ken46

I cannot honestly answer your question about silver denominations and die number valuations. But as a collector of sovereign die numbers for almost 30 years I can tell you that there has been a significant appreciation in price over and above the value of the gold content. Perhaps it is just the fact that for most of the years between 1863 and 1874 there were only shield back die numbers minted. One has to also take into consideration the mintage quantities which in some years was very small (1874). Then there is the issue of I haven't found a new (to me) die number in over two years so I guess I would pay a priemium if I found one I didn't have. Ken

Ken, I love your coin but the 9 is way to big. Ken

I just received my cat. today. It has some very nice material that should intrest a lot of you. www.sixbid.com www.the-salesroom.m

I was lucky with your coin in the DNW auction. It has been picked up by Baldwin's to be sent to me here in the states. Their observation: "is not a V over A but is some kind of spectacular die flaw where the left half resembles an "a." "A very nice addition to your collection." Please keep me in mind if you find any other sovs. that are out of the normal. Also, I collect the die numbers of sovs. If your looking at them on occasion may I send you my want list? Thanks, Ken

Eric, it took many lookers and close to 20 years before I got my current 1895L sov. Just a common date but almost impossible to find in unc.

Just in case someone did not know about this: colin@londoncoins.co.uk

I do collect sovereigns and die numbers as well. If you wish drop me a note and we will compare notes. ken@scholarcraft.com

From your comments on sovereigns I am led to believe you are a sovereign collector? Do you collect the die numbers as well?

Hi Peter, my name is Joan I just won 250 twice and you owe me...... How do I collect and when do you pay me. Ken and joan

Your comments about keeping coins (valuables) put away in safe keeping is always prudent. But I would have difficulty in not visiting my collection often. This reminds me of a coin I bought last year. A London dealer bought and sold the coin in the late 1890's and then again in about 1942. It was sold in 1943. The gentleman died in the 1940's and his estate had his collection valued in the 80's and put back in the vault. Only to finally come out again last year. I came to the conclusion long ago that I am only the keeper and as long as they make me happy then I shall continue to keep them. But I want others to enjoy and love them as much as I when that time comes.

Here is another web site with a weekly online auction that some members might find of intrest. www.kjc.com.au

Wish you luck! Anytime you can buy a real vintage gold or silver coin for not a whole lot over bullion then go for it. You cannot go wrong.

Egg on my face! I was so focused on the proof part of the question. I had Marsh's open to Victoria. Everything else is O. K. I think! Correction. The mint mark on a George V is centerof the erergue ABOVE the date. M P S SA

The mint marks are tiny letters located below the very bottom of the shield reverse. McDonald lists only a 1911S proof with the highest of rarity priced at AU$85,000. He does not list any proof pieces for 1912; in fact no other George VI proof pieces from Austrailia. W/M only lists half-sovereign London proofs for 1911. The unique matte proof (for photographing) and the normal proof piece. I guess most dealers would be able to distinguish between a proof and an early strike.

Perhaps some viewers are not aware of this site and might find it of intrest. www.cngcoins.com

If you look in Spink's Coins of England you will see a very intresting turn of events. Thru the 1870's there are any number of die errors, small differences of dies, etc. By the time the Old Head coins are out there are virtually no differences to be found. This includes the M, S and P Imperial mints. There was the evoulution of die makers hand engraving with many variations to mechanical devices that had virtually no variations. By this time the mints were doing most tasks in a much more modern fashion, engraving, polishing, stamping, etc. The overall quality of money showed improvement. The lettering, the polishing of the dies, and not to mention other equipment and techniques. As example, the Imperial dies were made by the Royal mint and shipped to Austrailia for use. There are quite a few proof like coins from the M and S mints. This certainly shows an overall improvement in quality at all the mints. I guess as a coin collector I find it sad that a lot of the fun was eliminated from collecting 20th Century coins by all these improvements. Happy Thanksgiving

There are a number of pictures of brockage coins at, www.coinarchives.com If I can get help I'll try an post pictures of my sov. Please wish me luck!!

Just as long as I get to call

I have an 1856 sovereign that is two headed. Unfortunately, I missed out on an 1872 piece that was with it. I think they are refered to as brockage (sp).

I believe that May Sinclair at Spink is the person you need. Besides her extensive knowledge she has both the Seaby and Spink works you need in their library. She is semi retired so you would have to get her schedule. Steve Hill at Baldwin's could help some but probably not on provenance. If nothing else, both are most intresting to talk to. I believe there was a 1960 Seaby Bulletin on Seaby.

Keep an eye out on amazon. I just looked and there was currently no 1959 but all around that year. If you just want to look or copy something both Baldwin's and Spink have very extensive libraries.

I just returned from lunch and had the packet from the St. James auction on my desk. The first piece I looked at was an 1820 sov. that I had bought as an upgrade for one of my less than beautiful examples. Now what I am comparing is the lettering and the date on the obverse. This piece is close to the piece I thought it was to replace but still different. I now have eleven different examples of: lettering both thick and thin, open 2's, closed 2's thick and thin numerials, positioning, height, etc. I have heard that with the new coinage of 1817 the mint was behind with producing new dies. The mintages for gold in 1818 and 1819 was very small and the engravers were working to get ahead making dies and leaving off the dates. When the IIIrd died in Jan. they had so many dies they could not afford to not use them. Does this make any sense based on what may or may not have happened with other 1820 denominations?

Thank you both for thinking about it. Unfortunately I have both but please keep me in mind whenever you see something.

Needless to say, there are no easy answers as to the multi year or multi dies for the die numbered series of sovs. Michael Marsh first published a book on sovs. in 1980. He had other editions up to 2001, I think. The basic frame work was laid out for known die numbers on a year to year basis. I have to compliment him on getting a lot of it right before the internet, computers, etc. I now have been in this game long enough to see some patterns on die use. I believe that when a reverse die was made it was used until it wore out and then another was made. I think you can see a progression beginning in 1863 with a few low die numbers to having more than a 100 in 1864, a big mintage year. The years 1865, 1866, 1868 and 1869 all used die numbers less than #80. Then in 1870 I have found NO die number from #2 thru #79. Even though Marsh listed them I belive at this time he was wrong. I think these dies wore out and were made new. 1871 and 1872 were large mintage years and we see the die numbers below #100 pretty much back in play. 1873 rolled around and Marsh listed 102 pieces but I have only found 27 pieces with most being below die # 36. I believe alot had worn out again in 1871 and 1872 leaving them to only use serviceable dies. 1874 was such a low production year, I think perhaps only good dies were picked. Anyway these are just some observations that may or may not be completely true. If anyone out there could show me an 1870 with a die number from 2 thru 79 it would certainly help me to try and understand what was going on better.