1937 Proof Half Sov

[azda 979]

Been looking around and found these, am just wondering if either of these are genuine? The nose is really bugging me. The left hand photo, the nose looks really strange and seems to stand out compared to the right hand picture, both noses are very different IMO. Is one fake? Anyone got a Marsh book, does it have the 1937 Half Sov proof in for a comparison

Edited May 28, 2010 by azda

[1949threepence 3,367]

Been looking around and found these, am just wondering if either of these are genuine? The nose is really bugging me. The left hand photo, the nose looks really strange and seems to stand out compared to the right hand picture, both noses are very different IMO. Is one fake? Anyone got a Marsh book, does it have the 1937 Half Sov proof in for a comparison

Yes, there does appear to be a difference. If you look at the base of the nose, the one on the left appears to stick out further than the one on the right. Is it an optical illusion of some sort ? Well, I've uploaded another image of a random 1937 George VI half sovereign, for comparison. It appears to bear out what I said.

Edited May 29, 2010 by 1949threepence

[azda 979]

The line of the nose in my 1st picture looks far to straight, maybe its the rotation of the coin in relation to how the picture was taken, i've no idea. Is there any recorded fakes of these? I have'nt heard of any, but thats not to say that they don't exist

[1949threepence 3,367]

Let's see them all side by side:-

[1949threepence 3,367]

The line of the nose in my 1st picture looks far to straight, maybe its the rotation of the coin in relation to how the picture was taken, i've no idea. Is there any recorded fakes of these? I have'nt heard of any, but thats not to say that they don't exist

I'm afraid the side by side hasn't worked as two of the images have come out too small. Apologies for this.

I don't know about 1937 half sovereign fakes, but as with any expensive coin, it wouldn't surprise me. At any rate there does seem to be a problem. It would be interesting to hear the views of others with regard to this.

[azda 979]

Here's one that was recently listed on ebay. I think its the rotation and picture, this one seems to have the same nose as the 1st one i posted. See what you think

[Peckris 579]

Here's one that was recently listed on ebay. I think its the rotation and picture, this one seems to have the same nose as the 1st one i posted. See what you think

No, I think you were right to begin with Az. That first picture looks 'wrong' somehow, and I'm speaking as one who must have seen thousands of the Paget portrait over the years. I cant put my finger exactly on specifics but it's not just the nose - it's also the eyeline, and where the hair meets the brow also just looks plain wrong.

[Rob 3,152]

If you compare the border teeth with that illustrated in Marsh, there are a couple of differences in the alignment of the colons relative to the teeth. The F and the colon after IND are the most obvious. It might be worth checking with the mint to see how many dies there are for 1937 half sovereigns. Just because the mintage is only 5001 it doesn't necessarily mean that only one die was made.

[azda 979]

I would'nt know where to start with that Rob, but i would be interested