Which sovereigns to buy?

[Gruff]

I'm thinking about buying some sovs. However I'm looking for the best value, not the rarest or best numismatic etc..

The reason for this is that they are cheaper than a 1/4oz Gold Brit, are CGT and VAT exempt and from what I can see looking at the online dealers have a slightly lower premium attached as well. So for stacking weight, they seem like a logical addition to the pirate chest.
Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

Also any knowledgeable persons with insight into the pros and cons of both Brits vs Sovs. I'm sure there is already a thread on here for this, so please link me to it. 
Thanks

[AOB]

Hi Gruff,

I would stick with the older Sovs - Machin and older. It’s a nicer looking coin(gold) and doesn’t look coppery(Modern), and lastly buy whatever has the lowest premium. HGM usually have really good prices from a dealer.. Maybe chards still have the summer sale you could check theirs also.

** I’m no expert, many more knowledgeable people here** 

[Gruff]

4 minutes ago, AOB said:

Hi Gruff,

I would stick with the older Sovs - Machin and older. It’s a nicer looking coin(gold) and doesn’t look coppery(Modern), and lastly buy whatever has the lowest premium. HGM usually have really good prices from a dealer.. Maybe chards still have the summer sale you could check theirs also.

** I’m no expert, many more knowledgeable people here** 

Thanks AOB. I'll do some research. 

Hopefully others will chime in. I'm a complete noob when it comes to sovs. Literally know nothing about them.

[AOB]

Yes see best value Sov link from dealers such as chards, seems HGM are out of stock:

https://www.chards.co.uk/gold-bullion-sovereigns-secondary-market/1990
 

Secondly you could ask the likes of @1stsovereign has always stock of sovereigns.
Always great prices and true gent to do business with.

and lastly I have provided a link to BBP they have great info on all the sovereigns from years, monarchs & mintage etc:

https://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/info/sovereign-mintages

 Enjoy the ride, you’ll be a gold bug in no time 🤣💸

[James32]

43 minutes ago, Gruff said:

I'm thinking about buying some sovs. However I'm looking for the best value, not the rarest or best numismatic etc..

The reason for this is that they are cheaper than a 1/4oz Gold Brit, are CGT and VAT exempt and from what I can see looking at the online dealers have a slightly lower premium attached as well. So for stacking weight, they seem like a logical addition to the pirate chest.
Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

Also any knowledgeable persons with insight into the pros and cons of both Brits vs Sovs. I'm sure there is already a thread on here for this, so please link me to it. 
Thanks

Personally I'd go with the current coronation sovereigns at £369 from chards. Condition will be good and should have a small premium in future due to the crowned potrait. That's as cheap as any I've seen recently. 

Next I would go for gillicks and Machins, they just look how a sovereign should. Here you want to pay attention on premium and not get carried away. 

[Gruff]

8 minutes ago, AOB said:

Yes see best value Sov link from dealers such as chards, seems HGM are out of stock:

https://www.chards.co.uk/gold-bullion-sovereigns-secondary-market/1990
 

Secondly you could ask the likes of @1stsovereign has always stock of sovereigns.
Always great prices and true gent to do business with.

and lastly I have provided a link to BBP they have great info on all the sovereigns from years, monarchs & mintage etc:

https://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/info/sovereign-mintages

 Enjoy the ride, you’ll be a gold bug in no time 🤣💸

Thanks, am a gold and silver bug already, but I've kept closer to Brits as I understand those more.

1 minute ago, James32 said:

Personally I'd go with the current coronation sovereigns at £369 from chards. Condition will be good and should have a small premium in future due to the crowned potrait. That's as cheap as any I've seen recently. 

Next I would go for gillicks and Machins, they just look how a sovereign should. Here you want to pay attention on premium and not get carried away. 

Thanks King James. I'll do that and look into the Gillicks and Machins

[AOB]

2 minutes ago, James32 said:

Personally I'd go with the current coronation sovereigns at £369 from chards. Condition will be good and should have a small premium in future due to the crowned potrait. That's as cheap as any I've seen recently. 

Next I would go for gillicks and Machins, they just look how a sovereign should. Here you want to pay attention on premium and not get carried away. 

See more experienced, I do agree I need to get few of the coronation ones myself 

[AOB]

2 minutes ago, Gruff said:

Thanks, am a gold and silver bug already, but I've kept closer to Brits as I understand those more.

Good stuff, that’s one part of my stack which is slacking 1oz & fractional 999 gold.. 

[Gruff]

9 minutes ago, AOB said:

Good stuff, that’s one part of my stack which is slacking 1oz & fractional 999 gold.. 

And this is it, I feel it will bring some balance to the stack

[James32]

4 minutes ago, Gruff said:

And this is it, I feel it will bring some balance to the stack

Let's look at the argument for sovereigns over 1/4oz

1/4oz brit average price now is £415 ÷ 7.775 = £53.37 per gram AGW

Coronation sovereign £369 ÷ 7.32 = £50.40 per gram AGW

so the sovereign is currently (not always) better value, the 1/4oz brit would need to be £391 to be on equal terms right now, can't see many of them about lol.

Both of the above will have postage to be added, but if you buy a couple at a time it will offset this.

[AOB]

9 minutes ago, Gruff said:

And this is it, I feel it will bring some balance to the stack

I totally agree with you, I need to sit down shortly and reevaluate my stacking and see how to proceed for the coming year.. I defiantly need to start pushing more towards 999 gold 

[AOB]

2 minutes ago, James32 said:

Let's look at the argument for sovereigns over 1/4oz

1/4oz brit average price now is £415 ÷ 7.775 = £53.37 per gram AGW

Coronation sovereign £369 ÷ 7.32 = £50.40 per gram AGW

so the sovereign is currently (not always) better value, the 1/4oz brit would need to be £391 to be on equal terms right now, can't see many of them about lol.

Both of the above will have postage to be added, but if you buy a couple at a time it will offset this.

We love our resident mathematicians James 👏🏽👏🏽

all jokes aside that’s why I have been buying more Sovs lately at those lower premiums (and buy bigger quantities spread that postage cost).

[Gruff]

31 minutes ago, James32 said:

Let's look at the argument for sovereigns over 1/4oz

1/4oz brit average price now is £415 ÷ 7.775 = £53.37 per gram AGW

Coronation sovereign £369 ÷ 7.32 = £50.40 per gram AGW

so the sovereign is currently (not always) better value, the 1/4oz brit would need to be £391 to be on equal terms right now, can't see many of them about lol.

Both of the above will have postage to be added, but if you buy a couple at a time it will offset this.

Thanks James, yep simply put it is cheaper per gram when calculated like that!

[stefffana]

Very pertinent answers as always, but the best value sovereigns are those made in Gibraltar.

Put a "Wanted" advert on forum and buy them at spot with shipping included.

Can't go wrong and the designs are really nice.

Just sayin'...

[ZRPMs]

Can't add much more to what has already been said but last December I did get a best buy sovereign deal from Atkinsons. At the time they were about the cheapest available that I could find. I spoke with them on the phone and although they didn't have the deal on their web page they put it together for me. Always best to give them a call and speak with them. When they came they were virtually all in great condition and I had a number of Victorian, a few George and Edwards but a lot of them were Gillicks. I may have just lucked out but they were very helpful and the coins I had were better than I had expected for best buy sovereigns. In an effort for balance chards did try to help and have also been very good in the past with me but at the time I think availability might have been an issue.

[AOB]

9 minutes ago, stefffana said:

Very pertinent answers as always, but the best value sovereigns are those made in Gibraltar.

Put a "Wanted" advert on forum and buy them at spot with shipping included.

Can't go wrong and the designs are really nice.

Just sayin'...

Sounds very like a sales pitch..😉😂

[flyingveepixie]

I like them all myself and generally just buy what I fancy if it happens along at the right moment, although I usually go for sovs rather than Brits.  A lot of people don't like the coppery look of the more recent sovs and prefer the yellow of more vintage sovs from Victoria, Edward and the Georges but I find the coppery colour quite attractive.   I particularly like the old Victorian young head shield sovs because of both the handsome and iconic portrait and the shield, but I don't yet own one because of the high premium on them. And Gillicks too of course.

I'm not so keen on the KCIII sovs because I don't particularly like the man himself, but I also don't think much of the portraits on them so far either.

It might be worth considering some half sovs if you can find them at a decent price, but often the premium on them is a bit too high I find.  The reason I suggest them is in case spot goes through the roof (or to the moon...😂) and they will maybe be a bit easier to shift quickly if you need to.

Edited July 16, 2023 by flyingveepixie

[Thelonerangershorse]

2 hours ago, flyingveepixie said:

It might be worth considering some half sovs too if you can find them at a decent price, but often the premium on them is a bit too high I find.  The reason I suggest them is in case spot goes through the roof (or to the moon...😂) and they will maybe be a bit easier to shift quickly if you need to.

My plan also, 1oz coins are a big chunk of money and in a couple of years I see this getting much worse so sticking with 1/4's, sovs, half sovs and 1/10's if I see them without a massive premium.

May be tempted by some crowned silver brits if I see some at a reasonable price.

 

[Gruff]

26 minutes ago, Thelonerangershorse said:

My plan also, 1oz coins are a big chunk of money and in a couple of years I see this getting much worse so sticking with 1/4's, sovs, half sovs and 1/10's if I see them without a massive premium.

May be tempted by some crowned silver brits if I see some at a reasonable price.

 

And this is it right, with inflation the way it is, at least you're still adding to your stack with smaller weights, but it's still adding...

[Petra]

Unfortunately, 1/10ths, halves and quarters are too tempting! Got to keep buying the odd full sovereign 😮🤔

[n1k0s]

Best buy are for those of lowest premium and highest liquidity.

Sovereigns are just ideal.

if you also add their numismatic aspect on top, they are unbeatable

[Gruff]

15 minutes ago, n1k0s said:

Best buy are for those of lowest premium and highest liquidity.

Sovereigns are just ideal.

if you also add their numismatic aspect on top, they are unbeatable

Do you agree with the sentiments above for getting the current coronation ones, followed by Gillicks and then Machins?

[n1k0s]

26 minutes ago, Gruff said:

Do you agree with the sentiments above for getting the current coronation ones, followed by Gillicks and then Machins?

Personally, no. I don't see a point collecting the coronation ones. It feels like the royal mint tries to spur collectors into buying. 

Again, you need to ask yourself: are the coronations liquid enough in case you need to ever sell? Is there enough of a market? For me, no there isn't. The market is limited. 

[Petra]

38 minutes ago, Gruff said:

Do you agree with the sentiments above for getting the current coronation ones, followed by Gillicks and then Machins?

Maybe just get one to add to the collection, like a few in the past, you never know how popular they may end up!

[James32]

1 minute ago, n1k0s said:

Personally, no. I don't see a point collecting the coronation ones. It feels like the royal mint tries to spur collectors into buying. 

Again, you need to ask yourself: are the coronations liquid enough in case you need to ever sell? Is there enough of a market? For me, no there isn't. The market is limited. 

Whilst I agree the RM are milking the proverbial t1ts out of everything recently, how can the first crowned sovereign of a new Kings reign not be a collectable? How can it possibly fail? Charlie boy hasn't many fans but after all the sovereigns will be sought after when people need them for date runs and new stackers are trying to backfill.

We are talking about buying a couple because they are the lowest premium currently, imho it wont/can't be a bad idea. I believe this coronation sovereign will fit in between generic bullion sovs and special reverse bullion sovs due to beinga crowned potrait. It will carry a slight premium in a few years ( spot price dependant of course) 

The following years will always be sought after for established and new collectors alike..

2002

2005

2012

2017

2022 platinum jubilee 

2022 memorial 

2023 coronation