booky?

Got my 5oz proof back and perfect score 🙌.