Sovereign 1887 - can't identify - please help!

[Guest Kay_I'm_a_Guest]

Hi anybody

I have an 1887 half sovereign (i think, it could be a full sovereign!) encased in a pendant clasp. I have tried to identify the coin but it seems unusual in that on the obverse side it says "VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITT REGINA F. D." Meanwhile the reverse which shows the shield has the quote "Honi soit qui mal y pense" in a circle around the shield. The head is i think the old jubilee head. I think that the coin measures 22mm in diameter although it is difficult to measure because of the pendant casing (which i assume is modern).

The coin appears to be in very good condition and is shiny and oddly quite new looking. Could it be a fake!?

I know nothing about coins and any research i have done on the internet has led me to other sovereign and half sovereign coins that look quite different but are also dated 1887. None of these coins seemed to bear the same wording. Unfortunately i can find no distinctive markings as such on the coin. The date is interrupted in the middle with a small scroll-like symbol?

I would be extremely grateful if anyone could help me to identify this coin

many thanks

Kay

[Chris Perkins]

Kay,

If it's gold, then it sounds like a gold plated silver jubilee head shilling to me.

The jubilee head is unmistakable, the Queen has a ting crown and a veil, and is wearing a small brooch like medal thing. The sheild/date/scroll and wording you describe sounds just like a shilling.

Does it look like a gold version of this:

http://www.predecimal.com/forsale/7/shilling1887.jpg

[Guest Kay4239]

Thanks Chris

That's is exactly what it looks like - but gold.

My grandmother bought it as a half-sovereign!

Presumably this coin is almost worthless then?

Many thanks

Kay

[Chris Perkins]

Well you wanna have words with the person that sold it, if you can find them!

If it wasn't gold plated it might be worth £5-20 perhaps. But as it's been gold plated it really stops being a collectable coin and becomes just an item of gold plated silver jewellery, perhaps worth a copule of pounds or so, I'm really not sure.

It may be an idea to check if the mount is actually gold too!