LawrenceChard

I too would prefer it if all newly minted bullions coins came without scuffs or other handling marks. We @ChardsCoinandBullionDealer do discuss production quality with the Royal Mint, and we do state where relevant, that bullion coins we supply may have bagmarks, etc. We have always made efforts to clearly and accurately describe products we offer for sale. As we now receive direct supplies of coins from the Royal Mint, we are under an obligation not to undermine their "brand". I am sure many of our competitors fail to be as transparent or accurate in their descriptions as we do. I would prefer we did not need to "manage customers' expectations". In some cases, I am sure that some of these have become higher in recent years, possibly partly due to the rise in "slabbing" on the UK market. Your definitions of bullion are incomplete. Here, we provide more thorough definitions: https://www.chards.co.uk/guides/what-is-bullion/213 The most important and relevant point is "Bullion, a term used to describe precious metals that are valued for their weight and purity rather than for any collectible or numismatic value." Of course, it would be preferable if bullion coins could be supplied perfect, without any scuffs, bagmarks, blemishes, etc., rather than simply in "Mint Condition", this last expression could be an interesting topic for debate, because most people use it synonymously with "perfect", which has hardly ever been the case during the 2,500 years of coin production. Another possible option would be the existence and production of "Brilliant Uncirculated" versions of bullion coins at a slighly higher premium if necessary, and if there was sufficient demand. This does of course somewhat contradict the definition of "bullion"! I am of course aware that many mints produce proof versions of their "bullion" coins, which get sold at much higher premiums, but again this in itself is arguably an oxymoron. 😎

Gold sovereigns do not state their nominal value, although neither do they state their purity and weight. They don't seem to be very commonly used in circulation for everyday purchases. Krugerrands do state their gold content, but there is little evidence that they are used in circulation. Many other gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins also state their weight and purity, and yet again, there is little evidence that they are used much for everyday purchases. Some of these coins are Canadian, how many have you used to buy things with recently, or at all? 😎

So after all that, what exactly was / is the precious lesson? 😎

It would be easier if you posted clearly focused photos, my eyes have now gone blurry! 😎

Thanks, I don't get either, and I only see the Metro about once a year or less. 😎

That's rather harsh, it is easy to miss. We may not have packaged and shipped all the Tuesday and Wednesday orders, I can't tell easily without interrupting workflow. We should tune our online messages up so that they give a more individualised status, although a sell-out in 24 hours was unexpected. Many of our systems are now automated, so order status messages do go out to customers. It's definitely not true that people are only interested in our gold... We were also busy shipping out lots of silver Britannias, etc. 😎

They were also discussed on Wednesday, and I responded. We had at least 1,000 of them in stock on Tuesday, but we sold out sometime on Wednesday. There are more due in next week. 😎

So you can save about £8 compared with the best prices around from competitive coin and bullion dealers. Everyone on TSF should order one. I presume their offer is limited to one per household per annum, as usual. Which newspaper was the advert in?, I can't read it from your photo.

I seem to be having to explain things to you multiple times: We do have (expensive) XRF equipment, but it is not essential, and we managed at least 40+ years without it. "This XRF equipent you have is 40 years old and is not updated to detect sophisticated modern fakes? How did you manage without it and were you selling the same coins that you bought off the public back to the public without proper testing?" FFS, No, we managed very well for 40 years without any XRF equipment; mainly because it is not absolutely necessary. So, no, our XRF equipment is no 40 years old. I don't know exactly how long, but perhaps 7 to 10 years, yes it gets software updates as necessary, along with its annual maintence. It is a quick, handy tool which saves slower testing methods. For hundreds of years, numismatists have been selling coins without needing to use XRF testing. You seem to underestimate human capability, which still outperforms even qjuite expensive and sophisticated equipment , on many occasions, and in many different disciplines. "Humans cant be Collectibles , or is the Slave Trade still going on nowadays?" It is regretable that you do not appear to have a sense of humour, although yes, it is well known to be thriving in much of the world, sometimes concealed by "religious belief". If it is a scam, then why not report it to the police? "Because they are run by the Scamming Politicians." Then why don't you report the Scamming Police to the politicians? (Joke) You could run for Parliament, and do your bit to put things right. You might not get elected, but at least you could try! 😎

I seem to think we also did a serration count on a bullion version. 😎

This might help with your blood pressure: https://www.chards.co.uk/guides/how-to-detect-fake-coin-forgeries/1085 It is not just aout counterfeits, but other differences in dimensions and specifications. 😎

It is not an optical illusion, but I am sure there is no more gold in it. It is probably just a higher rim.

Milled Edges on Gold Sovereigns - Wide Variations Yesterday, as usual, I had a few incoming batches of gold sovereigns to check. This particular batch caught my eye, so we took photos: I could have invited guesses for what dates and mintmarks each coin was, but the odds against a correct guess would probably be in excess of a billion to one, so we made life easy. I would recommend anyone with even a modest quantity of mixed sovereigns to look at their edges in a stack or roll like this. With older bullion sovereigns in bulk, I hold a "roll" in my left hand, so that I can flick them to my right hand while checking both sides quickly. I also do similar when hand counting coins in general. Taking a quick look at the edges before you start can yield some interesting results, and this is something which many people don't do. Sometimes, like on this occasion, there are more differences than expected I could comment individually on each coin, or on the more obvious differences, but... ... Instead, I will throw it open for comments! 😎

"Yes the more the Purity the more the market value." Not necessarily, an 1841 22ct gold sovereign for example is worth many time its intinsic value, whereas a quarter ounce gold Britannia is worth its intrinsice value within a few percent. 1967 and 1968 Tonga coins are worth a substantial premium to an interested collector, whereas bars are traded as a commodity within a small percentage of their intrinsic value, ignoring VAT in the UK and EU. "So if I bought those coins off you and few years later try to sell them back to you, will it be a quick transaction or illiquid take a long time because you going to do your checks? You probably say they need to be appraised by a specialist and who will pay for that specialist?" It would be a quick transaction because we know what we are doing. We could pay you same day, as opposed to auction houses who take vast fees and are not instant. "Do you have that expensive testing machine to test 999.5 purity palladium? If not a appraisal specialist is required." We do have (expensive) XRF equipment, but it is not essential, and we managed at least 40+ years without it. "Because Krugerrands are popular and everybody knows about them and their purity but nobody knows about 'Palladium'." Not everybody knows about Krugerrands, and there are many people who know about palladium. "Your Palladium coins are still expensive even without VAT added to them, works out similar price to Bullion Palladium." Fair market value is a matter of opinion. "In fact there should be no 20% VAT on precious metal coins, should only apply to bars because bars are not collectibles and can be melted down for industrial use hence the 20% VAT. Coins are collectibles because they have designs on them so I cant understand who in their mind will want to melt down their coin collection to use for industrial use. British Law clearly states 20%VAT applies because it will be used for industrial/business/commercial that needs to be taxed. so this 20% VAT on precious metal coins is a Scam because there's no VAT on Gold, yet Gold is used in the industry for jewellery and electronics." That's an interesting "fact". I would be very happy for there to be no VAT on silver, platinum, and palladium, in the form of coins or bars, but you really need to take up the argument with the UK Chancellor, HMRC, and also their EU equivalents, and your own MP. Good luck! "Coins are collectibles because they have designs on them" I have designs on the girl next door, but that does not make her "collectible". "so I cant understand who in their mind will want to melt down their coin collection to use for industrial use." There seems to be a lot you don't understand, but the criteria for VAT status does not include whether some individual might or might not want to melt something down. "British Law clearly states 20%VAT applies because it will be used for industrial/business/commercial that needs to be taxed." Where does is say that? "so this 20% VAT on precious metal coins is a Scam because there's no VAT on Gold, yet Gold is used in the industry for jewellery and electronics."" If it is a scam, then why not report it to the police? 😎

I received an update from the auction house this morning. They had drawn the bidder's attention to the doubts expressed, and given him the opportunity to withdraw from the purchase, which he did, so the coin is back with the seller. Although this was not the originally preferred outcome, it does demonstrate that the auction house is ethical, and places its reputation before a quick profit. 😎

That's splendidly ambiguous! 😎

Does size matter? 😎

No, they are not pushing me out of the door, they just don't let me in the door! With the recent proliferation of new issues, I think I am suffering from information overload. Even when I have firm information, I need to check whether it is official and in the public domain, and ensure I am not revealing privileged information. We probably need a well organised list of what UK issues have been released, in what metals, weights, finishes, together with projected new issues, and the all - important embargo dates. Despite the fact that I take more leisure time than I used to do, there are many other things to divert my attention, such as trying to forecast sales and demand, metal prices, purchase allocations, cash flow, tech development. None of this is my exclusive responsibility I am very glad to say, but I am still involved in discussions and direction. There are a number of other projects we are also looking at, for future growth, expansion, and development. Your name change suggestion could be defamatory you know! 😎

Now I have had time to sleep on the question, it is highly unlikely there will be a Charles and Camilla gold sovereign. Looking at previous "royalty" themes, it is much more likely that any such designs will be on crowns. 😎

I suspect it will only be for a few months. It is possible I have seen some information and forgotten it. Someone at @ChardsCoinandBullionDealer might know the answer. 😎

Top Secret! 😎

It looks like we sold out today. I suspect we did not get our full initial allocation, but we have another delivery due next week. 😎

They were being discussed on TSF a day or so ago, and the concusion is they were the same bullion coins. 😎

And the answer is... 94! 😎

We did have these last year: https://www.chards.co.uk/2022-double-sovereign-gold-coin-monster-box/16435 But they are not the memorial ones, which have not yet been released, and I am not sure whether they have even been unofficially announced. If 2022 memorial bullion quarters are issued, we intend to stock them, although we do not always stock new quarters as I consider the premium is too high for investors, and there is a biggish minmum order quantity. I would rather buy 5,000 bullion sovereigns than 500 quarter sovereigns. 😎