Britannia47

Sounds like a 70th birthday!?… Found these 1954 Sixpences, which can easily be sourced, as are ‘ Year Sets’ from some coin shops or EBay. Only cupro-nickel etc, but better than nothing🙂

Above all, stay in touch with your gold……

https://24carat.co.uk/frame.php?url=1954coinsasgifts.html You may have to go ‘foreign’ for this, or accept ‘non-precious’ . Good luck.

I’m also struggling to remember everything…..!🙂 Other sites have also tagged the Indian Sovereign as CGT exempt.Ta to @paulmerton Looks like the 2020 may be the last one - nothing found for the last 4 years. Perhaps MMTC - PAMP ended its contract with TRM? If so, that makes it just 8 years in production. I’m told the quality of these sovereigns is BU. Could be rare in future? 2013 was the first year, and carded on pillar-box red initially until 2018 when it changed to maroon. I was surprised not to see a 100th anniversary privy mark on the 2018! - missed opportunity I think. The 1918 really looks good - a must for collectors…

Past and Present. A must have IMO A ‘must have’ for both coins IMO. However, the ‘Yellow Gold’ look of the 1817 Sovereign is due to the 4.5% Silver alloy. Cf 8.33% Copper for the 2017. This first modern sovereign design initially failed to impress. Within weeks Pistrucci was redesigning this image substituting the handle of the spear with a sword. This appeared the following year 1818 on the Silver Crown - an absolute masterpiece, but the old image lasted ‘til 1820 on the Sovereigns. Some would say the 200th anniversary of the later image, started in GIVs reign in 1821…..🙂!

As well as the usual suspects, 4 metals - Copper, Silver, Platinum, and Gold! Plus, a 1oz Silver .45 calibre bullet with your name on, so as not to get shot when someone try’s to steal your Sovereigns 😁!!

I remember many years ago, from a source in Poland, Amateur Ham radio enthusiasts who had been monitoring Soviet space flights, stated that in fact Yuri Gargarin was the THIRD man into space! The first two were unsuccessful, one of the Soviet Cosmonauts was killed, the other seriously injured. Only good news came out of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, certainly not the reporting of accidents or failures, so perhaps Gargarin’s medal should he been made of BRONZE! 😀🏅 Interestingly, the First Nation to go into ‘space’ was Germany in 1944, after the V2 rocket passed the 100 kilometres height.🚀

Thought I had all the ‘shields’ but forgot about the Victoria 1/2 sovereign, also by Merlen, but without the Hanoverian Arms! I don’t collect half sovereigns. Only when the QBs came along a few years ago did I notice the significance of the ‘White Horse’ of Hanover - Dah! so have included that as well…🙂

There’s been a lot of ‘waffle’ recently about this new ‘rose gold’ the RM is currently promoting, and its intention to change to ‘yellow gold’ Like many others on TSF (including L.C.) I’ve really disliked the shiny ‘Red gold’ sovereigns, of late, except for the proofs perhaps. My fix was always - “Let’s use Yellow Gold by adding Silver to the alloy instead of all copper alloy” so that our sovereigns look like older Sovereigns, in particular the Gillicks & Machins!” According to the Chards alloy chart, which I referred to, vey little silver ( less than 1%) has been added in the past, with about 3 exceptions during the 19th century. Eg. 1817. Of course this could change with further testing. Back to the question of why my ‘Gillicks’ look so good? Just how much silver is in the alloy to make it look like a ‘GOLD’ sovereign? - the answer to that was a bit of a shock! I recently took my 1957 sovereign to Bairds to be Niton tested. Yes you’ve guessed it. - ZERO SILVER !!! previously LC had tested one also with no silver and I didn’t believe it! The only explanation I can come up with is that over a time (50-60 years maybe) the copper in the alloy slowly degrades or oxidises allowing the inert gold to dominate over the copper? Certainly, adding silver - about 3 or 4% will provide the RM with a yellow gold fix. Either that or wait a very long time!😀 Top Sovereign is a 1/4 QB. Make up you own minds. Alternative suggestions welcome!🙂

At last, get to show a comparison photo of an original GIV (1829) and the remastered 2025! It is a little smaller, with a different legend ‘ARMA GEORGII BRITANNIARUM REGIS’ Yes, it is slightly red, but not as pink as the RM would have you believe in its advertising! The last of these ‘Red Gold’ sovereigns are now being called ‘Rose’ - sounds like an identity crisis to me, but if it helps to sell more……. Anyway, I really like it👍

Just arrived, having waited 17 days, but worth it! I was told mine was in the last 10% batch last week, and the C of A supports that at number 4925/5000. Whoop-E, it’s in the last 100 minted!…..😃

Looks like Nickel-brass 1995. 50th Anniv. End of WWII - ‘A Dove of Peace’ Definitely not a double sovereign! Although a few of these early commemoratives were included in Sovereign sets, eg 1997 bi-metal (Red gold & Yellow gold!)……

My first line was quoting verbatim the LMO advert that it was the 535th anniversary of the 1/4 Sovereign which is not true. It was introduced by the RM in 2009 to become the 5th coin in the set. Prior to that it was just 4 coins. There were 2 patterns made in 1853, but that’s all, thus my reference to it never existing as circulating coinage! I appreciate it’s now a popular coin, but historically not for me. It’s simply the 15th anniversary of the 1/4 sovereign which was minted to make money.

“The 535th Anniversary of the Sovereign Gold Quarter Sovereign!!?” That’s a very tenuous and incorrect connection by the LMO, considering the RM only invented the 1/4 sovereign 15 years ago, and was never in circulation! Any other mint can call any coin a ‘Sovereign’ - It’s not the preserve of the RM. The LMO is owned by Samlerhuset a Norwegian company, and generally like most other mints, targets the general public. The RM is playing catch-up with these ‘mints’ such as the upcoming Silver Sovereign perhaps 1/8th sovereign next? I suspect this 1/4 is minted by the ‘Tower Mint’ The LMO has had a bad reputation in the past. A well known dealer has referred to the LMO as the “London Mint Orifice!” Of course if you think you’ve got a good deal then go for it. Generally, coins from other mints do not hold their value, especially in the secondary market….Also, be prepared to be ‘hassled’ once you sign up! This is just friendly advice.🙂

Great experience for you, I’m sure. Anyway, last 2 photos. You are correct about how it all started, as is Petra. I have flown in one of the captured Argentine Augusta-Bell 109 helicopters, but that is another story….