Which sovereign is better?

[SilverApe]

I was just browsing eBay and I found two sovereigns, can anyone provide their analysis on the quality of the coin or if they are priced right? Hard for me to tell.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-1918-Canada-George-V-7-98-g-AGW-7-32-g-gold-Sovereign/293566069875?hash=item4459e6bc73:g:BdUAAOSwYFRdhg-I

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1918-Gold-Sovereign-Ottawa-Canada-Mint/392783212805?hash=item5b73b43105:g:U4AAAOSwvmteQByH

Cheers

[sovereignsteve]

Not much to choose between them but the more expensive one probably has the edge, especially on the obverse, although the pictures aren't so good.

[SilverApe]

20 minutes ago, sovereignsteve said:

Not much to choose between them but the more expensive one probably has the edge, especially on the obverse, although the pictures aren't so good.

Appreciate the input, do they look like fakes to you?

[matt1r]

Are you particularly looking for a 1918 c?

[SilverApe]

Yes, I'm quite keen on a 1918 C but at the right price.

[Seasider]

6 minutes ago, SilverApe said:

Yes, I'm quite keen on a 1918 C but at the right price.

Shame - Coin Cabinet has a shed load of 1917 Cs in their auction on 31 May but no 1918 C

[SilverApe]

6 minutes ago, Seasider said:

Shame - Coin Cabinet has a shed load of 1917 Cs in their auction on 31 May but no 1918 C

I've not used auctions before, what's the chance of a fake? I presume they check the coins or do they not care?

[Seasider]

7 minutes ago, SilverApe said:

I've not used auctions before, what's the chance of a fake? I presume they check the coins or do they not care?

Well they're not ebay

But I guess a fake can slip by anyone.

Most of the 1917 Cs are raw and being sold as job lots but the vast majority of the coins in the Coin Cabinet auctions are graded by PCGS or NGC which should give some comfort (and yes you can get fakes of PCGS and NGC slabs)

If you are worried about fakes you may want to search for "fake" on here and you may see some examples which may help you to tell what to look for.  I am not the person to ask as I have a 1911 C which came back from NGC as Not Genuine.

[Seasider]

Oh I should say the 1911 did come from an auction but not Coin Cabinet.

[SilverApe]

Is the idea then to buy at auction and then get NGC to grade the coin and therefore verify it is real? Is that what most are doing?

[Seasider]

12 hours ago, SilverApe said:

Is the idea then to buy at auction and then get NGC to grade the coin and therefore verify it is real? Is that what most are doing?

Some do; most don't.

What I was suggesting was that if you are that worried about fakes it may be safer to buy something which has already been graded.  You can check it out by looking up the certificate number on the NGC or PCGS websites