I have an auction on Ebay for an 1888 British Gold Sovereign that I bought for spot value about 4 years ago and it is going for crazy money. Am I missing something with this coin?
I notice the difference but that means nothing to me. I don't collect foreign coins. This was purchased just for the gold content from a local dealer. So if you excuse the pun. This stuff is foreign to me! Is one more rare or more collectible than the other?
Can't see an "S" in the auction photo, but if you drop a plumb line from the "A" in Victoria through her upper eyelid, it lands well behind the "F" at 4K on the London piece; it is well in front of the "F" on the auction coin (front being more CW position).
I see what you are saying with the line and the f. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get to the coin until tomorrow when I get home. So this is a Sydney piece? Is it really worth that kind of money?
This isn't the first time I have gotten some great deals from this dealer. I purchased a raw Saint Guadens from him for $500 it came back MS64 and a quarter eagle Indian for $175 that came back graded MS62. However, I would never think that the foreign gold was worth anything. All the gold I have gotten from him from other countries has always been spot price. Besides Sydney, is there any other foreign coins I should look at for? Are there any price guides for any foreign coins?
Think you will find that it was people of Chinese origin bidding on the 888 on the coin, high grade gold and 888 together send the Chinese crazy, and is considered good luck.
Got gazumped by a Chinese fellow at an auction for a similar coin and I asked him why he pushed so high and he offered the above explanation.
The Olympics are starting on 08/08/08, so they could be working into frenzy over anything 888 about now.
Does seem like a lot of money even though it looks very nice. Unless as stated its a Sydney mint as they are hot. I can't see a mint mark in the picture either. Or like Cruzi mentioned something to do with a Chinese good luck item. Collectors coins GB 2008 (by Chris Perkins) values it at £250 (app. $500) in Unc. for the London mint and £250 for a Sydney mint (which is probably too modest).
You guys are incredible on the amount of knowledge you have about coins. I will try to research on here how to take a better photo. However, there does not appear to be any mint mark on the base near the coin. Does that mean it is a British Sovereign? Is it the kind of design that cruzi you mention? By the way, the seller backed out of the deal but now I am real curious as to what I have!
OK, don't have pics to help here but the obv seen on your coin has the legend close to the crown, the other obverse has a larger gap and the top of the crown is almost squished into edge of coin, this later type is the scarce one, with Melbourne coins seeming to be the most often found type.
Well thanks for all the answers, you guys are great. Unfortunately the guy did back out of the auction and now I am stuck with an Ebay fee for a while until I can get them to credit me back and so I can re-list it. Special or not so special coin that is a pain!
<< <i>Well thanks for all the answers, you guys are great. Unfortunately the guy did back out of the auction and now I am stuck with an Ebay fee for a while until I can get them to credit me back and so I can re-list it. Special or not so special coin that is a pain! >>
Couldn't you send a second chance offer to the second highest bidder?
Nude Dudes do get all the good bidders but no buyers! I also sent a second chance offer to the second high bidder and he doesn't seem to want it either!
<< <i>Well thanks for all the answers, you guys are great. Unfortunately the guy did back out of the auction and now I am stuck with an Ebay fee for a while until I can get them to credit me back and so I can re-list it. Special or not so special coin that is a pain! >>
He backed out? I wouldn't put up with it if I were you,and I would have filed an Unpaid Item report, it's pure buyer's remorse. And judging from the underbidder's reluctance, it's not impossible that they came across this thread and realized that they overrated the item . Tough luck, they should have thought of that before IMO. And if he still refuses, don't forget to wait till May to neg him, when he won't be able to retaliate due to feedback changes.
I'm not really surprised by the outcome. Looking at the bidding patterns, of the auction, it looks like a couple of newbies having a lark. I'm always nervous when I see a coin go for big money and note that the two leading bidders have low feedback.
I'm sorry you got the shaft, but at least you didn't lose the coin. You'll only be out the listing fee.
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Or, maybe someone thinks they can get it in a PCGS 65+ slab.
Anyway, congrats on a WR price for raw Jubilee gold.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Got gazumped by a Chinese fellow at an auction for a similar coin and I asked him why he pushed so high and he offered the above explanation.
The Olympics are starting on 08/08/08, so they could be working into frenzy over anything 888 about now.
Or like Cruzi mentioned something to do with a Chinese good luck item.
Collectors coins GB 2008 (by Chris Perkins) values it at £250 (app. $500) in Unc. for the London mint and £250 for a Sydney mint (which is probably too modest).
IIRC, the obv variations go something like, the one that is rare on London coins is the common one for Sydney and Melbourne, and vice versa.
The 888, Gold, a dragon and a horse, all auspicious for the Chinese.
I'll dig out the references on the obv info later tonight, if the brains trust doesn't beat me to it.
No S below, and the obverse design is slightly different on these anyway
<< <i>Sydney mint half sovs of this type stopped in 1887
No S below, and the obverse design is slightly different on these anyway >>
Umm, you mean they began in 1887 don't you? That's when the Jubilee obverse was introduced.
And the reverse is the shield design on half sovs, not St George. The St George Reverse was introduced on half sovs in 1893 from memory.
Cannot SEE an S or M mint mark there to me.. but it could be there indeed. The obverse legend is type 2, which is the LESS rare one in Australia.
Crazy price. Whether its a S, M or London sov, its gone for too much. Want to sell some of mine for me ?
Spink 3866B Similar repositioned legend. G: of D:G: now closer to crown. Normal JEB (angled J) designer's initials at base of trun
<< <i>Well thanks for all the answers, you guys are great. Unfortunately the guy did back out of the auction and now I am stuck with an Ebay fee for a while until I can get them to credit me back and so I can re-list it. Special or not so special coin that is a pain! >>
Couldn't you send a second chance offer to the second highest bidder?
<< <i>Well thanks for all the answers, you guys are great. Unfortunately the guy did back out of the auction and now I am stuck with an Ebay fee for a while until I can get them to credit me back and so I can re-list it. Special or not so special coin that is a pain! >>
He backed out? I wouldn't put up with it if I were you,and I would have filed an Unpaid Item report, it's pure buyer's remorse. And judging from the underbidder's reluctance,
it's not impossible that they came across this thread and realized that they overrated the item . Tough luck, they should have thought of that before IMO. And if he still refuses, don't forget to wait till May to neg him, when he won't be able to retaliate due to feedback changes.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
I'm sorry you got the shaft, but at least you didn't lose the coin. You'll only be out the listing fee.