Britannia47

All my Proof sovereigns (forgot the 1997 - still in the box!) No more sovereigns for me, as now switched to 1/4oz gold Brits, QBs etc…..
 

All my Proof sovereigns (forgot the 1997 - still in the box!) No more sovereigns for me, as now switched to 1/4oz gold Brits, QBs etc…..
 

@ant1882
Hi,
Just confirmation of all the comments above.
This is an 1895 with similar wear, and weighs exactly the same!😀
 

All my Proof sovereigns (forgot the 1997 - still in the box!) No more sovereigns for me, as now switched to 1/4oz gold Brits, QBs etc…..
 

All my Proof sovereigns (forgot the 1997 - still in the box!) No more sovereigns for me, as now switched to 1/4oz gold Brits, QBs etc…..
 

All my Proof sovereigns (forgot the 1997 - still in the box!) No more sovereigns for me, as now switched to 1/4oz gold Brits, QBs etc…..
 

All my Proof sovereigns (forgot the 1997 - still in the box!) No more sovereigns for me, as now switched to 1/4oz gold Brits, QBs etc…..
 

All my Proof sovereigns (forgot the 1997 - still in the box!) No more sovereigns for me, as now switched to 1/4oz gold Brits, QBs etc…..
 

All my Proof sovereigns (forgot the 1997 - still in the box!) No more sovereigns for me, as now switched to 1/4oz gold Brits, QBs etc…..
 

All my Proof sovereigns (forgot the 1997 - still in the box!) No more sovereigns for me, as now switched to 1/4oz gold Brits, QBs etc…..
 

This is where I am today - towards the end of my collecting career, a few 1/4 proof Brits + other 1/4s. Anything larger seems  far too expensive! Awaiting a 1/4 QB & 1/4 2023 proof Brit……..

What! Another one?
This was 30 years ago….1994.

What! Another one?
This was 30 years ago….1994.

Well done, and for getting one of the first 1987 Britannia coins by Nathan. I managed to get a set on the secondary market many years ago. This could be the first of many for you!….😊
 

the series ends on 1848 even if for this very last year the small head shield is very very rare and the few known are extremely worn..(
the most common 1848 is the "large head" shield

Looks good to me!,😁😁 Just love those Gillicks……..

Here’s a partial list of other ‘coin minting’ marketing companies:-
Commonwealth Mint, London Mint office, Tower Mint, Jubilee Mint, Windsor Mint, Westminster Mint, and now a new boy on the block, Oxford Mint, and last but not least The Royal Mint!   I nearly forgot ‘Hattons of London’ and Harrington & Byrne!
Can anyone suggest a connection between the names of these companies?!!
In the past I have checked out all these companies, the majority of which target the general public. It may well be that if you feel the price and quality is good, then go ahead. It’s a very competitive business and many have grouped together as ‘partners’ 
However, their advertising can often be misleading, often trying to present a legitimate connection with our Royalty and History. I am impressed by the tactic of Oxford Mint for testing the water on TSF (Market Research) 
Often our Overseas Territories such as Ascension Island, T.D.C. St Helena & Gibraltar are represented and where possible covered up to look like a RM product. Of course George & the dragon is often used as well. In this case it’s Ascension Island. Effigies on the obverse can be by ex RM engravers such as Clarke and Maklouf. Other companies are now minting 1/8th Sovereigns, but the RM could also be accused of making the 1/4 Sovereign for the same reason - something else that was never in circulation!
One company that does mint quality coins for St Helena is the EIC - East India Company. However, best not to delve too deeply into the history of the original company, because it was lucratively involved in the Slave trade along the Guinea Gold Coast in the late 17th century…..
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 

This could be a very long journey you are embarking on, and could take many years!
Best read lots of books, and ask for advice when needed…
Started my journey over 25 years ago. Here’s a selection of different obverses since 1817, then of course there are overseas mints etc etc. Just start with a simple bullion Sovereign, and twiddle it between your fingers…🙂!!

Before Sovereigns it was numismatic Silver. This 1900 Florin is probably the best of the lot, especially for toning….
 

Finally worked out which Vic was missing - the ‘small head’ shield, which is in a group within the Type 1A obverse 1838- 47 inclusive. I had it all along, an 1843, but you have to look closely to see the difference, unlike for example the small/ large head of the SA sovereigns where the difference is more obvious…
 
 

I believe most TSF members have a preference for earlier sovereigns simply because of the colour. Today the R.M. uses a  ‘Red’ gold alloy - all copper, without the addition of silver which would give the sovereign a more golden appearance.
Mr Chard has always sought to persuade the RM to change the alloy to no avail. The ‘alloy’ has been discussed many times in the past on TSF. however the R.M. has always refused to engage in the reasons it changed, or even admit it has!  I suspect it was a commercial decision to separate the ‘Sovereign’ product from its core bullion business and other 999 issues
Either way you should not have a problem selling modern Sovereigns regardless of colour.
Here’s a colour comparison photo of a favourite - an early QEII ‘Gillick’ 1957-1968, with a later 2022 bullion & proof version…
One of the best IMO!
 
 

Hard to believe that an average 1 oz gold is now over £1900! after I checked out my usual source at ATS this afternoon. That’s more than double what I’d like to pay (2017) !
So, like many others I’ve had to downsize. In my case it’s to 1/4 oz gold. But It seems that 1/4 Sovs or 1/10th oz are popular, even 1 g bars. 
For me the price of gold has already gone past the moon, and is now on a ‘slingshot’ course to Mars. It’s far too high!🙁
 
 
 
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Finally worked out which Vic was missing - the ‘small head’ shield, which is in a group within the Type 1A obverse 1838- 47 inclusive. I had it all along, an 1843, but you have to look closely to see the difference, unlike for example the small/ large head of the SA sovereigns where the difference is more obvious…
 
 

These 3 ‘specials’ are just for you then? And so @Matt8v knows what we’re talking about……
 

This could be a very long journey you are embarking on, and could take many years!
Best read lots of books, and ask for advice when needed…
Started my journey over 25 years ago. Here’s a selection of different obverses since 1817, then of course there are overseas mints etc etc. Just start with a simple bullion Sovereign, and twiddle it between your fingers…🙂!!