1900 London Half Sov

[TymH]

We've recently moved my 75 year old mum into a new flat, and unpacking, discovered a 1900 half sovereign, which appears to be a London mint (there's no obvious mint mark).

However, what I have noticed under the magnifying glass, is a pair of very small marks to the right of the date, that I've not seen on any other half sov photos.

Is this just a glitch in the minting process or does it actually mean anything?

[Mr T]

They look the remnants of the letters BP which are the designer's initials (Benedetto Pistrucci).

[Paulus]

Hi TymH and welcome to this Forum.

The marks appear to be the initials of the engraver/designer (B.P. - Benedetto Pistrucci), however they should not be present on a 1900 London Mint half sovereign issue, according to the literature I have. Do you have the weight of this coin?

 

[TymH]

Thanks guys. I'm afraid I don't have a weight. May pop into town later to see if it can be valued, and will ask for the weight.

[TymH]

22 mm

[Nordle11]

It's a sovereign then, instead of a half sov  

[Nordle11]

My other comment about measuring the diameter seems to have disappeared 

[TymH]

Thanks Nordle  - wierd your post vanished...I presume that means it;s worth more then!

[Paulus]

Yes, that would be the logical conclusion.

You Admins, I don't know! 

 

[Paulus]

Just now, TymH said:

Thanks Nordle  - wierd your post vanished...I presume that means it;s worth more then!

Yes, roughly double the value

[Nordle11]

1 minute ago, TymH said:

Thanks Nordle  - wierd your post vanished...I presume that means it;s worth more then!

I must have clicked something then  sorry.

And yeah, I reckon.... double what it was worth before  

 

[TymH]

Think I need to get it in somewhere for valuation then... Thanks to all!

[Nordle11]

It's probably going to go for melt, which right now is about £180-190 for a sovereign  

[TymH]

Sounds about right - mum's friend had a valuation done, which just said "coin" £160. Dealer I just spoke to on the phone said 8g 22ct gold sov is £170, and as you say, it's not worth anything for the date, just bullion value.

Thank you all so much for your time on this. Just wanted to make sure mum wasn't getting ripped off anywhere as she's got precious little anyway.

[Peter]

Seems a shame to sell it to be melted.Just a short time ago it would of got £280 on ebay.

[Mynki]

If I were selling I think I'd risk ebay, even after fees you might get more than melt from a jeweller.

There are also Facebook groups dedicated to sovereigns, maybe join one of those and offer it for sale there. You'll get more money and it won't be melted down.

 

[Paulus]

16 minutes ago, Mynki said:

If I were selling I think I'd risk ebay, even after fees you might get more than melt from a jeweller.

There are also Facebook groups dedicated to sovereigns, maybe join one of those and offer it for sale there. You'll get more money and it won't be melted down.

 

And there won't be any fees to pay!

[TymH]

Thanks peeps. Not sure what we're going to do with it. Might be worth hanging on to. Also, I don't do facebook...