sovereigns

[hugo mandeville]

their name has not been stolen. They are sovereign in many aspects, some are real jewels.
I have been collecting 1838 - 1932 type full sovereigns steadily over the years when i had the money and the occasion, have now a collection of 109 different sovs of different years and mints. Only the ottawa C mint lacks. unless i would include a marvellous 1912 canadian 5 dollar piece but that would be forcing the sovereign's arm, a sovereign is a sovereign, has no indication of value on it.... It is what it is, and that in itself is already a story. others are five this or ten that, a sovereign and the whole WORLD knows what the value of a sovereign is, it is a sovereign. Period.
I collected also on the fringe of that half sovs and other pieces, big and small but though some of them are treu jewels, my heart goes to the full sovereigns. i started even liking the ED VII pieces, because i de facto like the size and weigh of the piece; not too big, not too small, not too thick, nor too slim.
Well, the reason i came up with this topic was to find out if there are other sovereignfreaks on this forum. Those who love the coin for the coin's sake and would be interesed to share vieuws and findings and also maybe exchange pieces.
I have spares and i have remarked that in some areas some years and mints abundon and in other areas the same mint is scarce as if the mintflows followed a geographical consumption patter.
Well that's it for tonight,
will see what the fiatbonkrers will invent to lap a sledgehammer on the head of gold, Just read a vere savvy verbal masterpiece of tongue twisting on BBC news. Things go from bad to worse but the worsening is slowing.
An by the key of the safe, banks and financial institutes will pay back 25 billion " next " year, but will devore the 125 remaining ones and when it will be paid back, it's repay timing wil be a blessing because it is already earmarked to be stoked in the bowels of the Moloch.
All that good news will lift stockes, and hammer gold for a while, How long the spell will last is another question, Anyway they are Masters in the pop-up art....

[Keiser]

a month or two ago I reluctantly bought my first sovereigns for a spot +3-4%, I was not very happy with them as I normally stack maples and 1oz bars; however, during the last month I havee gatehred 20 of them, I like them. they are really nice, the same nice "old smell" as US Liberties.

[Starting]

their name has not been stolen. They are sovereign in many aspects, some are real jewels.
I have been collecting 1838 - 1932 type full sovereigns steadily over the years when i had the money and the occasion, have now a collection of 109 different sovs of different years and mints. Only the ottawa C mint lacks. unless i would include a marvellous 1912 canadian 5 dollar piece but that would be forcing the sovereign's arm, a sovereign is a sovereign, has no indication of value on it.... It is what it is, and that in itself is already a story. others are five this or ten that, a sovereign and the whole WORLD knows what the value of a sovereign is, it is a sovereign. Period.
I collected also on the fringe of that half sovs and other pieces, big and small but though some of them are treu jewels, my heart goes to the full sovereigns. i started even liking the ED VII pieces, because i de facto like the size and weigh of the piece; not too big, not too small, not too thick, nor too slim.
Well, the reason i came up with this topic was to find out if there are other sovereignfreaks on this forum. Those who love the coin for the coin's sake and would be interesed to share vieuws and findings and also maybe exchange pieces.
I have spares and i have remarked that in some areas some years and mints abundon and in other areas the same mint is scarce as if the mintflows followed a geographical consumption patter.
Well that's it for tonight,
will see what the fiatbonkrers will invent to lap a sledgehammer on the head of gold, Just read a vere savvy verbal masterpiece of tongue twisting on BBC news. Things go from bad to worse but the worsening is slowing.
An by the key of the safe, banks and financial institutes will pay back 25 billion " next " year, but will devore the 125 remaining ones and when it will be paid back, it's repay timing wil be a blessing because it is already earmarked to be stoked in the bowels of the Moloch.
All that good news will lift stockes, and hammer gold for a while, How long the spell will last is another question, Anyway they are Masters in the pop-up art....

Upcoming sovereign freak: me. Trying to find some and cannot find. Received my first sovereign recently and have fallen in love!

[Solidus_Aurelius]

The kings and queens are nice, BUT, I'm in love with marianne on the french 20 franc! :-)

I have a few sovereigns. I like the coin itself, my problem is that since it doesn't have a denomination and looks exactly like a half sovereign, you have to be extra careful with ebay listings. I only bid if they say specifically "full sovereign" and specify the weight.

[flashman]

I also have sovs (with a couple of half sovs) as they are the ideal size for an ebay purchase not so expensive in case the deal goes south but not so cheap that the post charges are proportionately disproportionate. Previous poster is correct that a sov and half sov cannot be distinguished on the basis of a photo so you have to watch out. I must admit I recently have felt and urge to get some bigger coins (like a Brittania) just to have a large hunk of gold in my hand but the sovs are probably more practical for resale particularly if the old price goes up. Sovs of course also have the advantage that there is no CGT to pay on sales in the UK. For me sovs are the most practical way to accumulate some bullion.

[oasis]

I'm a recent convert to sovereigns. Much more practical to stack than one ounce bullion coins and cheaper per ounce than similar sized fractionals (i.e. 1/4 ounce). Easily recognized the world over and they have that nice Bond connection.

I've picked up a few the past couple of months, they are hard to get a hold of at a reasonable price. I had the opportunity to pick up a nice stash from a coin shop in Sydney but they wanted me to pay 30% over spot. No thanks.

[Carpenter]

Ias Previous poster is correct that a sov and half sov cannot be distinguished on the basis of a photo so you have to watch out.

I am also fond of the sovereign coins, I own a few full and 1 half.
I may be totally wrong here, it is only an observation, and a fleeting one at that.
I thought if the figure on the obverse looked left it was a full sovereign and conversely if the figure faced right it was a half.
I bought the sovereigns from a trusted dealer/freind. As a habit, and entertainment, I authenticate all purchases with scales and calipers .
Is my observation wrong?

[hugo mandeville]

The kings and queens are nice, BUT, I'm in love with marianne on the french 20 franc! :-)

I have a few sovereigns. I like the coin itself, my problem is that since it doesn't have a denomination and looks exactly like a half sovereign, you have to be extra careful with ebay listings. I only bid if they say specifically "full sovereign" and specify the weight.

I have two runs from 1899 to 1914 and a bunch of spares. They are real bullion coins mostly in mint condition, common bullion coins here in France.

What you say about the full and half sovs is true. I got once cheated by a certain 41355034 ( i can communicate you her name ) who had set the pitfall damn fine on an ED VII by putting the starting price so high that you couldn't doubt it to be a sovereign, so indeed you better be carefull with the EDVII and GV ( the vics full and halves can easily be differentiated ).
When you see a ED VII or VV on ebay and it doesn't state "full" sov or indicates the brutto or fine grammage, you should always as ca clarification and if they do not answer or say they have no scale or other nonsense, then you shouldn't take the risk.
That's indeed the tricky part of not having a value mark on the coins. Australian braided hair Vic coins have so there is no doubt.
Another problem is the mintmark, most offering people who are not very well acqauainted with sovereigns do not have a clue about the mintmarks or do not even notice it, so it can be a problem if the picture is not very accurate London has often a kind of hill at the spot where other mints have their mark and people hesitate when answering.
So that are the drawbacks of collecting sovereigns, but nothing in life is perfect, it is as the devise of the Temple Order, "Betracht din Endt" pursue your objective and that objective never can or will be reached, but that's the essence of life.
Have a good day and continue to collect. +++

[hugo mandeville]

I am also fond of the sovereign coins, I own a few full and 1 half.
I may be totally wrong here, it is only an observation, and a fleeting one at that.
I thought if the figure on the obverse looked left it was a full sovereign and conversely if the figure faced right it was a half.
I bought the sovereigns from a trusted dealer/freind. As a habit, and entertainment, I authenticate all purchases with scales and calipers .
Is my observation wrong?

It is a long established habit that the successive sovereigns are looking to the other side than the preceding one. Victoria looking to the left, ED VII to the right, G V to the left and EL II to the right. The next should be looking to the left but Charles has said his right side is more advantageous we will see who wins, tradition or Charles.
PS the same sovereign looks at the same direction on halves and fulls

[hugo mandeville]

I also have sovs (with a couple of half sovs) as they are the ideal size for an ebay purchase not so expensive in case the deal goes south but not so cheap that the post charges are proportionately disproportionate. Previous poster is correct that a sov and half sov cannot be distinguished on the basis of a photo so you have to watch out. I must admit I recently have felt and urge to get some bigger coins (like a Brittania) just to have a large hunk of gold in my hand but the sovs are probably more practical for resale particularly if the old price goes up. Sovs of course also have the advantage that there is no CGT to pay on sales in the UK. For me sovs are the most practical way to accumulate some bullion.

Yes i follow the same idea, when the gold price goes up, yoou still can buy a piece a month with the savings you make when you stop smoking a pack a day... .
Those coins are liquid and the spread between buy/sale is minimal unless they are rarer pieces. Bigger coins require already bigger amounts of savings and the sums are that big you hesitate to buy them, that's why i have very few BIG pieces, i only bought when i couldn't get enough smaller ones. I am in principle steering for sovs and 20 francs or equivalents.