1920 Sydney Sovereign - Research and Forgeries

[dicker]

Hi All

I was looking into the slightly odd history of the 1920 Sydney Sovereign, and in doing so found the following articles which are interesting.

https://www.the-ans.com/library/Conf2020HHodgson.html
 

https://www.sterlingcurrency.com.au/blog/news-research/australian-gold-coinage/the-1920-sydney-sovereign-the-greatest-gold-rarity/
 

I am trying to find a copy of the Book on Forger David Gee but it is exceptionally hard to find!  It seems he counterfeited way more than just 1920 S Sovereigns

Best

Dicker

[GoldDiggerDave]

https://loosechangecoins.com.au/products/heads-i-win-the-true-story-of-david-gee-australias-most-audacious-coin-forger-by-jeffrey-watson-don-thomas-jack-bennett?variant=30303186354309

only one i can see

 

[dicker]

Thanks Dave - pricey! Will keep searching.  

[bluffer]

not on abe books, alibris, or amazon

 

might be better doing a trawl of oz booksellers, thought i had got lucky first time around,  but out of stock  https://www.elizabethsbookshop.com.au/

 

this one will do an offline search and contact their contacts.  https://www.readinghabit.com.au/offline-search

Edited May 16, 2022 by bluffer

[Booky586]

This is an interesting article with a timeline of the coin sales and prices realised:

https://www.coinsandaustralia.com/coins-articles-australia.php?article=1920-sydney-gold-sovereign-rarest-sovereign-of-australia&id=52

[LawrenceChard]

13 hours ago, dicker said:

Hi All

I was looking into the slightly odd history of the 1920 Sydney Sovereign, and in doing so found the following articles which are interesting.

https://www.the-ans.com/library/Conf2020HHodgson.html
 

https://www.sterlingcurrency.com.au/blog/news-research/australian-gold-coinage/the-1920-sydney-sovereign-the-greatest-gold-rarity/
 

I am trying to find a copy of the Book on Forger David Gee but it is exceptionally hard to find!  It seems he counterfeited way more than just 1920 S Sovereigns

Best

Dicker

Why all the fuss about 1920-S sovereigns?

😎

 

[dicker]

Impressive…..

 

[LawrenceChard]

52 minutes ago, LawrenceChard said:

Why all the fuss about 1920-S sovereigns?

😎

 

 

21 minutes ago, dicker said:

Impressive…..

 

I think 1920-L London Mint is rarer!

😎

[dicker]

6 minutes ago, LawrenceChard said:

 

I think 1920-L London Mint is rarer!

😎

Non-existent!?

[LawrenceChard]

13 minutes ago, dicker said:

Non-existent!?

Can only be a matter of time before one comes up for sale in a major London auction house!

😎

[LawrenceChard]

40 minutes ago, LawrenceChard said:

Can only be a matter of time before one comes up for sale in a major London auction house!

😎

I thought @jultorsk might like that!

😎

[jultorsk]

33 minutes ago, LawrenceChard said:

I thought @jultorsk might like that!

😎

I think even I could spot that one as a tad suss.... 😅

 

 

[LawrenceChard]

4 minutes ago, jultorsk said:

I think even I could spot that one as a tad suss.... 😅

 

 

London auction house trains its minions to detect imitations?

😎

[jultorsk]

5 minutes ago, LawrenceChard said:

London auction house trains its minions to detect imitations?

😎

They've got more self-confidence than skill I reckon! 😁

 

 

[GoldDabbler]

4 minutes ago, jultorsk said:

They've got more self-confidence than skill I reckon! 

 

My thought in every workplace I've ever been in.

[dicker]

@LawrenceChard I thought there were so few 1920 S Sovereigns that a dealer would not see one.  How wrong was I!

Best

Dicker

[jultorsk]

The SP66 PCGS ex. Quartermaster coin was just sold on May 3 at MDC for approx. GBP471k + BP. 

This coin was last sold by the same in June 2021 for GBP651k + BP.

It is still the highest certified example known.

[Sovhead]

A fascinating read with some nice links 👍🏻

[Sovhead]

4 hours ago, jultorsk said:

The SP66 PCGS ex. Quartermaster coin was just sold on May 3 at MDC for approx. GBP471k + BP. 

This coin was last sold by the same in June 2021 for GBP651k + BP.

It is still the highest certified example known.

That’s a sore 180k loss 🤦‍♂️

[Sovhead]

On 16/05/2022 at 20:01, dicker said:

Hi All

I was looking into the slightly odd history of the 1920 Sydney Sovereign, and in doing so found the following articles which are interesting.

https://www.the-ans.com/library/Conf2020HHodgson.html
 

https://www.sterlingcurrency.com.au/blog/news-research/australian-gold-coinage/the-1920-sydney-sovereign-the-greatest-gold-rarity/
 

I am trying to find a copy of the Book on Forger David Gee but it is exceptionally hard to find!  It seems he counterfeited way more than just 1920 S Sovereigns

Best

Dicker

Some of them are here:

https://topendcoins.com.au/2024/02/10/david-gee-forgeries-catalogue/

[jultorsk]

Additional color (blue) on Mr. Gee's antics.

https://numismysteries.blogspot.com/2011/05/is-it-legit-or-is-it-gee.html

[jultorsk]

One now available at HA; place your bids ladies and esteemed gents. 

https://coins.ha.com/itm/australia/australia-george-v-gold-sovereign-1920-s-ms63-pcgs-/a/3118-30233.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515

Aside, this is one of the better Aussie Sov collections I've seen for a while.

[modofantasma]

2 hours ago, jultorsk said:

One now available at HA; place your bids ladies and esteemed gents. 

https://coins.ha.com/itm/australia/australia-george-v-gold-sovereign-1920-s-ms63-pcgs-/a/3118-30233.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515

Aside, this is one of the better Aussie Sov collections I've seen for a while.

@ZRPMs

[ZRPMs]

On 18/07/2024 at 05:29, modofantasma said:

On 18/07/2024 at 02:48, jultorsk said:

One now available at HA; place your bids ladies and esteemed gents. 

https://coins.ha.com/itm/australia/australia-george-v-gold-sovereign-1920-s-ms63-pcgs-/a/3118-30233.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515

Aside, this is one of the better Aussie Sov collections I've seen for a while.

@ZRPMs

Many thanks. The 1920s is one that's on wanted list 2. However, paying buyers premium always makes me feel like I'm paying VAT+.

Nice coin but at the moment, starting at $180,000. It'll most likely be one of the last ones I get, if ever. I've just pulled a face at £60,000 to complete list 1 of 28 sovereigns and 6 at R2-3 from list 2. I think that works out at just under £7,500 an ounce of gold. Imagine what gold would have to get to an ounce for $180,000 plus postage and insurance. and that's if no one else bids. I sure @James32 might want to add this to his collection. I think his graded coin collection is growing nicely.

Heritage have some really lovely coins but most would certainly play havoc with my £ cost average for each sovereign. 🤣🤣🤣