What you think of my Young Heads

[SilverStan]

Hi people

Im thinking of getting these Graded.

Im looking for some feedback please if you don't mind...

Kind Regards

 

1861

1885

 

[SilverStan]

hope the pics are good enough Thanks.

[HawkHybrid]

pics for shield sovereign is a little blurry.

 

I can see wear on dragons ribs, georges chest and helmet,

and horses head.... I think, am I close?

 

oh, and the broken spearpoint.

 

HH

[SilverStan]

Thanks HH added new pics...

[HawkHybrid]

there's also wear on georges knee/shin

and the horses chest, maybe think of what

you may gain from grading this one?

 

HH

[sovereignsteve]

Depends what you're trying to achieve. If increase in value then the '85 G&D complete waste of time, shield maybe worth it.

The '85 obverse might just go VF but the G&D side is aVF, worth bullion I'm afraid. Looks polished as well.

The shield looks nice; difficult to grade the obverse properly from photo but it looks like aEF. The reverse is better and would probably make EF if it wasn't for that worn/filed area on the rim at the top of the shield. Also the area in the lower/middle of shield looks like the sign of a poor strike, quite common in this area but shouldn't detract from grade. Might be worth grading if you get a good result, depends how much it costs you in total. Catalogue price is around £450 -500. A small difference in grade at this level makes a big difference to value.

[MCJ]

Depends what you're trying to achieve. If increase in value then the '85 G&D complete waste of time, shield maybe worth it.

The '85 obverse might just go VF but the G&D side is aVF, worth bullion I'm afraid. Looks polished as well.

The shield looks nice; difficult to grade the obverse properly from photo but it looks like aEF. The reverse is better and would probably make EF if it wasn't for that worn/filed area on the rim at the top of the shield. Also the area in the lower/middle of shield looks like the sign of a poor strike, quite common in this area but shouldn't detract from grade. Might be worth grading if you get a good result, depends how much it costs you in total. Catalogue price is around £450 -500. A small difference in grade at this level makes a big difference to value.

Can I ask which catalogue you are referring to?

[sovereignsteve]

Spink 2015 with an adjustment (my estimate) for difference in grade from standard grades of VF and EF.

Bear in mind these are given as "retail" or top prices from a dealer.

Please discuss if you disagree.

[SilverStan]

I'm still relatively new to this but maybe my golden eye isn't too bad.

I paid £225 for the 1885. G/d

and £300 for the shield.

Thanks for the informative reply I may just grade the shield then...

[SilverStan]

And maybe eBay the g/d 1885 to try to find something better..

[Guest]

The 1885 looked a little shiny. Are you sure it had not been cleaned? It seems that cleaning is the biggest cause of a details grading which will wipe value.

[SilverStan]

I got the 1885 from a pawn brokers and I visited recently and they had 3 other sovs . And they all were shiny so yes I'd say your correct..

[sovereignsteve]

I got the 1885 from a pawn brokers and I visited recently and they had 3 other sovs . And they all were shiny so yes I'd say your correct..

Wan***s

[MCJ]

Spink 2015 with an adjustment (my estimate) for difference in grade from standard grades of VF and EF.

Bear in mind these are given as "retail" or top prices from a dealer.

Please discuss if you disagree.

Ta for the reference. I wasn't disagreeing, just being inquisitive and trying to learn.

[sovereignsteve]

Ta for the reference. I wasn't disagreeing, just being inquisitive and trying to learn.

Differences of opinion and discussion are to be encouraged.

I'll take this up in the "sovereign talk" thread.

[Murph]

1885 is well worn on high parts and does look polished.  Can't really see much of the dragon's ribs or wound/spear point and george's chest and head/helmet edge can't be made out.

[SilverStan]

So would you guys say VF Im going to sell it... The 1885 That is.

[HawkHybrid]

 

VF = Very Fine: A coin with some wear to the highest areas of the design but which has seen limited circulation. More hair detail is evident and also detail on the other designs. Just as an average guide a coin that has been in normal circulation for approximately 5 years may qualify for VF status.

 

I would guess that a 2010 coin would have more

detail.

 

HH

[MCJ]

So would you guys say VF Im going to sell it... The 1885 That is.

Hi Bud,

Take a look at the coin in the link below, they have it catalogued at being GVF (Look down the table on the right hand side of the web page). Mind you, they are selling it. If I were buying it, IMVHO I would say it was, at a push, VF probably more NVF

http://www.londoncoins.co.uk/?page=retailv2_details&uin=0023340

 

MCJ

 

[sovereignsteve]

Hi Bud,

Take a look at the coin in the link below, they have it catalogued at being GVF (Look down the table on the right hand side of the web page). Mind you, they are selling it. If I were buying it, IMVHO I would say it was, at a push, VF probably more NVF

http://www.londoncoins.co.uk/?page=retailv2_details&uin=0023340

 

MCJ

 

I assume you're talking tongue in cheek

Personally I would say the CGS have it exactly right, it is definitely better than VF.

The CGS, although late comers to the world of coin grading, are based in the UK and were set up with numismatic members with vast knowledge of UK coins and their grades. They apparently have a large archive of examples of gradings for a wide range of UK coins and this gives them a better chance of accurately grading sovereigns; the NGC and PCGS often get it wrong, their expertise is mainly in US coins. I can't remember seeing a CGS graded sovereign that I thought was suspect.

[HawkHybrid]

Hi Bud,

Take a look at the coin in the link below, they have it catalogued at being GVF (Look down the table on the right hand side of the web page). Mind you, they are selling it. If I were buying it, IMVHO I would say it was, at a push, VF probably more NVF

http://www.londoncoins.co.uk/?page=retailv2_details&uin=0023340

 

MCJ

 

I think the example coin has a better obverse than

reverse bringing the average grade up a little.

I agree that calling it vf-nvf should be an honest

grade.

 

 

 

Personally I would say the CGS have it exactly right, it is definitely better than VF.

right, that's it, I'm calling my 1878 a gvf cos I can

still see most of my spearhead.

 

HH

[sovereignsteve]

Come'on guys, explain what you're basing your disagreement with a respected professional grading company on.

[HawkHybrid]

I've always thought a vf graded coin was less

common and a very respectable grade to have.

wear on the dragons rib does show up quite

badly.

 

(I really can see the spearhead on my 1878 sov.)

 

HH

[MCJ]

Come'on guys, explain what you're basing your disagreement with a respected professional grading company on.

Well, like I said it was IMVHO. I'm no expert on grading coins and I'll be the first to admit I'm still learning. But I have been looking at a lot of pictures of coins..lol. and I thought that the coin was over graded, too much wear on the reverse. I'm also suspicious of Londons Coins selling graded coins by CGS as they are a sister company.

"Stephen Lockett of London Coins made his first move to revolutionise the UK coin market. On December 1, 2006, he launched Coin Grading Service Limited, which trades as CGS UK. Its grading standards and coin benchmark set was designed around English and British milled coins. Although this is the company’s primary area of expertise, it will grade and encapsulate Scottish milled and British Commonwealth coins. To quote Stephen’s words at the launch of the company, "It is the vehicle for coin collecting in the UK to get into the mainstream".

 

I've also read a lot of statements online similar to the one below:

IN A NUTSHELL: Certified coin holders, or "coin slabs," can provide a measure of security when buying expensive coins, lessening your chances of getting stuck with an over graded, doctored, or counterfeit coin. But some coin grading companies grade considerably more liberally than others, which can cause unsuspecting buyers to pay considerably more for a coin than they would otherwise.

 

Are people paying too much for over graded coins stuck in a piece of plastic? IMO, sometimes...yes they are. Not picking on CGS, I'm referring to all grading companies.

MCJ

[MCJ]

I also think that certain people are having the wool pulled over their eyes by the coin grading companies. It's like they're saying don't bother to learn anything about buying coins, we'll do that for you. Don't buy any reference books or carry out your own research. Don't take the chance of buying a fake coin, because you have no idea what you're doing or how to tell a fake from a real coin, let us do it all for you. Oh, and we'll also over grade the coin so we can charge you a fortune for the privilege of putting it in a slab.

 

Or is it just me?

 

MCJ