Serendipity

It used to be possible to pick them up reasonably cheaply in the 80s and 90s from antiques shops that had big buckets of coins. 
 
Sadly not so many antiques shops around and people are a lot smarter about the values.  
 
Best
Dicker

Singles, and then a double and quintuple:
 

European gold ...

... a handful

This was my sovereign collection before I sold half of them....

2002 Half Sov


 

a year 2000 proof Sovereign vs a year 2007 proof sovereign - particularly highlights the difference in quality in some years.

 

I can't pick a favorite, there are all so great. Congratulation @SendYourCoin2Me

I received this 1916 London Mint Sov.

A very nice 1894 sovereign from the Sydney mint. 

1914 and 1918 George V sovereigns bought from @ChardsCoinandBullionDealer and the Royal Mint. Sovereigns issued during the First World War are significant to collectors and none more so than the 1914 and 1918 issues which are frequently paired together in collections to mark the beginning and end of the Great War. T.E. Lawrence, aka Lawrence of Arabia, was a British scholar, writer and soldier who mobilised the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War and wrote about his wartime exploits in The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1926). Gold sovereigns were used by Lawrence to sway Arab tribes to join the Allied fight and as a bounty for Arabs who returned any downed Allied airmen to safety.
DESCRIPTIONS
George V (1910-36), gold sovereign, 1914, London Mint, bare head left, B.M. raised on truncation for engraver Bertram Mackennal, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP: (“George V, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India”), rev. struck en médaille, St. George on horseback slaying dragon with sword right, plumed helmet with three-strand streamer, horse with long tail, ending in three strands, with one spur higher up at curve, broken lance on ground-line to left, tiny WWP raised under lance for Master of the Mint, William Wellesley Pole, date in exergue, tiny B.P. raised in upper right of exergue for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, edge milled (Marsh 216; M.C.E. 642; S.3996). Extremely fine. Calendar year mintage 11,501,117.
George V (1910-36), gold sovereign, 1914 M, Melbourne Mint, Australia, bare head left, B.M. raised on truncation for engraver Bertram Mackennal, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP: (“George V, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India”), rev. struck en médaille, St. George on horseback slaying dragon with sword right, plumed helmet with three-strand streamer, horse with long tail, ending in three strands, with one spur higher up at curve, broken lance on ground-line to left, tiny WWP raised under lance for Master of the Mint, William Wellesley Pole, mint mark M at centre of ground-line, date in exergue, tiny B.P. raised in upper right of exergue for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, edge milled (Marsh 232; M.C.E. 642; S.3999). Almost extremely fine. Calendar year mintage 2,012,029.
George V (1910-36), gold sovereign, 1918 I, Bombay Mint, India, bare head left, B.M. raised on truncation for engraver Bertram Mackennal, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP: (“George V, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India”), rev. struck en médaille, St. George on horseback slaying dragon with sword right, plumed helmet with three-strand streamer, horse with long tail, ending in three strands, with one spur higher up at curve, broken lance on ground-line to left, tiny WWP raised under lance for Master of the Mint, William Wellesley Pole, mint mark I at centre of ground-line, date in exergue, tiny B.P. raised in upper right of exergue for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, edge milled (Marsh 228; S.3998). Obverse good very fine,  reverse almost extremely fine. Calendar year mintage 1,294,372.

1871 Victoria Shield Reverse sovereign bought from Baldwin’s. Princess Alexandrina Victoria was born in 1819, crowned as Queen Victoria in 1837 when her uncle, William IV, died and reigned through a period of unprecedented change until her death in 1901. Victoria ruled for 64 years, a record only recently surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II. RMS Douro was a British passenger liner that served from 1865 to 1882 with the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. She was sunk in a collision in 1882.
DESCRIPTION
Victoria (1837-1901), gold sovereign, 1871, London, Tower Hill Mint, third young filleted head left, W.W. raised on truncation for engraver William Wyon, date below, hint of doubling in legend both sides, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, VICTORIA DEI GRATIA (“Victoria, by the Grace of God”), rev. struck with inverted die axis, engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen, crowned quartered shield of arms, laurel wreath surrounding, die number 14 below, emblems below, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID:DEF: (“Queen of the Britons, Defender of the Faith”), raised hairline flaw in last A of legend to rim, edge milled, weight 7.97g (Bentley 558; Marsh 55; M.C.E. 531; S.3853B). Tiny obverse rim nick, otherwise pleasing good extremely fine. Ex Douro Cargo, Spink Auction 118, 20-21 November 1996, lot 1377 (part). Calendar year mintage 8,767,250.


 

 
 

2020 Chinese Silver Panda ❤️ My First Panda 🐼 

GOLD BELGIAN COINS
 
 


 

My 20 pcs case is completed at last, with the gilded versions from 2001-2020.
 

1871 Victoria Shield Reverse sovereign bought from Baldwin’s. Princess Alexandrina Victoria was born in 1819, crowned as Queen Victoria in 1837 when her uncle, William IV, died and reigned through a period of unprecedented change until her death in 1901. Victoria ruled for 64 years, a record only recently surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II. RMS Douro was a British passenger liner that served from 1865 to 1882 with the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. She was sunk in a collision in 1882.
DESCRIPTION
Victoria (1837-1901), gold sovereign, 1871, London, Tower Hill Mint, third young filleted head left, W.W. raised on truncation for engraver William Wyon, date below, hint of doubling in legend both sides, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, VICTORIA DEI GRATIA (“Victoria, by the Grace of God”), rev. struck with inverted die axis, engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen, crowned quartered shield of arms, laurel wreath surrounding, die number 14 below, emblems below, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID:DEF: (“Queen of the Britons, Defender of the Faith”), raised hairline flaw in last A of legend to rim, edge milled, weight 7.97g (Bentley 558; Marsh 55; M.C.E. 531; S.3853B). Tiny obverse rim nick, otherwise pleasing good extremely fine. Ex Douro Cargo, Spink Auction 118, 20-21 November 1996, lot 1377 (part). Calendar year mintage 8,767,250.


 

 
 

Bought from @ChardsCoinandBullionDealer. 2018 1oz Australian Silver Kookaburra (BU). Obverse: The Ian Rank-Broadley likeness of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination. Reverse: Portrays a flying kookaburra designed by Neil Hollis against the backdrop of a full moon. The inscription "Australian Kookaburra", the Perth Mint's "P" mint mark and the 2018 year-date are also included in the design.
The 2018 silver Kookaburra not only features a gorgeous design, they are also produced in a limited mintage of 500,000 coins. The laughing kookaburra is the largest member of the kingfisher species, and a bird synonymous with the Australian bush. This bird species is indigenous to Australia and is known for their call, which is said to sound like echoing human laughter.

Bought from @ChardsCoinandBullionDealer which had a Star Trek exhibition on from the 30th June - 6th November 2016. The Perth Mint - on behalf of Tuvalu - issued a silver bullion coin with a limited mintage of 50,000 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series. The obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley bust of Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination. Jennifer McKenna designed the reverse which depicts the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 as it appeared in Star Trek. The design includes the inscription "STAR TREK" and The Perth Mint’s traditional "P" mint mark.

Bought from @ChardsCoinandBullionDealer. 2018 1oz Australian Silver Kookaburra (BU). Obverse: The Ian Rank-Broadley likeness of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination. Reverse: Portrays a flying kookaburra designed by Neil Hollis against the backdrop of a full moon. The inscription "Australian Kookaburra", the Perth Mint's "P" mint mark and the 2018 year-date are also included in the design.
The 2018 silver Kookaburra not only features a gorgeous design, they are also produced in a limited mintage of 500,000 coins. The laughing kookaburra is the largest member of the kingfisher species, and a bird synonymous with the Australian bush. This bird species is indigenous to Australia and is known for their call, which is said to sound like echoing human laughter.

Bought from @ChardsCoinandBullionDealer. My 2018 Chinese Panda 🐼 stack consists of the 30 and 8 gram Gold Pandas 🐼 along with a full stack of fifteen 30 gram Silver Pandas 🐼. The obverse of each Panda 🐼 depicts the Hall of Prayer for Abundant Harvests in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing encircled with the Chinese characters “中华人民共和国” (People’s Republic of China) closed off by the year of issue, 2018. The reverse features a large portrait of the giant panda 🐼 eating a bamboo shoot.

Bought from @ChardsCoinandBullionDealer. 2018 1oz Australian Silver Koala (BU). Obverse: The Ian Rank-Broadley likeness of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination. Reverse: Portrays a koala designed by Neil Hollis sitting on the branch of a eucalyptus tree surrounded by gum leaves. The inscription "Australian Koala", the Perth Mint's "P" mint mark, the 2018 year-date, and the .9999 purity are also featured in the design. 
When early European settlers first encountered koalas in Australia, they thought the tree-climbing animals were monkeys or bears. Even though they're still referred to by some as "koala bears", they're actually marsupials like kangaroos and wombats. Koalas have special physical characteristics that complement their tree-dwelling lifestyle.
Koalas are able to grip branches and pick eucalyptus leaves with their two opposable digits, and their tough skin and sharp claws provide traction in climbing. They even have extra thick fur on their seat so they can sit comfortably on branches for hours! Unique to Australia, these animals are a perfect theme for an iconic coin series.

1871 Victoria Shield Reverse sovereign bought from Baldwin’s. Princess Alexandrina Victoria was born in 1819, crowned as Queen Victoria in 1837 when her uncle, William IV, died and reigned through a period of unprecedented change until her death in 1901. Victoria ruled for 64 years, a record only recently surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II. RMS Douro was a British passenger liner that served from 1865 to 1882 with the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. She was sunk in a collision in 1882.
DESCRIPTION
Victoria (1837-1901), gold sovereign, 1871, London, Tower Hill Mint, third young filleted head left, W.W. raised on truncation for engraver William Wyon, date below, hint of doubling in legend both sides, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, VICTORIA DEI GRATIA (“Victoria, by the Grace of God”), rev. struck with inverted die axis, engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen, crowned quartered shield of arms, laurel wreath surrounding, die number 14 below, emblems below, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID:DEF: (“Queen of the Britons, Defender of the Faith”), raised hairline flaw in last A of legend to rim, edge milled, weight 7.97g (Bentley 558; Marsh 55; M.C.E. 531; S.3853B). Tiny obverse rim nick, otherwise pleasing good extremely fine. Ex Douro Cargo, Spink Auction 118, 20-21 November 1996, lot 1377 (part). Calendar year mintage 8,767,250.


 

 
 

1914 and 1918 George V sovereigns bought from @ChardsCoinandBullionDealer and the Royal Mint. Sovereigns issued during the First World War are significant to collectors and none more so than the 1914 and 1918 issues which are frequently paired together in collections to mark the beginning and end of the Great War. T.E. Lawrence, aka Lawrence of Arabia, was a British scholar, writer and soldier who mobilised the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War and wrote about his wartime exploits in The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1926). Gold sovereigns were used by Lawrence to sway Arab tribes to join the Allied fight and as a bounty for Arabs who returned any downed Allied airmen to safety.
DESCRIPTIONS
George V (1910-36), gold sovereign, 1914, London Mint, bare head left, B.M. raised on truncation for engraver Bertram Mackennal, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP: (“George V, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India”), rev. struck en médaille, St. George on horseback slaying dragon with sword right, plumed helmet with three-strand streamer, horse with long tail, ending in three strands, with one spur higher up at curve, broken lance on ground-line to left, tiny WWP raised under lance for Master of the Mint, William Wellesley Pole, date in exergue, tiny B.P. raised in upper right of exergue for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, edge milled (Marsh 216; M.C.E. 642; S.3996). Extremely fine. Calendar year mintage 11,501,117.
George V (1910-36), gold sovereign, 1914 M, Melbourne Mint, Australia, bare head left, B.M. raised on truncation for engraver Bertram Mackennal, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP: (“George V, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India”), rev. struck en médaille, St. George on horseback slaying dragon with sword right, plumed helmet with three-strand streamer, horse with long tail, ending in three strands, with one spur higher up at curve, broken lance on ground-line to left, tiny WWP raised under lance for Master of the Mint, William Wellesley Pole, mint mark M at centre of ground-line, date in exergue, tiny B.P. raised in upper right of exergue for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, edge milled (Marsh 232; M.C.E. 642; S.3999). Almost extremely fine. Calendar year mintage 2,012,029.
George V (1910-36), gold sovereign, 1918 I, Bombay Mint, India, bare head left, B.M. raised on truncation for engraver Bertram Mackennal, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP: (“George V, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India”), rev. struck en médaille, St. George on horseback slaying dragon with sword right, plumed helmet with three-strand streamer, horse with long tail, ending in three strands, with one spur higher up at curve, broken lance on ground-line to left, tiny WWP raised under lance for Master of the Mint, William Wellesley Pole, mint mark I at centre of ground-line, date in exergue, tiny B.P. raised in upper right of exergue for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, edge milled (Marsh 228; S.3998). Obverse good very fine,  reverse almost extremely fine. Calendar year mintage 1,294,372.

1911 20 French Francs - Marianne Rooster bought from @ChardsCoinandBullionDealer.



 
 

1908 Edward VII Melbourne Mint sovereign bought from Sovereign Rarities. Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910, an immensely popular and affable monarch and a leader of society.
DESCRIPTION
Edward VII (1901-10), gold sovereign, 1908 M, Melbourne Mint, Australia, bare head right, tiny DeS. raised below truncation for engraver George William de Saulles, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, EDWARDVS VII D:G:BRITT:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP: (“Edward VII, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India”), rev. struck en médaille, St. George on horseback slaying dragon with sword right, plumed helmet with three-strand streamer, horse with long tail, ending in three strands, with one spur higher up at curve, broken lance on ground-line to left, tiny WWP raised under lance for Master of the Mint, William Wellesley Pole, mint mark M at centre of ground-line, date in exergue, tiny B.P. raised in upper right of exergue for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, edge milled, weight 8.00g (Bentley 820; McDonald 229; Marsh 192; M.C.E. 627; S.3971). Some light bag marks, hairline scratch in obverse field, otherwise extremely fine, better than usually seen. Ex Randy Weir Numismatics, Unionville, Ontario, Canada, purchased c.1998. Calendar year mintage 3,078,500 of which 1,648 went for pyx trial.

My collection of german 10 Euro commemorative coins. They are 925 sterling silver and theoretically you can use them to pay in stores, but i think nobody knows them.