FourNinesFine

Few more pix

Well the 'FD' is clearly 'Fancy Dan'. But I'm really struggling as to what the 'c' might stand for. I mean, it's right on the tip of my tongue... but ...

Well, I never knew that. And I've been wasting all my money on bulk toilet rolls and hotdogs! In all seriousness, I will be checking my local one next time I'm there.

Well the 'FD' is clearly 'Fancy Dan'. But I'm really struggling as to what the 'c' might stand for. I mean, it's right on the tip of my tongue... but ...

I know it's not much, but thanks to these little beauties, my first ever gold stack now stands at a mighty 0.47ozt and I couldn't be more thrilled. Here's to bringing many more of their siblings into our shiny little family in the future.
 

 

Today I received a nice pair of 20 Franc coins for my LMU collection. The 1830s and 40s in general are scarce years, so I was thrilled to be able to complete this year/mint pair.
1842-W (Lille) - mintage of 21,600
1842-A (Paris) - mintage of 70,666
Unbelievably low total mintage of 20 Franc coins for the year 1842 of under 100,000 pieces.
 
 
 
 

I know it's not much, but thanks to these little beauties, my first ever gold stack now stands at a mighty 0.47ozt and I couldn't be more thrilled. Here's to bringing many more of their siblings into our shiny little family in the future.
 

 

This is probably true.
But I suppose this will only come with knowledge. So I imagine that my acquisitions may indeed change over time, but in the meantime, I've literally just started so the key for me is building up a base stack. Given their recognition and liquidity, Sovereigns seem like a solid choice for the fledgling stacker, and something that I can reasonably expect to be able to add to while I gain more specific expertise.

This is probably true.
But I suppose this will only come with knowledge. So I imagine that my acquisitions may indeed change over time, but in the meantime, I've literally just started so the key for me is building up a base stack. Given their recognition and liquidity, Sovereigns seem like a solid choice for the fledgling stacker, and something that I can reasonably expect to be able to add to while I gain more specific expertise.

Thanks @Iacabu. I think just about everyone here is more experienced than I am, so I welcome the input.
I have to say that in just the last week, I've learned so much. My 'sensible' head is prevailing and all signs point to gold if it's truly a 'value storage' / wealth preservation outome I'm looking for. To back that up, I purchased my first gold this very day - 2x 2022 sovereigns.
But (and I say this in whispered tones because I can feel the shaking heads, rolling eyes, and tut-tuts from the pros), I know that I'll still be picking up some silver 1oz coins as I go. Why? Just because I really like them. And I think, as strange as it sounds, I'll need that visceral and visual 'hit' in order to sustain my ambitions over the long term.
So yes, in 20 years or so I'll be able to look back and say, if I'd JUST done gold I could have amassed 'x' oz more - but a pursuit like this has to be enjoyable too (for me at least) and if it was purely pragmatic and practical, I'd probably lose momentum.
Again, I appreciate how proposterous that sounds. But I'm a kook!
So... my new strategy is something along the lines of... investment funds buy sovereigns and loose change buys silver Maples. That sounds reasonable for now. 
Cheers my friend.
FNF.

Firstly, sorry for a super-noob question.
I know that the sovereign IS legal UK tender, so not looking for clarity on that. I'm just wondering:
1) why it's allowed to be legal tender when the coin itself doesn't carry a denomination
2) is there a reason it doesn't - historically?
I thought there may some fascinating back-story. Or is it just that it's the most famous coin in the world, so why bother explaining it when everyone knows what it is?
 

I've run out of 'reactions' so you get the full quoted response.  Thanks for this, I'll try and make my way through the links. 👍
FNF.

I know it's not much, but thanks to these little beauties, my first ever gold stack now stands at a mighty 0.47ozt and I couldn't be more thrilled. Here's to bringing many more of their siblings into our shiny little family in the future.
 

 

It may have had to do with the literacy of the population, what would the point be  to mint coins with denominations when all the serfs can't read.  To make it harder the legend is a mix of English, Latin, abbreviated Latin and or French.  (Not the only reason why there's French language on English, then British coins)  How many people in 2022 can read the legend of a UK coin?  
Even today the Royal Mint mints coins for other nations African in this case with 2015 dates. (I have seen this and did ask this question "why are you minting coins with pervious dates")  The answer I got from the Royal Mint  they said "Most of the local population are illiterate and are familiar with the coin and the date, they are taught it's genuine and  if you change the date they think it's a fake"    Not my words and I'm in no way suggesting anyone of any nation is illiterate, just the reply I got from the Royal Mint. 
Also what others have mentioned, the coin was used for a standard weight a of precious metal.  When you think about this once all the precious metals was removed this is around the time a denomination become the norm.  Maybe trying to make an almost intrinsically worthless coin have value by stating a denomination? 
Cheers Dave. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Helpful books
 https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Sovereign-Chief-Coin-World/dp/1869917006
https://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/ranges/historic-coins/historic-books/Objects-of-War-Currency-in-a-Time-of-Conflict/
@Foster88 The 2nd book by Dr Kevin Clancy Objects of War, is a very interesting book and talks about 1914 and run toto WW1 and the subsequent run on the banks for sovereigns and the introduction of the Bradbury £1 note.   As for what people felt they were seriously unhappy  the PR machine tried to tell British people holding sovereigns was unpatriotic.  They population knew the ruling classes took the wealth out of the currency out of the hands of the people into the hands of the few this happened in sync with many nations strange that?
We could witness something similar in our lifetime once cash vanishes, this will be another step for the wealth (whats left) out of the hands of the many into the controlling hands of the few.  

This I think is key, it frightens me seeing people not using coins and notes, and even more contactless (could this have something to do with covid and pushing the idea of dirty money). I do believe both an uncentralized crypto and gods money will break the back of fiat.

Sovereign has a default nomination value of one pound sterling since inception. Sovereign produce by the Royal Mint is legal tender in United Kingdom, settlement is another matter of contention. 
https://gocardless.com/guides/posts/what-is-legal-tender-uk/#:~:text=By law%2C legal tender is,to the value of 20p.
 

I think before the gold standard Issac Newton valued it as 4.25lb of silver to 1 ounce of gold. It was like that for 200 years or so. So 1lb of silver to 1 sovereign sounds about right. I can't remember where I read this sorry for no links.

I know it's not much, but thanks to these little beauties, my first ever gold stack now stands at a mighty 0.47ozt and I couldn't be more thrilled. Here's to bringing many more of their siblings into our shiny little family in the future.
 

 

I know it's not much, but thanks to these little beauties, my first ever gold stack now stands at a mighty 0.47ozt and I couldn't be more thrilled. Here's to bringing many more of their siblings into our shiny little family in the future.
 

 

Thanks @Iacabu. I think just about everyone here is more experienced than I am, so I welcome the input.
I have to say that in just the last week, I've learned so much. My 'sensible' head is prevailing and all signs point to gold if it's truly a 'value storage' / wealth preservation outome I'm looking for. To back that up, I purchased my first gold this very day - 2x 2022 sovereigns.
But (and I say this in whispered tones because I can feel the shaking heads, rolling eyes, and tut-tuts from the pros), I know that I'll still be picking up some silver 1oz coins as I go. Why? Just because I really like them. And I think, as strange as it sounds, I'll need that visceral and visual 'hit' in order to sustain my ambitions over the long term.
So yes, in 20 years or so I'll be able to look back and say, if I'd JUST done gold I could have amassed 'x' oz more - but a pursuit like this has to be enjoyable too (for me at least) and if it was purely pragmatic and practical, I'd probably lose momentum.
Again, I appreciate how proposterous that sounds. But I'm a kook!
So... my new strategy is something along the lines of... investment funds buy sovereigns and loose change buys silver Maples. That sounds reasonable for now. 
Cheers my friend.
FNF.

I'm in this for the long game, so I'm hoping that I won't be stung that badly, if and when I chose to cash in any of my silver. How bad can it be, assuming that I'm already resigned to the fact that I'll lose whatever premium I originally paid? Unless the floor falls out of the silver market completely.
All that said, with premiums what they are ... I have quickly come around to the fact that gold is a better (smarter?) fit with my long-term investment ambitions and I just need to come to terms with the fact that it will mean stacking coins with a much smaller diameter than I'd originally intended. 😆
But I can't promise I won't stack any more silver... there's just something about those goddam Maple Leaves...
Thanks @FlorinCollector, I really appreciate the feedback.
FNF.

I never thought about it like that.

I know it's not much, but thanks to these little beauties, my first ever gold stack now stands at a mighty 0.47ozt and I couldn't be more thrilled. Here's to bringing many more of their siblings into our shiny little family in the future.
 

 

I know it's not much, but thanks to these little beauties, my first ever gold stack now stands at a mighty 0.47ozt and I couldn't be more thrilled. Here's to bringing many more of their siblings into our shiny little family in the future.