Sovereign advice...
Sylvestius
Posts: 1,584 ✭
Well as many will know i am currently collecting Early Milled sixpences by date and i'm enjoying it immensely, but i fancy putting together a mini set of sovereigns too. (I just like gold)
I did briefly collect Victorian shield reverse sovereigns, but i decided to focus on sixpences instead. So they got sold off.
However i fancy aquiring a select few in about EF-UNC, How would i be best going about it?
Would it be a good idea to pick one date and collect all the die numbers of that date? (i know where there's a list)
Or would something like an 1860s date set be better, or the really early ones from 1839-1859?
With a view to completing a set eventually of just the main types by date. So forgetting the narrow shield varieties and the WW in relief and incuse variants.
I'm not sure how i'd like to go about this, the only things i am sure about is that a] i want the shield ones (St George never bothered me), b] They will be London mint only, c] They hopefully will be EF or higher.
So date set or die number set?
I did briefly collect Victorian shield reverse sovereigns, but i decided to focus on sixpences instead. So they got sold off.
However i fancy aquiring a select few in about EF-UNC, How would i be best going about it?
Would it be a good idea to pick one date and collect all the die numbers of that date? (i know where there's a list)
Or would something like an 1860s date set be better, or the really early ones from 1839-1859?
With a view to completing a set eventually of just the main types by date. So forgetting the narrow shield varieties and the WW in relief and incuse variants.
I'm not sure how i'd like to go about this, the only things i am sure about is that a] i want the shield ones (St George never bothered me), b] They will be London mint only, c] They hopefully will be EF or higher.
So date set or die number set?
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Comments
<< <i>Or would something like an 1860s date set be better, or the really early ones from 1839-1859?
So date set or die number set? >>
I don't think there is such a thing as " better ". Better can only be determined by you according to your tatse and your budget. In matters of budget - well - we all understand that and it is painfully obvious to each of us what we can or cannot afford. When it comes to taste - as they say - there's no accounting for it
Just collect what pleases you Sylvester - and the rest of the world be damned
Speaking of which, are there any published books on each date and the numbers of dies accompanying each? That would win for the 'coolness' factor, but I suppose you would need numerous resorces hunting down that want list.
Good luck.
See here...
die numbers
I've already had some contribution to this when i collected sovereigns several years ago.
1863 or 1865 feel like good years to choose, unless i get too ambitious and decide to try getting all known 1872 die numbers (plus any i find along the way that aren't on that list).
Also, this has reminded me that I still need a blasted 1/2 sov. with die number.
<< <i>I would suggest the date set as well since it would be a lot easier and quicker to complete. Unless there is a definitive documentation on die numbers and varieties per year, it would be hard to ascertain that any undocumented ones will turn up later. Best of luck on the endeavor.
Same could be said for new varieties in a date set being found (unlikely but possible), i think the idea that i could find undocumented ones though is inspiring in itself, i've already found two undocumented ones so i'm aware of the difficulties in that respect!
Looking at it from a selling point of view a date set would also be easier to sell than 20 1865 sovereigns with differing die numbers.
I think i'll try the die numbers anyhow though, why?
Well, i'm doing a full date set of Early milled Sixpence, a monarch type set, a half guinea date set (well James II anyhow), so i think i've got type and date well covered, if i can pull off a die number set it will add a new dimension to the collection as a whole.
I was originally going to attempt a die number set with Gothic Florins, but my love of the shield sovs just pipped them to the post. That and my local coin shop always has a very large selection of shield reverse sovereigns, usually more of those than the St George variety. Infact this was the same dealer that had snatched up my St Geo ones when i sold all my gold but he refused the shield ones cos he was snowed under with them.