gazer

Thank you 😊 

I grabbed some images from an eBay listing and am sharing here for posterity.


@Paul

Okay so here’s my promised reply…
As some here have said, the simple answer is that pattern coins are exactly that - patterns - and therefore not legal tender. 
The stories behind them are however much more interesting, and also not very straightforward, if one cares for such things.
Usually pattern coins were “pre production patterns” stuck when new coinage / designs were to be released, to test various aspects about them, not least how they actually look and feel.
Remember that back in the day coinage didn’t change all that much. It typically changed for special occasions like coronations and jubilees, and commemorative coinage was issued only for very special events - certainly there was no weekly/monthly commemorative coinage like we have today.
So the pre production patterns were struck in limited numbers, usually less than 10 or so, and once their job was done, they were either melted down or retained and presented to important people and organisations as prestige pieces and sets (such as the British Museum, the Royal Collection, the Royal Mint Museum itself, and in some cases to privileged and important individuals).
Today, we have new designs every other week, and pattern pieces for these are common. We saw the recent Royal Mint Die Trial / Pattern Pieces Auction. You can read about die trial pieces here:
https://www.royalmint.com/collect/auction/what-is-a-die-trial-piece/
Now, coming to this 2022 Piedfort Pattern Sovereign set... 
As the Die Trial Pieces auction shows, the RM already made and auctioned off the pattern pieces made for the 2022 Sovereign.
So it seems this Piedfort pattern set is more of a prestige set made specially for privileged people, like in the old days. It is extremely limited and unique (being plain edge and piedfort). I believe this set marks the first time ever the other Sovereign denominations have been struck as piedfort coins.
The ebay listing is, I think, referring to the 1937 pattern coinage set made for Edward VIII, who of course abdicated and therefore his coinage was never released in the UK. So those pattern sets are not only rare but also among the most desirable m and expensive because they’re the only way collectors can ever own British coinage of Edward VIII. 
Here is a nice little article about these pattern coins: 
https://www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk/collection/coins/the-coins-of-edward-viii/
The Australian pattern coinage of Edward VIII is also fascinating, and rather gorgeous too: 
https://coinworks.com.au/The-1937-Pattern-coinage-of-Edward-VIII
The 1937 George VI 4-coin Proof Sovereign set also consisted of pattern coins - they are all plain edge.
As did the 1953 4-coin Elizabeth II Sovereign set - however these are milled edge.
Finally, I find it especially difficult to comprehend that these ebay sellers are selling their pattern sets even before they’ve received them or had the chance to enjoy them. It’s as if they don’t even care about what it is they’ve been offered - to be a part of history. This is the first ever platinum jubilee, and the last we’ll ever see for generations. It is so historic.
What a shame to just turn them over for a quick profit. If ever there was a definition of flipping coins, this would be it.

Piedfort (Pattern) = not approved for release double weight 2022 sovereign proof coin

Good year date to start.

Good year date to start.

Yes, that would be quite a display- seen this done before, a more permanent solution 
 

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.
 

 

Lovely George II crown 🙂

Today I received, a couple of bullion Sovereigns from @1stsovereign. Nothing overly collectible, just simple honest bullion examples to go towards a date set. Thanks!

The obsession continues…! Couldn’t resist getting a second Black Panther silver mask from the supremely talented @StBeesSilver. With the Black Panther 2 movie’s release later this year I thought it’s only right (well that’s my story and I’m sticking to it 😏). The the differentiation from the 1st one I got with the iridescent stating is perfect. Also the 1/12 and 12/12 COAs are a nice touch. There are still a couple more left of the 12 if anyone wants to get one.
 
Icing on the cake is I discovered that they fit perfectly into a couple of Scottsdale stacker bar boxes I was going to either sell or chuck, result!

Nothing to lose try an exchange.

A very nice 1866 London half sovereign. Common coin but looks to be a good grade. 

Stunning set of coins recceived today. Shame about the quality. 😭 
Missing frosting around Rims and dings on the QA, missing frosting and black bits on rim of Portrait but portrait herself looks stunning though. 
Still looks stunning as a set.
In 2 minds to keep or try for exchange. 

Lovely 3 Sovereign presentation set, bargain 4 ounce Yeagers pyramid, some "minty" Libertads and a Sigma witchcraft machine 🥳
Thanks @Sparrowlegs4 @arphethean @ChardsCoinandBullionDealer @ebay

Haven't been here in a while...

Thanks @Charverdude for this Silver Proof Piedfort set.


 

Well written and informative 👏 

Is there a link to the two lots?

The bite test, on a Gold bar:

I grabbed a screenshot of the auction listing:

As we can see, it is lot 690a, by Potteries Auctions, of Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire.
Two Day Online Auction of 20th Century Pottery, Furniture, Jewellery & Hifi Equipment. Day 1: Lots 1-750 Day 2: Lots 751-1301
Two Day Online Auction of 20th Century Pottery, Furniture, Jewellery Chess Pieces & Hifi Equipment. Day 1: Lots 1-750 Day 2: Lots 751-1301
08 - 09 Apr 2022 10:00 BST (2 day sale)
Potteries Auctions room
Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire
I took a quick look at their "Additional fees apply" link:
"Additional Fees:
Commissions*:    29.94% Inc.VAT/sales tax
*Includes buyer's premium and online commission. For more information please read the auctioneer's T&Cs."
Important Information
*IMPORTANT INFORMATION - COVID 19* - The auction will be online with limited in person bidding by appointment only. 
We are now able to offer viewing by appointment only.
Packing and posting service available. Collections strictly by appointment only and must be pre-paid. Please visit our website for further information. Thank you. 
Buyer's Premium 20% + VAT
Lots purchased online with the-saleroom.com will attract an additional charge for this service in the sum of 4.95% of the hammer price plus VAT at the rate imposed
Payment is accepted by Bank Transfer, Cheque (with seven working days clearance). Credit Card or Debit Card (under £250) & cash.
Please note: We do not accept credit or debit card payments for Customer Not Present Transactions. If you are not able to pay in person at our cash office then please arrange to pay via direct bank transfer prior to goods being collected or dispatched. This also applies to buyers purchasing goods via the.saleroom.com or easyliveauction.com.
We will take payment for items purchased if you have not contacted us within 7 days after the sale to arrange an alternative payment method.
Please note Artist Resale Rights (ARR) may apply when purchasing certain artwork
Shipping:
We provide an in-house packing and postage service. Our UK charges are as follows:
Upto 2kg inclusive of VAT and Packing £18.00
Over 2kg inclusive of VAT and Packing £35.00
We offer insurance at a cost of 5% of the goods value. Items will not be covered for loss or damage without insurance.
*Please be aware that the charges above are only a guide and lots with multiple items requiring a lengthy packing time may be subject to a higher charge.
Please note a charge of 3 % plus VAT is added to credit card payments. 
c.  Sellers commission rate is 16% + VAT on lots sold with a hammer price of over £101. Lots sold for £100 or less are charged at 25% + VAT. There is also a lot fee of £3 per lot.
It makes me wonder how and why this auction manages to stay in business, apart from the fact it make huge profit margins with its fees, commissions and other charges. What I really don't understand is why anyone ever uses it to sell anything, or why anyone buys from it.
Let's assume someone was stupid enough to pay the intrinsic value of a genuine sovereign (£346), they would need to deduct enough from their bid, divide by 1.3, to leave £266. If they paid by credit card, and wanted the item posting insured, this would cost another £18 + 8% of the sale price (about £46), so £220.
The seller would be paying 16% + VAT = 19.2% commission, so would receive less than £185!
@MJCOIN Are you thinking of asking the auctioneers is the coin is genuine, and how they know?
😎
 

An absolute “rotter”

The photos are what are known in technical terms as c**p, so it is hard to be certain, but it is likely the coin is also a c**p fake, typical euphemism / optimism from yet another auction house not having the specialist knowledge or experience to do their job right.

My concern is that if things don't get better it could directly impact on my pension..
I am aware of two long-term purchasers of RM product who have recently decided not to bother any more. Not for reasons of quality (the advent of coin grading has fuelled some peoples unrealistic expectations in my opinion) - but because of the queue system used by the RM. They have missed out on several recent releases and refuse to participate in the feeding frenzy that follows. But i digress.. 
I consider myself a collector more than a stacker but the end goal is to sell a lot of my coins to fund my retirement. If the reputation of the RM takes much more of a pounding then secondary market values will follow. I have never intended to make a heap of money from buying coins and have considered them a store of wealth with the potential to outperform interest rates (a bit like premium bonds). Most will see little return but some will fly. But a big part of  this plan is that the collecting of modern coins remains popular.