darren

Thanks for comments. I feel the picture does not do the coin justice due to being encased in a slab. I've tried scanning the slab but my HP all in one doesn't do the job very well. Most of the marks shown on the picture are actually on the slab. The relief on Victoria's' bust is also much more defined than shown in the picture. I was tempted to break it out of the slab, but I feel it will probably fetch more ££££ in years to come slabbed. ..... Why do people pay crazy money for slabbed coins?

Thanks for the offer of the 'Marsh' book, very kind. I have two copies of the book, 2002 and the 2007 reprint. Sadly Michael Marsh passed away in 2006 so the latest edition isn't updated. You are correct in assuming my main interest is in sovereigns . If you have a first edition (1980 Brown Cover) Of The Gold Sovereign, or 1999 edition (Green Cover) I would be interested in purchasing one. Brown cover £30-£45 & Green £120-£160 depending on condition. Well back to the coins! I am contemplating on sending some coins to CGS UK for grading and slabbing but I may just purchase 'The Standard Guide to Grading British Coins ' from the main Predecimal website and have a go myself! I'm not over keen on slabs! Thanks for reply and book offer. Regards Darren

Yes. Modern proofs, even silver proofs, can be picked up at auction for well under book. To give one notorious example : the 1977 silver proof crown has added about 25% - 33% to its price in over 30 years. "Half book" sounds a fair price, don't pay too much more than that. You think 1889 shillings are common? You should see the 1887 - commonest Victorian silver coin of them all! It was an 1887 shilling Peckris, my mistake.................. I've so much to learn

Hi all I've only been a member of this forum for a week and have recently caught the coin bug so please excuse my naivety! I have acquired an 1872 Shield Sovereign , London Mint without a die number. Its Spink number 3852C page 432 Spink 42nd edition 2010. I paid £242 for the example Slabbed by PCGS at AU58.Does this mean that it UNC or EF ? Pics below of coin in slab taken by seller.Believe me these pictures do not do this coin any justice. I do really appreciate responses by you guys here and I feel I've learned so much in such a short space of time from this forum. Thanks.

Oops I'm a year to late. No wander I couldn't find any on ebay. Still it will make me more wary of sellers from the far east. Thanks again.

Thanks for warning! I've just become interested in collecting shillings and I probably would have fallen for that.

Thanks for the info Rob. I'm quite new to all this and I appreciate all the knowledge and expertise my Grey matter can absorb. Got in touch with Allgold Sevenoaks and they said it was worth about £250-£300 and graded it as EF. Quite happy about. They said more or less the same as you. I also have an 1869 sovereign with '1 over 1'. I'll be on the look out for wrong letter over strikes from now on!

Recently purchased this coin when I noticed this over strike on the reverse of an 1871 shield sovereign (die 32)M over M in Britanniarum anyone come across this before?

I prefer un-slabbed coins but you have the piece of mind you are buying genuine and correctly graded coins. If I buy a slabbed coin I leave it slabbed but personally I wouldn't send any of my collection away to be slabbed. You can break the slab using a pair of pincers though. you tube has loads of tutorials.

Hi all I've just joined this forum and unfortunately for my I've got the sovereign bug at the peak of the gold price! I concentrate on Victorian Shields VF or better. I find that prices in the US are more favorable at the moment even taking into account of postage and insurance rates and many are slabbed. I've just started collect silver proof £1 coins and I've been picking them up for half the book price recently. I did stray and bought a 1889 shilling (AUNC) for £15 the other week and even though they are as common as dodgy ebay sellers offering 'mule' 20p pieces its a fantastic coin.

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Hi I'm new to the forum and I'd like to hear from any other sovereign collectors out there.I've just acquired an 1871 shield sovereign with a mis strike. The coin is in a VF condition (although it was advertised as AUNC on ebay)but I know that almost all the coins are over graded on ebay. The thing I noticed was the over strike so the grade didn't bother me. On the Reverse the M in BRITANNIARUM has been struck very obviously twice. Does anyone know of any other examples out there and would this increase its value considerably. Thanks.