kimchi

All the piedforts are long-term keepers imo, except the 2017 which already did well for a few years after release (no idea about recently though). They are a massive anomaly in the modern Sovereign range, with particularly 2019 (no sell-out) fairly low mintages. There will be very few excuses to release many more, as they didn't take off as a yearly thing. I hold these with great confidence That said, I didn't bother with the 2022 myself at the new, much higher, price.

Only in theory. The Mint are not that efficient to have simply mixed some of them up imvho. Sometimes they send out CoAs beyond the number of coins actually sold. That's just one example (of many I have).

It was only when a found a Benefits Adviser who knew what boxes the assessors need to be 'ticked', and how rotten the system is, that I realised both how the system had fiddled my severely disabled father out of what he was rightfully entitled to for over a decade, and how you need an expert in the field (ideally) if you are going to get much success. He had an almost barrister-like knowledge on the system, and only helped me for my father because he knew I was genuine. Needless to say, perhaps around seven years ago they started culling his team and he feared for his job. I think he's probably 'retired' (one way or another) now. I have no idea how I finally got to see this man, somehow eventually, after years of complaining, I finally stumbled across him. They still never backdated my father's benefits (which would have made such a difference to his life) even though his GP signed an official document basically saying (medical evidence) that his condition had been wrongly assessed. It didn't matter - they wouldn't change their original decision.

Meanwhile we have the likes of Katie Price getting the taxpayers to foot the bill for her son to be taxied to and from school counties away (I think he's at college now) from her mansion with stables etc every day, because she won't move closer to the school her son needs to attend (because of his significant disabilities). Her defence of that was that he couldn't cope without her every day, and she pays her taxes. OK, but then why is she taking partying holidays every few months as splashed across the newspapers every few months (goodness knows why they follow this never-was anyway)? The system is deliberately broken is the only sane answer when you start to look at it.

Absolutely spot on. The only people who get it are those who know how to milk the system, and the genuinely elderly and disabled (though they are least likely to know what they are entitled to if anything) because they're been brought up on how to do it now. These are the people I mainly see buying cigarettes and scratchcards every time I pop into the corner shop near the last remaining council houses in this very wealthy town. After my very disabled dad died it turned out he was incorrectly given the wrong level of benefits for the majority of the last 16 years of his life. Now how was he as a very serious Stroke victim, or my mum, who was dying of cancer, supposed to know, be able or even challenge that? They both trusted the (at the time, it's changed now) seemingly very nice 'old school' doctor to get it right, and he clearly put my father in the wrong group, and that was 18 years ago. It's much worse now. They tell you on the 'news' these days 'man who the authorities have been trying to prosecute for fraudulently claim benefits actually died from his illness months ago'. I have some shocking second hand accounts to tell, absolutely shocking. One is a lady I knew about ten years ago who had significant mental health problems, but was at heart a lovely lady. She had social housing - she was put in a street full of heroin addicts and crack dens. Her son was very seriously autistic and as he reached his teens his violent outbursts were uncontrollable daily. She fought for a good year while I knew her for the respite care she was fully entitled to and they delayed and denied her any whatsoever every time. After a year or so, she had a complete breakdown, which she was open and honest about. Suddenly, they acted! They swooped in immediately and took BOTH her children away They were 'temporarily' housed so far away from her she couldn't pay the petrol to get to see them very often. She was utterly heartbroken. Finally getting her respite, she was now battling Social Services in Court just to try to see her kids, who also declined quickly with the 'care' at the place they were housed. I could go on, I just hope she is still alive today, they pushed an already completely traumatised by the system (loving) mother to the brink of suicide the last time I saw her Sorry for the depressing post, but I guess the point is that there is HUGE money to be made by Social Services and their friends in the legal system (all paid by taxpayers) and the (eventual foster care system). Illegal immigrants (let in by the Coastguard daily here in Kent) and lifelong benefits culture (by those who know how to play it) are HUGE and get all the headlines, but there is also far worse going on in the Social 'Care' system to honest loving families who just need a bit of help.When I was growing up friends, family and neighbours helped. When you're moved into a street of drug dealers and everything else far away from your family and are struggling the State who put you there will NOT help... Sorry but I think this country is absolutely plucked.

I am in principle, but since the sixties at least (The Fabian Society is a very, very dubious organisation that started very long before) they've perverted each side so much that they're both as dishonest and deceiving of the taxpayers as each other, just in different ways. This was most evident under Blair, who managed to out-Thatcher his hero Thatcher! People don't understand this on the whole, and those in the middle turn to the right when they think it's best for them, and vice versa. The truth is they're all criminals at the top and only in it for themselves and the people they answer to (who are not the taxpayers). Spot on.

I think you'd be mad to do so myself if you're happy with the coins. That is an absolutely absurd policy. They have the record of your purchase and of delivery. It's not like you're trying to scam them out of a CoA or anything is it if you are sending one back? I don't know if it's worth mentioning but remember the 2017 Strike on the Day that was sent out with Proof certificates? The two main grading companies both said they were Proof, graded them as such, and both refused to even believe initially the Mint's correction. Well that was obviously a real problem for the Mint and past and future MS SotD's, they didn't mind simply exchanging the CoAs that time did they? In fact, wasn't their letter asking for people to exchange them rather a 'begging letter'? I don't have the letter (I'd love a copy!) but I do have one graded as a PF with the original 'error' certificate Stuff them, I'm so glad I may only have to deal with them one or two more times possibly (another Sovereign or two for Queenie, and perhaps the first one for Charlie, to finish my collection).

It sounds like your area is a couple of decades possibly behind the South...it will happen, they are coming for us all. You will miss the widows once they're gone...good honest and kind people to have around in my experience.

One might almost start to think that successive governments of either of the two supposedly 'opposing' parties that we are forced to choose between have in fact been working together all along to engineer this whole scenario...especially as when they leave office they almost all take up executive board positions on these very same companies... I preferred things when their criminality was more blatant and actually reported on. Mark Thatcher is a British example.

Not like they used to. There were too many in the 70s, early 80s. People who weren't really in need (they could have rented) got them easily. Within a few successive governments people expected them more or less if they wanted one, and got one. Then Thatcher sold them off cheap (like our national utility companies). People loved her for it. Why not when you could buy a nice semi (many of them in our street were pretty nice houses) dirt cheap, and then treble your money in five years? There are no council houses in that street now. The one closest to where I lived is probably worth half a million currently - as soon as they purchased it for a pittance (because they 'couldn't afford housing except from the council') they extended a bit. Now look at the housing market and utilities.

Please do buddy, feel free to PM me for my email anytime It'd be interesting to know where roughly you are, I can't right now but might be worth meeting for a coffee/beer and a chat. I have a unique market at my fingertips that needs a merch company as it's quickly exploding and is going to be huge I think, I just can't deal with it (myself) right now. If you can, I'll see if I can secure the rights from the content creator (Youtube, and published author). He'd probably let me have it free right now (!) but people are starting to see that and no doubt trying to get in there as we speak and I think he should get a cut. I don't know how the figures stack up with merch but there might be easy money in it for all (?). The stuff is pretty much already designed (though lots of scope for variations and development). If interested can you give me a shout in a few weeks? I'd need to get onto to it quick (I could also possibly get his publishing rights in the UK/Europe as he's only in the US for now, but that's a completely different kettle of fish!) cheers!

I've long considered a screen printing business, I would do it as a labour of love as long as I could cover the bills. Interestingly I've also found a niche and quite unique but quickly growing market for T-shirts (merchandise) but that be best be dealt with through a commercial company who will just send me my cut, and I don't have any experience at all with such companies. I'm sure it's easy but too many other things on my plate right now. When I have time I may try to 'do' a viral 'Banksy' type thing. Or get into NFTs if they are still around. Mind you, Banksy is only Banksy because he's a toff. Damien Hirst also was an elite creation. More £££millions for them.

I can tell you because my best mate is one of them - he's just left Hong Kong and his 5k a month rent was paid for as part of his package. A lot of them are in financial services/banking. Estate agents have been making a fortune too. Go figure!

Goodness me...if ever there was a coin to show just how badly they messed up letting Jody Clark go, this is it imvho...

It doesn't work that way alas because of the 'no post-Mint imperfections' criteria. Vintage coins are different, they have a long history. New coins if you submit quickly when all the others are going in they will see they all have the same issues, so it must be the Mint. If you send in a year or two later then they may err on the side of caution, and if the three graders are not particularly knowledgeable or compare to previous examples on their own database (they don't imo - by their own admission they only look at a coin for a few minutes each - it's a production line) then you are less likely to get the same grade as the same coin submitted earlier. To be fair, how do they know that missing frosting is not due to handler error/damage if you don't submit asap?

We think the same - others think differently and are (perhaps) more pragmatic and profit-driven, but I'm not sure how these imperfect 70s will fare in the long run, so I stay clear. That's just me I'd try returning the coin (ask RM to cover your postage costs, and tell them you are very unhappy, they will do it) and if still not happy with replacements (they do sometimes send out other returned coins, it's not always because they have held some back, and there's no rhyme nor reason to it) then ask for a refund

I'm the same. You have to balance the mintage, desirability, and how many other 'problem coins' there are against your own. Too much of a headache for me. I like my 70s perfect, all those I have graded myself are (without conservation). Heck I even have key coins that are clear 70s but got 69s purely (imvho) because if NGC gave everything 70s they wouldn't be needed! I hope you get better practical advice than I can give, because I have a real problem with what NGC return at times, and like yourself I want a 70 to be a 'perfect' coin, but I don't want you to miss out on a good investment just because of my feelings!!!

The crazy thing is...it could still grade as a 70 with NGC (no post-production imperfections, as per many previous Mattes with similar issues) or it might not...but 'buy the coin and not the grade/holder' still remains true imvho, so myself it's not something I'd like to have nagging at the back of my mind (an imperfect coin even with a good/great grade)

How long has David Walliams been on our five pound notes for?

.

I am also single, very eligible, and 100% heterosexual. However my last girlfriend was an Amber Heard type (albeit it a bit richer! 🤣) so I am somewhat open to the idea of a strictly platonic marriage of mutual convenience to a rich gentleman fellow stacker We would probably need to employ a food tester though In short, PM me some pics big boy, the lube is at the ready!!!

The more I think about it the advice about double Sovs is absolutely spot on imo - I would buy as many as you can while you can! Also great advice about picking up the Queen's Beasts if the premium is lowish (so probably the most recent, as the series progresses?). I own a few Completers and some will definitely grade as 70s (if that provides a price uplift when I look to sell, if I need cash quickly I would sell off the bullion - all are pretty good and were from Atkinsons). Well, I suppose technically they are in my sister's possession, she just doesn't know why I offer to help her with her garden so much! 🤣

We don't want to hear about your deformed articulated doll Bully old boy.... We are still waiting for the promised pics by PM!!!

But first things first, you want to get yourself an old, completely knackered boat...

The Sovs mainly for liquidity, and again as @LawrenceChard pointed out, the double Sov is presently an opportunity