Jester

Proud Papa just got the word from NGC that my little guy (please make no other references) weathered Irma in Sarasota and is ready to come home freshly graded!

Proud Papa just got the word from NGC that my little guy (please make no other references) weathered Irma in Sarasota and is ready to come home freshly graded!

Proud Papa just got the word from NGC that my little guy (please make no other references) weathered Irma in Sarasota and is ready to come home freshly graded!

Received this great looking swan today from Platinumskies 

Proud Papa just got the word from NGC that my little guy (please make no other references) weathered Irma in Sarasota and is ready to come home freshly graded!

Proud Papa just got the word from NGC that my little guy (please make no other references) weathered Irma in Sarasota and is ready to come home freshly graded!

Proud Papa just got the word from NGC that my little guy (please make no other references) weathered Irma in Sarasota and is ready to come home freshly graded!

Ladies and Gents...I'm super excited to share with you my most recent acquisition and easily one of the rarest coins in my young collection...the 1866 Sydney Half Sovereign.

TLDR: I got a rare coin cheap.
Per the updated Marsh Sovereign guide, this coin is rated R2 - Very Rare.  I was initially put off by the grade but additional research revealed that there are around 1,000 specimens of this coin surviving and it is most often found below VF.  Downies, an Australian dealer, has one in aUNC and they're asking £7650 and one in VF asking £590.  Drake Sterling has a specimen in PCGS F15 condition asking £265.  The best part is I picked this one up for £243.
Here's a bit more information I found while researching the coin...
"Royal Mint reports indicate that no half sovereigns were minted in 1866 but 62,000 were minted in 1867 and a further 154,000 in 1869. As it is known that there are no 1867 or 1869 dated coins, it is presumed that they were struck with 1866 dies, indicating a total mintage of 216,000* which would seem consistent with the relative survival rate of the date. The date is one of the easier pieces to source with an estimated survival rate just shy of 1,000 and examples do turn up around XF from time to time, though finding examples at AU and beyond can be quite a challenge. The date is often found with a bold obverse rim paired with an undetailed central reverse strike. These examples came off the recycled proof dies of the year as during the year the Sydney mint struck two proof half sovereigns for the Inter-colonial Exhibition in 1866 and the International Exposition in 1867 as products of New South Wales."
*The Marsh Sovereign guide places the total original mintage around 154,000.  
The pieces of information I didn't find that I'd be very interested in learning is, if over 150,000 were minted, how are there only around 1,000 surviving today?  Were they melted down (this appears to be the case..."as the gold coins became worn, they were withdrawn and melted down")?  And why is the avg condition of the coin so low (was it truly a circulation coin)?  A census search of both NGC and PCGS has just 28 coins in better condition with AU58 and MS64 being the best examples between NGC and PCGS respectively.

A few recent pick-ups.  I'm only needing the 1918 Sov from Melbourne and Perth to complete the 1918 set...

And I couldn't pass up picking up the 1917 Ottawa Sov with a mintage of 58,875

My first foray into sixpences...

Five (Quintuple) Sovereigns, 1902 + 1887 !
excuse the pictures, handheld macro and bit blurry



 
 

A few recent arrivals the 1881 looks a bit meh is that a sign of cleaning?

- 1 OZ Silver Libertad 1996 
- 1 OZ Silver Libertad 1997
- 1 OZ Silver Libertad 1998
- 1 OZ Silver Libertad 1999
3 x 1 OZ Proof Elementos Mexicanos medals 
Good day!  

Ladies and Gents...I'm super excited to share with you my most recent acquisition and easily one of the rarest coins in my young collection...the 1866 Sydney Half Sovereign.

TLDR: I got a rare coin cheap.
Per the updated Marsh Sovereign guide, this coin is rated R2 - Very Rare.  I was initially put off by the grade but additional research revealed that there are around 1,000 specimens of this coin surviving and it is most often found below VF.  Downies, an Australian dealer, has one in aUNC and they're asking £7650 and one in VF asking £590.  Drake Sterling has a specimen in PCGS F15 condition asking £265.  The best part is I picked this one up for £243.
Here's a bit more information I found while researching the coin...
"Royal Mint reports indicate that no half sovereigns were minted in 1866 but 62,000 were minted in 1867 and a further 154,000 in 1869. As it is known that there are no 1867 or 1869 dated coins, it is presumed that they were struck with 1866 dies, indicating a total mintage of 216,000* which would seem consistent with the relative survival rate of the date. The date is one of the easier pieces to source with an estimated survival rate just shy of 1,000 and examples do turn up around XF from time to time, though finding examples at AU and beyond can be quite a challenge. The date is often found with a bold obverse rim paired with an undetailed central reverse strike. These examples came off the recycled proof dies of the year as during the year the Sydney mint struck two proof half sovereigns for the Inter-colonial Exhibition in 1866 and the International Exposition in 1867 as products of New South Wales."
*The Marsh Sovereign guide places the total original mintage around 154,000.  
The pieces of information I didn't find that I'd be very interested in learning is, if over 150,000 were minted, how are there only around 1,000 surviving today?  Were they melted down (this appears to be the case..."as the gold coins became worn, they were withdrawn and melted down")?  And why is the avg condition of the coin so low (was it truly a circulation coin)?  A census search of both NGC and PCGS has just 28 coins in better condition with AU58 and MS64 being the best examples between NGC and PCGS respectively.

Ladies and Gents...I'm super excited to share with you my most recent acquisition and easily one of the rarest coins in my young collection...the 1866 Sydney Half Sovereign.

TLDR: I got a rare coin cheap.
Per the updated Marsh Sovereign guide, this coin is rated R2 - Very Rare.  I was initially put off by the grade but additional research revealed that there are around 1,000 specimens of this coin surviving and it is most often found below VF.  Downies, an Australian dealer, has one in aUNC and they're asking £7650 and one in VF asking £590.  Drake Sterling has a specimen in PCGS F15 condition asking £265.  The best part is I picked this one up for £243.
Here's a bit more information I found while researching the coin...
"Royal Mint reports indicate that no half sovereigns were minted in 1866 but 62,000 were minted in 1867 and a further 154,000 in 1869. As it is known that there are no 1867 or 1869 dated coins, it is presumed that they were struck with 1866 dies, indicating a total mintage of 216,000* which would seem consistent with the relative survival rate of the date. The date is one of the easier pieces to source with an estimated survival rate just shy of 1,000 and examples do turn up around XF from time to time, though finding examples at AU and beyond can be quite a challenge. The date is often found with a bold obverse rim paired with an undetailed central reverse strike. These examples came off the recycled proof dies of the year as during the year the Sydney mint struck two proof half sovereigns for the Inter-colonial Exhibition in 1866 and the International Exposition in 1867 as products of New South Wales."
*The Marsh Sovereign guide places the total original mintage around 154,000.  
The pieces of information I didn't find that I'd be very interested in learning is, if over 150,000 were minted, how are there only around 1,000 surviving today?  Were they melted down (this appears to be the case..."as the gold coins became worn, they were withdrawn and melted down")?  And why is the avg condition of the coin so low (was it truly a circulation coin)?  A census search of both NGC and PCGS has just 28 coins in better condition with AU58 and MS64 being the best examples between NGC and PCGS respectively.

Ladies and Gents...I'm super excited to share with you my most recent acquisition and easily one of the rarest coins in my young collection...the 1866 Sydney Half Sovereign.

TLDR: I got a rare coin cheap.
Per the updated Marsh Sovereign guide, this coin is rated R2 - Very Rare.  I was initially put off by the grade but additional research revealed that there are around 1,000 specimens of this coin surviving and it is most often found below VF.  Downies, an Australian dealer, has one in aUNC and they're asking £7650 and one in VF asking £590.  Drake Sterling has a specimen in PCGS F15 condition asking £265.  The best part is I picked this one up for £243.
Here's a bit more information I found while researching the coin...
"Royal Mint reports indicate that no half sovereigns were minted in 1866 but 62,000 were minted in 1867 and a further 154,000 in 1869. As it is known that there are no 1867 or 1869 dated coins, it is presumed that they were struck with 1866 dies, indicating a total mintage of 216,000* which would seem consistent with the relative survival rate of the date. The date is one of the easier pieces to source with an estimated survival rate just shy of 1,000 and examples do turn up around XF from time to time, though finding examples at AU and beyond can be quite a challenge. The date is often found with a bold obverse rim paired with an undetailed central reverse strike. These examples came off the recycled proof dies of the year as during the year the Sydney mint struck two proof half sovereigns for the Inter-colonial Exhibition in 1866 and the International Exposition in 1867 as products of New South Wales."
*The Marsh Sovereign guide places the total original mintage around 154,000.  
The pieces of information I didn't find that I'd be very interested in learning is, if over 150,000 were minted, how are there only around 1,000 surviving today?  Were they melted down (this appears to be the case..."as the gold coins became worn, they were withdrawn and melted down")?  And why is the avg condition of the coin so low (was it truly a circulation coin)?  A census search of both NGC and PCGS has just 28 coins in better condition with AU58 and MS64 being the best examples between NGC and PCGS respectively.

My first foray into sixpences...

Ladies and Gents...I'm super excited to share with you my most recent acquisition and easily one of the rarest coins in my young collection...the 1866 Sydney Half Sovereign.

TLDR: I got a rare coin cheap.
Per the updated Marsh Sovereign guide, this coin is rated R2 - Very Rare.  I was initially put off by the grade but additional research revealed that there are around 1,000 specimens of this coin surviving and it is most often found below VF.  Downies, an Australian dealer, has one in aUNC and they're asking £7650 and one in VF asking £590.  Drake Sterling has a specimen in PCGS F15 condition asking £265.  The best part is I picked this one up for £243.
Here's a bit more information I found while researching the coin...
"Royal Mint reports indicate that no half sovereigns were minted in 1866 but 62,000 were minted in 1867 and a further 154,000 in 1869. As it is known that there are no 1867 or 1869 dated coins, it is presumed that they were struck with 1866 dies, indicating a total mintage of 216,000* which would seem consistent with the relative survival rate of the date. The date is one of the easier pieces to source with an estimated survival rate just shy of 1,000 and examples do turn up around XF from time to time, though finding examples at AU and beyond can be quite a challenge. The date is often found with a bold obverse rim paired with an undetailed central reverse strike. These examples came off the recycled proof dies of the year as during the year the Sydney mint struck two proof half sovereigns for the Inter-colonial Exhibition in 1866 and the International Exposition in 1867 as products of New South Wales."
*The Marsh Sovereign guide places the total original mintage around 154,000.  
The pieces of information I didn't find that I'd be very interested in learning is, if over 150,000 were minted, how are there only around 1,000 surviving today?  Were they melted down (this appears to be the case..."as the gold coins became worn, they were withdrawn and melted down")?  And why is the avg condition of the coin so low (was it truly a circulation coin)?  A census search of both NGC and PCGS has just 28 coins in better condition with AU58 and MS64 being the best examples between NGC and PCGS respectively.

Today I received a French lunar horse to replace the previous one I somehow mislaid. Bought the display box from eBay along with the square capsules as I can't find a custom built box for this series.
This is a mix of BU & proof as I initially thought there were two types running alongside each other but a couple of sellers from Europe told me this is how the series was released. 

YH Shield back, Somali Elephant, the Phoenix and the new 1/10th 2018 BU lunar year of the dog.

I have been after a nicer than my poor YH half crown for a while, a £15 off eBay voucher persuaded me! A lovely coin with pleasant toning when you catch the light. 
 
 

My first foray into sixpences...

Lunar S2 1/4oz gold proof dog,+ 4 X 2oz silver proofs,2 x 1oz  silver proofs & a load of lunar Bu stuff.

Very nice indeed! Great start

1827 full sov