Aran

Well I'm currently on the phone with royal mail trying to get the postman to turn around 😁

Hi. There seems to be a fair amount of disappointment with the quality of the Platinum Jubilee SOTD Sovereign. In many cases little areas of missing ‘frost’ give the appearance of black marks or little ‘nicks’. As a result many forum members are concerned about how their coin will grade and are sending them back to the RM (not sure if they will get replacement or refund?).
I decided to look at my previous MS70 SOTD Matte Sovereigns and, without exception, they all have the same issue. Either I’m unlucky (though NGC deemed them fit to be 70) or this is part and parcel of this type of product.
I’ve attached a few photos of the 2021 95 privy SOTD Sovereign to illustrate what I mean. (I’ve used a x10 loupe which shows defects invisible to the naked eye).
To those who are considering sending back their SOTD Sovereign to the RM, maybe you might reconsider?

Hi. There seems to be a fair amount of disappointment with the quality of the Platinum Jubilee SOTD Sovereign. In many cases little areas of missing ‘frost’ give the appearance of black marks or little ‘nicks’. As a result many forum members are concerned about how their coin will grade and are sending them back to the RM (not sure if they will get replacement or refund?).
I decided to look at my previous MS70 SOTD Matte Sovereigns and, without exception, they all have the same issue. Either I’m unlucky (though NGC deemed them fit to be 70) or this is part and parcel of this type of product.
I’ve attached a few photos of the 2021 95 privy SOTD Sovereign to illustrate what I mean. (I’ve used a x10 loupe which shows defects invisible to the naked eye).
To those who are considering sending back their SOTD Sovereign to the RM, maybe you might reconsider?

Hi. There seems to be a fair amount of disappointment with the quality of the Platinum Jubilee SOTD Sovereign. In many cases little areas of missing ‘frost’ give the appearance of black marks or little ‘nicks’. As a result many forum members are concerned about how their coin will grade and are sending them back to the RM (not sure if they will get replacement or refund?).
I decided to look at my previous MS70 SOTD Matte Sovereigns and, without exception, they all have the same issue. Either I’m unlucky (though NGC deemed them fit to be 70) or this is part and parcel of this type of product.
I’ve attached a few photos of the 2021 95 privy SOTD Sovereign to illustrate what I mean. (I’ve used a x10 loupe which shows defects invisible to the naked eye).
To those who are considering sending back their SOTD Sovereign to the RM, maybe you might reconsider?

Hi. There seems to be a fair amount of disappointment with the quality of the Platinum Jubilee SOTD Sovereign. In many cases little areas of missing ‘frost’ give the appearance of black marks or little ‘nicks’. As a result many forum members are concerned about how their coin will grade and are sending them back to the RM (not sure if they will get replacement or refund?).
I decided to look at my previous MS70 SOTD Matte Sovereigns and, without exception, they all have the same issue. Either I’m unlucky (though NGC deemed them fit to be 70) or this is part and parcel of this type of product.
I’ve attached a few photos of the 2021 95 privy SOTD Sovereign to illustrate what I mean. (I’ve used a x10 loupe which shows defects invisible to the naked eye).
To those who are considering sending back their SOTD Sovereign to the RM, maybe you might reconsider?

Hi. There seems to be a fair amount of disappointment with the quality of the Platinum Jubilee SOTD Sovereign. In many cases little areas of missing ‘frost’ give the appearance of black marks or little ‘nicks’. As a result many forum members are concerned about how their coin will grade and are sending them back to the RM (not sure if they will get replacement or refund?).
I decided to look at my previous MS70 SOTD Matte Sovereigns and, without exception, they all have the same issue. Either I’m unlucky (though NGC deemed them fit to be 70) or this is part and parcel of this type of product.
I’ve attached a few photos of the 2021 95 privy SOTD Sovereign to illustrate what I mean. (I’ve used a x10 loupe which shows defects invisible to the naked eye).
To those who are considering sending back their SOTD Sovereign to the RM, maybe you might reconsider?

Hi. There seems to be a fair amount of disappointment with the quality of the Platinum Jubilee SOTD Sovereign. In many cases little areas of missing ‘frost’ give the appearance of black marks or little ‘nicks’. As a result many forum members are concerned about how their coin will grade and are sending them back to the RM (not sure if they will get replacement or refund?).
I decided to look at my previous MS70 SOTD Matte Sovereigns and, without exception, they all have the same issue. Either I’m unlucky (though NGC deemed them fit to be 70) or this is part and parcel of this type of product.
I’ve attached a few photos of the 2021 95 privy SOTD Sovereign to illustrate what I mean. (I’ve used a x10 loupe which shows defects invisible to the naked eye).
To those who are considering sending back their SOTD Sovereign to the RM, maybe you might reconsider?

I got my sotd sov today. Me and the Mrs spent about 15mins going over it with an 11x mag. I'm chuffed to say it's impeccable and not a mark can be found. Total grader in my opinion though I'm not doing that. I'll post pics when I can and I don't have the grandkid airring around. She makes me nervous my "70" will be made a 50 🤣

Says it all!
 

Says it all!
 

Received this AM… SOTD with signed certificate. 
Nice one for the stack!  
 

IMG_3901.MOV    

Fondling is too nice a word, think cement mixer.

2oz proof Britannia from Royal Mint. Ordered late Saturday night, turned up first thing this morning! Looks great.

The EIC 2oz Golds are circa £6K direct from the mint. They might hold their value in a 70, but I don’t think they will in a 69 (at least not in the short term, from personal experience with a 2oz Gold Una). Not sure about the Gothic series, but the big difference between the RM and EIC versions of the Una (for me at least) is the far superior ‘relief’ on the RM strikes. Give me an RM silver Una any day over the EIC gold. I haven’t seen the EIC Gothics in hand so can’t comment there….

You just misquoted me for a third time!
My exact words, as can be seen in your screenshot, were:
"Nothing I have not communicated to them directly, since 2000 at least."
You managed to distort that into:
your exact words were have not communicated with RM directly since 2000
So you omitted a key word "Nothing" which creates the opposite meaning, and you changed "to" into "with". Although this is a minor change, you did allege those were my exact words.
It is getting difficult to have any confidence in the accuracy of anything you say. I am trying to be polite about this.
 
 

@BarryWoods Since day one here on the forum and in most of my life interactions I just only try to 'add value/help' first. If I can't add value I will most likely not reply
Negative energy is a killer to your DNA/nerves/general state of mind/being
All I have offered to you in this 20+ page moan a thon is genuine help and guidance in small bite size, easy to take on board chunks. 
I don't court likes, thanks or quotes responses, the fact you can't even acknowledge folk actually trying to help you and guide you speaks volumes of yourself
Ps it's very weird with me  always trying actually helping others first before myself, try to guide, share a little info, a tip or a trade.
Funny how lovely luck and good things have came my way as a result.
Doors have opened. Contacts made. 
Contracts have came me way in business, great things have came to me here, in my stacking journey, my business, my personal life, my family life.
Your life will typically mirror the energy and behaviour you put out and exhibit into the world
 
 

I really disliked those shoddily closing caps with the Graces and now again dreading to see the coin after it's flown half way cross the world... and if you guys think it's a pain to return, imagine shipping a coin back express, only to discover it's sitting for 2 weeks on an Australian airport tarmac waiting for a flight to the UK. I'm 21 days in and counting with a returned coin and now Parcelforce tells me it's likely coming back as they "do not deliver to PO Boxes"... ?!? 🤯
 

Just a question, just trying to make sense of the situation, not out to get you mate.
The reason why I ask is because knowledge of what dealers were selling the previous coins from the series may have help inform you of the premiums as this isn't a new phenomenon in the proof coin market, especially the great engravers series. Yes this is the 1st plain edge but the Royal Mint isn't known to put exponential prices on top due to exclusivity of the coin (well newly release coins anyways 😩). From what I gather from the parts I've had time to read the perceived authorised dealer element of the transaction is the major issue.
Do the Royal Mint need to tighten this? Yes. I'm sure they can create a system where they can be more explicit about which dealers are getting coins at a wholesale price and therefore trusted dealer. Can they stop people buying at RRP then slapping premiums on it? Generally no as its a free market. Also the harsh reality is it perpetuates their business. I've worked for the largest sports brand in the world and while they monitor and make sure it doesn't get too out of hand, the secondary market is the lifeblood of their business and isn't in their interest to shut it down. You know a lot about the watch world. Look at what Patek do with their sports watches. Sell them for £20k then they show up on websites for £150k+! 
Now 1st release labels and the debacle that is the Royal Mint pre grading coins all at 70? That I stand shoulder to shoulder with you but that's probably for another thread all together

I don't. How can a dealer make money otherwise?
Example: I bought a SOTD from Chard's and I happily paid more than RRP.

As I posted way way back now.
' Buyer beware '
it applies to any dealing you do with any one person on any day every day of your living life,
from buying your bread and milk on a morning in date 
To picking your takeaway so you don't get the two Bob bits
To repairing a roof or buying a car
or taking speculative punts of lumpy shiny metal
 

Thank you for the suggestions, though we usually ask members to put forward any suggestions privately to myself. This topic has however given some useful information, and has been useful to read the posts in. I will therefore keep it open for the moment, though please forgive me if I do not reply publicly to any questions directed at me.
 
In general the trade section is working well, with over 7927 trade topics in 2021, and as previously stated in a post above I would eventually like to add gold/silver etc filters and a filter search to the trade section. I do agree though that we can improve the TSF trade section even further than simply doing this though.

TSF uses forum based software, it isn't designed as a marketplace and there are therefore a lot of limitations to the system. For example a usual 'shop' running on e-commerce software (I have had multiple online shops in various countries) is more geared up for selling items, even in the basic sense of categories and filters which are native features to most if not all e-commerce software. There is also already several custom plugins/applications related to the tag system / auto locking after 30 days (still needs to be updated by the developer) as well as other plugins/applications that also would need to not conflict with the code of any new plugin/application.

I do feel however that a forum style listing for precious metals does work well, and it has worked well for many years, as it is simple for members to list multiple items for sale in a list style in a single listing. With some extensive custom work, but just some simple changes to the front end, we can likely improve the trade section further. Any custom work requires a lot of resources to maintain (costs of going through the code and 'upgrading' each time there is a major software update which is regular on the platform we use, and the limited pool of developers to choose from who work with this software, and the initial developer needing to be the same developer to maintain) and even a simple change at a user end point's view may in practice not be simple.

I can start looking into this, in this coming week to find the associated costs and limitations. I do feel it is better to add a more extensive filter system rather than simple splitting into gold/silver, as was mentioned in some posts the ability to filter between private/commercial sales would also be useful. My initial thoughts are either a filter system or a tab style system to split the forum's trade section, or implementing both. And also being able to easily filter between auction / for sale listings. 

After we have a clearer idea as to what we can do, I will likely post in the Platinum Lounge section, or Premium Members Lounge, and members there will have a chance to comment. As the forum has a lot of members and even if I do read a lot of posts, it isn't possible to respond to each point raised unfortunately, especially publicly as there is a lot of work that goes into other aspects of running the forum also and I unfortunately do not have as much free time to post or to engage into debate/discussions, unlike many members. 

Unfortunately even after we have invested into improving the trade section, there will likely be a many members who disagree with any change. It isn't possible to please everyone unfortunately, especially with a forum of this size. Though I will try my best to make the trade section easier to use and to find what specifically you are looking for, as this is what ultimately is the issue with the growing trade section, it is harder to filter through listings. And hopefully this will positively affective the majority of members who use the trade section. 

Please also note that TSF does not charge any % fees to list on the forum, and even taking into account the low cost of optional Premium Membership the actual cost to buy & sell items on the forum is extremely low for members. Offering members a very low cost / free way to sell their precious metals items direct to other precious metals enthusiasts. I am dedicated to improving and growing the forum and will try my best to improve it for everyone  

Many thanks for those members who choose to buy and sell on the forum, as it is a key part of TSF. And thank you to those who support TSF with Premium Membership, as this helps a long way, especially into the costs of hiring developers for projects and maintenance which can in some cases be extensive. 

 

I decided to bite the bullet and buy a 2 oz. silver Henry VII.  Since the 2 oz. has seemed easier to obtain than the 1 oz., I will consider collecting the rest of the series in 2 oz. (which is my preference).  In the meantime, I will have the 1 oz. and 2 oz. with a month to decide which way i want to go with this.
My 2 oz. arrived this weekend, and it is absolutely fantastic!  Love the box it comes in.  The King Henry portrait almost looks more BU as opposed to proof (like the obverse), which is absolutely perfect and was my wish.  I don't think they had proof coins back in the time of Henry VII!   This coin is a real winner, and I look forward to seeing the next coin in the series.  Hope it won't be so stressful to order.