JJH

You both make very valid points and it, sadly, all comes down to RM being a Monopoly and don’t they know it. They’ve got the U.K market by the balls.
I’ve tried to buy into the following:
The Great Engravers (after Una and the Lion)
British Monarchs (Henry VII and James I)
Successfully buying none. It happens, you win some, you loose some, it’s life.
But what RM have massively, hugely failed to realise is that they’ve created a new series with very little chance of being able to collect the whole series.
What they’ve also done is create a secondary market of ‘flippers’ (no offence to anyone who wants to sell for over buying price within reason).
Where do numismatists come into this?
Firstly, we don’t, not that I’m professing to be one.
But four releases a year, no way to sign up to the continuity for the rest of the series like they did with The Tudor Beasts. But do so with this series at your own peril, I abandoned The Tudor Beasts after coin 1 in proof.
In my opinion, four releases a year for four years with no guarantee of the rest of the series is a dead duck in the water before it even began.
Imagine that, four times a year for four years, the stress, the anxiety of a possibility that you might complete your series. If you don’t, you’re paying around double the original RM price.
It could and can be a good series but anyone hoping for a a full set, I admire you. Anyone just buying to flip, rethink why you’re here.
Go and look for the originals of these coins that have HISTORY, we fight over a reincarnation of the original and pay a premium and why.
If you ask yourself that question you’ll realise how rediculous it is. Paying more, in some cases for a reincarnation of the original than the original itself.
But in my opinion, pick your cards and play them wisely and I feel this series will have its ‘up’s’ and it’s ‘down’s’, some coins will really be in high demand others not so.
Now, where are the sovereigns....

After 20 years, it still maintains very well, but it feels less red than 1989. If you don't look at the queen's side, it is actually not much different from proof. With 1989, the target progress has reached 2/3

After 20 years, it still maintains very well, but it feels less red than 1989. If you don't look at the queen's side, it is actually not much different from proof. With 1989, the target progress has reached 2/3

You are sooooooooo right. Here 1 & 3 OZ silver, one of my absolute favorites i bought like 2 years ago. 

My first Smartminting copper coin, 50 gramm Majestic Eagle. What a beauty

We love the French! An Entente Cordiale Crown & some Jubilee stragglers- the 1/4oz Gold is lovely 😊
And a Monarch also dropped by today.
Phew, the Jubilee arrivals conclude my Platinum Jubilee coin celebration- lovely coins, each and every one of them 😃  

An eclectic mix 
MS62 third guinea with orange peel toning 
El calzador shipwreck lovely  example 
SS california shipwreck Nugget 
Shipwreck stuff will be going up for sale alongside a considerable alount of world gold to fund a watch purchase 

Gots these little gems today thanks to @LiquidMetalsUK and @ilovesilverireallydo

Very happy with 1g gold bar Pokemon.
The pictures are not made by me, because my camera is not working anymore, so I have downloaded the pictures made by seller.

Toned morocco silver coins 🤠

More £5 Crowns today.  I do like the poignant edge Inscription on the Trafalgar coins.  

The 40th Anniversary of the Coronation is a nice upgrade, as my existing example lacked Cameo.
And collecting a date run of £5’s/ Crowns isn’t always a joy, and you have to be prepared to take the rough with the smith, as can be seen by the less than desirable Charles’ 50th Birthday Crown.



 

Not sure what I think of this purchase so far but it arrived in spotless condition. 

SoTD arrives, with a nice champagne gold tone in matte surface.

Hello Folks,
thanks in advance.
trying to understand the gold market, how it is broken down, what to buy 1st.
-- open to proof coins, gold coins of whatever sort and bullion bars
-- looking to diversify my assets out of financial systems into hard assets due to concern with state of the world and potential for chaos
Pricing being offered from a large gold seller in Ca:
American eagle Proof, 0.9167 Pure, 1/4 oz: $669
Gold Australian Wildlife, 0.9999 Pure, 1/4 oz: $698
Gold Canadian Buffalo,  0.9999 Pure, 1/4 oz: $689
Should I be looking at something else for a FIRST purchase?  bullion?  better deals?  Are these not so great prices??
Just looking for basic direction folks.
THanks.

Hello TSF,
I have been a member for a while now and purchased a few items off here. I am now looking to sell bits of my collection to pay for an engagement ring.
I look forward to partaking in discussions and buying and selling.
Thanks
bearandhog

Hi all I’m new to collecting gold and silver any advance would be greatly appreciated are there any good YouTube channels that are reliable and where are the best places to generally buy from I’m located in the UK Thanks

Hi I'm Steve,
 
I have been buying gold and silver for about a year now.
Mostly collecting but am open to sell some items as well as buying.
 
Thanks

If gold goes down and it starts working won't be too happy, Don't want to sell now but not fit for purpose if it stops working when its high.

“If you don’t hold it you don’t own it.” Now will people see the truth behind this old statement?
It will be due to the fluctuations at the moment up and down and to stop people using the euro account like a day trader. I’m sure it’s fine but it’s an issue if you need the money 😞 

Special edition Bullion By Post.......LOL

@Petra Sure!
1) First of all, the dates 1916 (London mint - no mint mark) and 1911-C are quite scarce, so when you see them come up you should be wary and examine if they are fake. Of course it could be a batch of hoarded sovereigns which are genuine, although there is a very low possibility of that happening.
2) You can notice that some of them have a date of 1919 with no mint mark, therefore London mint. That can't be correct, since London sovereigns weren't minted that year.
3) On some of the coins there seems to be an "B.B.P." instead of "B.P.".
4) Details on the coins. Some examples are:
     a) 1st photo, 1st row, 1st coin from the left: The sword and leg of St. George lack detail and seems to be "integrated" into the body of the horse. There should have been clear lines and details on both the aforementioned parts.
     b) 1st photo, 2nd row, 2nd coin from the right: Details are all wrong, although I would say that the leg and hair streamer of St. George seem to stand out.
     c) 1st photo, 2nd row, 3rd coin from the right: Details are absent and also the date "1916" looks like it was vertically "squeezed".
     d) 1st photo, 3rd row, 3rd coin from the right: Again the details are all wrong, of which the belly of St. George and also the details on the dragon stand out. Plus, under the dragon there is a "canyon", which shouldn't be there.
     These are some of the many wrong things that I can tell you on the spot. Using a photo of an original sovereign will help you greatly in comparing and identifying the wrong thing you see.
     Cheers!
 
 

I think given the pictures, it is difficult to be precise about why they are fakes.  But often it is an initial gut feeling after seeing quite a few sovereigns - but that may not be of much help to you!
The lack of definition on some of them may be a warning sign, in particular on some the lack of differentiation between the body of St George and the mane of his horse.  Also the colour of the coin may be a warning sign.  Some look to have had their gold coating worn off, revealing the black base metal underneath.  Some of the dates look as if they may be too large.
If in doubt, give them a miss.

There has never been a Platinum Jubilee and there won’t be one for many lifetimes.  Even if Prince George were to become King tomorrow (knocks on wood!), and assuming he reigns 70 years, his Platinum Jubilee would be in 2092. Think about that for a moment!
I think people haven’t yet grasped the enormity of this occasion.  They will… after HM passes... and the Elizabethan age suddenly becomes history.
Of the platinum coins released for this jubilee, I think the 1 Oz platinum proof £5 coin is the best of the lot.
https://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/the-queens-platinum-jubilee/the-platinum-jubilee-1oz-platinum-proof-coin/
It is limited in mintage, reasonable priced, and has the beautiful arms and mantle reverse design with the horseback obverse.
The 3 oz piedfort version seems a bit random. It is exactly the same, a few mms larger in diameter, and priced rather extravagantly.
If you just want the mantle and arms design in platinum, the 1 oz is the one to go for.
If you want this design in platinum AND have money to throw, go for the 3 oz.
Long term, the 1 oz will do better, percentage wise, imo.
@tom10101990

My all time favorite is William Wyon’s powerful rendition of St George slaying the dragon…

Most TSF members will be familiar with Benedetto Pistricci's versions of St. George and the Dragon, as used on gold sovereigns from 1817 to date, give or take a few years. His work also appears on crowns, and on multiple and fractional sovereigns.
The Benedetto Pistricci version is generally recognised as a classic masterpiece, but other versions exist, and not only on British coins. but in paintings, carvings, pub signs, medallions, and probably elsewhere.
Our resident "flasher" (photographer) commented about this coin recently:

(LC) Better than Pistrucci's? No, not better, but I like it - love the dragons foot frantically clawing the rim in a vain attempt to get away.  Bravo George!  
I invite other TSF members to add their favourite, least favourite, and any other St. George images here, with or without the dragon.