1887 Sovereign

[MJCOIN]

I picked this up at an auction last week and I wanted to get your opinion.

The coin looks to be in almost perfect condition - do you think it could possibly be a fake?  I have no scales or access to any equipment to check anything about the coin.

Out of interest - can anyone recommend scales I could buy?

I believe jewellers can do a gold content check for a small price?  If I get them to check for me will they damage the coin?

 

 

[pricha]

You can download Precious Coin Tester app for free on your phone. It's excellent for the price 😆

[MJCOIN]

2 minutes ago, pricha said:

You can download Precious Coin Tester app for free on your phone. It's excellent for the price 😆

Ah - good advice - thanks.  I'm going to buy some scales too.  Been looking and the Kern CM 60-2N seems to be ideal.

[MJCOIN]

10 minutes ago, MJCOIN said:

Ah - good advice - thanks.  I'm going to buy some scales too.  Been looking and the Kern CM 60-2N seems to be ideal.

Thanks for the tip - the coin came back as good.

[jultorsk]

I'm intrigued.

Perhaps ask @LawrenceChardnicely, and he'll maybe give his informed opinion 😊

[MJCOIN]

3 minutes ago, jultorsk said:

I'm intrigued.

Perhaps ask @LawrenceChardnicely, and he'll maybe give his informed opinion 😊

Good suggestion - thank you.

[Allgoldcoins]

The coin looks genuine and in very nice condition, i certainly would not be going anywhere near it with a gold testing kit.

A good pair of scales for coins : https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/1317187511

[MJCOIN]

8 minutes ago, Allgoldcoins said:

The coin looks genuine and in very nice condition, i certainly would not be going anywhere near it with a gold testing kit.

A good pair of scales for coins : https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/1317187511

Thanks.  Would it be worth getting it graded?  

[Allgoldcoins]

Just now, MJCOIN said:

Thanks.  Would it be worth getting it graded?  

I don't see why not, it looks to be a decent MS grade - Victoria has all her hair which is not seen unless its a good coin, I guess it looks rather nice hen you turn it at an angle?

[MJCOIN]

Just now, Allgoldcoins said:

I don't see why not, it looks to be a decent MS grade - Victoria has all her hair which is not seen unless its a good coin, I guess it looks rather nice hen you turn it at an angle?

It does indeed - the shine on the plain background behind her head was what made me a bit suspicious that it might be a fake.  I've bought an accurate set of scales and will check the weight just to be sure.

[sovereignsteve]

Looks a lovely coin. You do see proof-like examples of this year.

[MJCOIN]

1 minute ago, sovereignsteve said:

Looks a lovely coin. You do see proof-like examples of this year.

Cheers.  Is it worth much over spot price?

[sovereignsteve]

2 minutes ago, MJCOIN said:

Cheers.  Is it worth much over spot price?

I'll be happy to give you spot price for it. I may even be pushed to 5% premium😊

[sovereignsteve]

The E in JEB looks interesting. Is it really as tilted as it looks in the photo?

[MJCOIN]

10 minutes ago, sovereignsteve said:

The E in JEB looks interesting. Is it really as tilted as it looks in the photo?

Looks OK in this pic.

 

 

[sovereignsteve]

Indeed. Funny how photos can distort details.

The obverse background looks a bit scuffed in this photo, and the cross on the crown looks flat too.

[MJCOIN]

1 minute ago, sovereignsteve said:

Indeed. Funny how photos can distort details.

The obverse background looks a bit scuffed in this photo, and the cross on the crown looks flat too.

Yeah, the photos are not showing it as I'm seeing it - in real life the crown looks fine - nice and defined and sharp.  The background is showing some signs of scratching.

[LawrenceChard]

2 hours ago, MJCOIN said:

I picked this up at an auction last week and I wanted to get your opinion.

The coin looks to be in almost perfect condition - do you think it could possibly be a fake?  I have no scales or access to any equipment to check anything about the coin.

Out of interest - can anyone recommend scales I could buy?

I believe jewellers can do a gold content check for a small price?  If I get them to check for me will they damage the coin?

I picked this up at an auction last week and I wanted to get your opinion.

I always advise to give as much information whenever you ask an opinion, this saves the other person telling you something you already know, so for example I guess you bought it as an 1887 London Mint sovereign. Without seeing the size, or comparing it, it could just be a £2, but not a £5 or half sovereign. If unsure, state the diameter. It's not possibly to judge from the photos.

Most people would also be interested in how much you paid, and which auction /seller, this makes it an information exchange.

If you paid £10 or bought it on ebay, then it's a fake, 🙂, probably.

The coin looks to be in almost perfect condition

Yes it does look good, it should also look quite yellow compared with most other sovereigns.

- do you think it could possibly be a fake?

It certainly could be, although if so, then it's a good fake..

  I have no scales or access to any equipment to check anything about the coin.

I guess you have the most useful coin checking equipment, two good eyes, but you do also need some experience.

Out of interest - can anyone recommend scales I could buy?

The scales you mentioned sound good, as they are calibrated to 0.01 grams, much better than to 0.1 grams, even though they are more expensive than the Kingavon on ebay for £4.89; the listing mentions "herbs"!

I picked this up at an auction last week and I wanted to get your opinion.

The coin looks to be in almost perfect condition - do you think it could possibly be a fake?  I have no scales or access to any equipment to check anything about the coin.

Out of interest - can anyone recommend scales I could buy?

I believe jewellers can do a gold content check for a small price?  If I get them to check for me will they damage the coin?

Probably. Most jewellers would acid test it, which will leave a stain, and often file the edge, without even asking you if that's OK.

Most jewellers know very little about coins, and not much more about jewellery either, and I am not entirely joking.

I don't know if any of this helps.

[MJCOIN]

17 minutes ago, LawrenceChard said:

I picked this up at an auction last week and I wanted to get your opinion.

I always advise to give as much information whenever you ask an opinion, this saves the other person telling you something you already know, so for example I guess you bought it as an 1887 London Mint sovereign. Without seeing the size, or comparing it, it could just be a £2, but not a £5 or half sovereign. If unsure, state the diameter. It's not possibly to judge from the photos.

Most people would also be interested in how much you paid, and which auction /seller, this makes it an information exchange.

If you paid £10 or bought it on ebay, then it's a fake, 🙂, probably.

The coin looks to be in almost perfect condition

Yes it does look good, it should also look quite yellow compared with most other sovereigns.

- do you think it could possibly be a fake?

It certainly could be, although if so, then it's a good fake..

  I have no scales or access to any equipment to check anything about the coin.

I guess you have the most useful coin checking equipment, two good eyes, but you do also need some experience.

Out of interest - can anyone recommend scales I could buy?

The scales you mentioned sound good, as they are calibrated to 0.01 grams, much better than to 0.1 grams, even though they are more expensive than the Kingavon on ebay for £4.89; the listing mentions "herbs"!

I picked this up at an auction last week and I wanted to get your opinion.

The coin looks to be in almost perfect condition - do you think it could possibly be a fake?  I have no scales or access to any equipment to check anything about the coin.

Out of interest - can anyone recommend scales I could buy?

I believe jewellers can do a gold content check for a small price?  If I get them to check for me will they damage the coin?

Probably. Most jewellers would acid test it, which will leave a stain, and often file the edge, without even asking you if that's OK.

Most jewellers know very little about coins, and not much more about jewellery either, and I am not entirely joking.

I don't know if any of this helps.

Thanks Lawrence!

No, I would never, ever buy from Ebay!

[LawrenceChard]

2 minutes ago, MJCOIN said:

Thanks Lawrence!

No, I would never, ever buy from Ebay!

You could probably risk the £4.89 scales!

[dicker]

5 hours ago, LawrenceChard said:

Most jewellers know very little about coins, and not much more about jewellery either, and I am not entirely joking.

True...

Edited May 17, 2021 by dicker

[Foster88]

On 16/05/2021 at 19:36, MJCOIN said:

I picked this up at an auction last week and I wanted to get your opinion.

The coin looks to be in almost perfect condition - do you think it could possibly be a fake?  I have no scales or access to any equipment to check anything about the coin.

Out of interest - can anyone recommend scales I could buy?

I believe jewellers can do a gold content check for a small price?  If I get them to check for me will they damage the coin?

 

 

I'm a little late to your post but, is this a London mint? I can't see a mint mark but sometimes they are hiding there which the photo doesn't pick up.

I'm certain its the 'First variety/legend', with the distance from the last colon in D: G: and the queens crown on the outer toothing. Its between Marsh 125 to 125D. Most likely 125D.

Can anyone clarify?

[MJCOIN]

London as far as I can recall.  It's off being graded with NGC at the moment.  Should get it back in a few weeks.  Will post the result.

[MJCOIN]

Just been informed it achieved an MS63 grade by NGC.  Pretty happy with that.  Will post a few pics when I get it back.

[richatthecroft]

2 hours ago, MJCOIN said:

Just been informed it achieved an MS63 grade by NGC.  Pretty happy with that.  Will post a few pics when I get it back.

Great result, lovely Sovereign  😃