kimchi

I'd say 'no longer available' is closer to 'might come back in stock at very low quantities at some point' (in some cases when all the returns come back) than 'sold out'. But we have seen both come back in at some points in some recent releases so I agree with @SilverJacks - also this could be subject to change at any time. It's not 'ideal' <edit> Best thing to do is to get on the waiting list via the phone asap. But be prepared to return (the Mint will refund you for postage) if it's not up to scratch (no pun intended).

Many thanks I didn't know that - I will hold onto my PCGS PF69UC (with error CoA) SotD for now then! I'd be concerned that this is actually quite a high mintage for the Mint to produce so many Matte BUNCS considering the problems with many of the issues (apart from Brexit but who knows what happened with those?). But I wouldn't put anyone off who wants one and think it's an investment (as it may very well be) - in fact I'd say anyone who wants one should get two - better safe than sorry - send the second (worse) one back if no chance of a 70 and you need the funds!

I'm not sure that's entirely right given what other sources say about e.g. the Sapphire Coronation (323 - which admittedly is a very strange number indeed considering the high demand, despite all the quality issues and returns they had). It's interesting to see they have the George's down as far as 485 (5th birthday 2018) and 301 (2nd birthday 2015). And, the Charlotte seems very high to me! 😮

Me too, had the chance to get one but don't like any of the Mattes. It might do well (hopefully very well for all the folk here!) but compared to a glorious PL 2017 or 2018 Coronation Sapphire it's not something I was remotely tempted on at £675. Quality is always a scare on these Mattes and 1200 in a day is a lot to strike (goodness knows how they managed so many 2017s). 2017 was obviously a very special and unique year for Sovs (and they blew people away with the design). They've almost doubled the Platinum Coronation numbers, the number I have to hand for the Platinum Accession is 739 (Coin News 'Coin Yearbook 2022' - I know, not the most accurate source). That said it could be Liz's last and is one to hold I'd suggest and not expect to make much on short-term (unless flipping quickly).

We still don't know what happened with the release (as demand was huge, but it did have quality issues and capsules routinely coming open during delivery) but the Sapphire Coronation 2018 is given by a few sources now as 323, and the George 5th Birthday as 457. From 2019 onwards if I understand correctly the Mint got all secretive about mintages ('commercially sensitive information') and we only know the issue limit. The Mint image shows a plain edge, and all previous Mattes have been, haven't they? It's only @ChardsCoinandBullionDealer (that I've seen) who have a milled edge image up not sure why (?)

Which Sov sets were those please? So they could sell them all in a mad fever rush of confusion and FOMO! I think many of these releases by themselves would have underwhelmed and not been that popular (rightly or wrongly) imvho. I think they have. I have my old coin collection here in a tin, passed down by various family members. It's got quite a few 1977 Jubilee coins in it that I could never have got decent money for (although maybe now's the time!), I see some of these going the same way...

Yep, as @Smiler999 says - there's no limit in production so no rush and will be available all year. I am guessing that part of the reason for the early demand/sell-out is this is a special design - no point buying the last year or two (at the same bullion price) when this year is a little bit 'special' and you can guarantee they will be hot from the Mint (not pre-owned)

I think that's absolutely fantastic of both of you!!! I'm very sorry though, I've missed something very important - who is the young girl who needs cheering up with a present or funds for her medical aftercare? Please let us know, many thanks

Best send me pics by the usual channels my good man

Is that your current squeeze mate?

If you're in the market for cheap CGT-free British bullion this year to put aside for a rainy day you won't go wrong with the 2022s with the special design. Don't look at 'em - stash them away for as long as you can and then you should enjoy at least a bit of a premium if you sell

I take it then you've never sold anything to a certain member from St Ives? He did me quite a decent exchange on cats and wives

Sov still orderable for those with both wives and enough gin left!

I am the last person on Earth to accuse someone of being a 'conspiracy theorist', but surely it's beyond even the mighty powers of the Royal Mint to manage to back and change all the five pence pieces from 1968 to 2008 (p.249) to being 'fiives'? 🤣

Many thanks @LawrenceChard, I shall be in touch I think - hopefully they'd like to make their book more accurate and user-friendly, and not have ridiculous typos like 'fiiive' in it

I got the Coin Yearbook 2022 as well, have you noticed any problems with it? I have but not sure it deserves its own thread (?). It's very sloppy in places - I was very surprised when I started digging in. It misses some coins entirely (e.g. the Piedfort Proof Sovereign 2019 - but there are more missing). The Strike on the Day Sov section is muddled, incomplete, and badly-written. It gives prices, and says recent releases are given an issue and not market price (BUT it doesn't tell you where the two values in each section change!). Page 249 lists the 'fiive pence'! @LawrenceChard - as an advertiser - if you know these people and they need an editor/proofreader please feel free to send them my way!

BUNC? I can't see them ever doing a different proof for reasons I've gone into already today, but if there was EVER a year to do one (and it would likely only ever be the one) it's this year!

Many thanks, I'm very surprised at that. Even if not a sell-out that is/was very short-term thinking by the Mint imvho. A new product introduced at a key time, then dropped for two years after a lukewarm reception in 2019, only to be brought back this year (I'm sure we all expect that!). It's an unnecessary break in continuity, and if the 2020s and 2021s were low sellers, they might do very well in years to come for customers who were loyal to the Mint for them! You old tease you, what's the long answer?

Many thanks but I'm looking for the Proof Piedfort Sovereign (still a £1 piece) not a Double (BU or Proof - £2). Here's the 2019 Piedfort: https://www.royalmint.com/sovereign/2019/The-Piedfort-Sovereign-2019/

Thank you! Do you have any links at all? I can find the Royal Mint 2019 sales page (and other websites talking about the 2019s) but nothing about 2020 and 2021. Maybe I am just being stupid!

Quick question, as per the title, thanks in advance!

@JJH a lovely Japanese coin, thanks for sharing! Well, I'm surprised! I had no interest in the modern Matt sovereigns until now, but looking into it thanks to this thread I find it all fascinating. From my research so far (I am happy and would like to be corrected where I'm wrong): 1) The 1902 Proof Matt finish was very subtle compared to the new Brilliant Uncirculated ones. This could be due to a fewer number of strikes for each coin (as Dave suggests), or the die technology of the time, or the technology of the Mint in general. 2) From looking at video comparisons (which are still different to seeing a coin in person), the finish on the new Matts is much closer to the frosted areas of a Proof than I expected. The finish looks a little flatter to me, and less shiny or reflective. Both the Matts (the whole die) and the Proofs (certain areas) are sandblasted. Is the difference only because the Brilliant Uncirculated is struck fewer times (?) or is it a slight difference in treatment (for example the fineness of the sand, and as a second example the Royal Mint say Proofs are also treated with micro glass beads)? 3) I've found no reference that the 1902 Matt Proof dies were sandblasted between each strike, where is this from please @GoldDiggerDave? 4) Proof dies are not sandblasted or treated between strikes, until they need re-polishing after 300-400 strikes. They are only cleaned with air. My hypothesis on the 'missing Matt finish' spots on these modern coins is that: 1) The Matt finish is much deeper than the 1902, and so both harder to achieve perfectly, and easier for small areas to be knocked off if not handled in the same way as Proofs. 2) As they are struck as Brilliant Uncirculated and not Proof there is less attention to perfection. 3) Highly speculative - as there are no areas to be re-polished they may be used for an entire run of 600 coins, or sandblasted again once or twice (unlike Proofs, and which may introduce its own problems). Main source:

Did you ever resolve your concern about these coins? Is it tarnish/milking or damage? From the photos it's not clear. Damage as part of the minting process (or if a damaged blank was used) does not (always - grading companies are inconsistent here imo) prevent a 70. If these were graded directly by APMEX then the grading company would be more inclined to accept that it is not post-Mint damage imo. One thing not mentioned by others is that NGC and PCGS slab numbers can be copied and used on fakes/clones. For that reason many people choose to cover their slab numbers and barcode in photos.

Can I ask how they differentiated the 2012 from a Proof? Was a BU strike far more different in 2012 than it has been it recent years?