Dear coin talk members, I follow this forum since some months due to a coin inheritance. I sold two coins in February and found out that the buyers ripped me off. They paid me less than the metal value for coins worth more than the scrap price. What I did is starting research and thus I found cointalk.com what was very helpful for me in the past. Now, I discovered a very interesting coin in my lot and I think it's a rare 1879 "S" Sovereign (Sydney?) Weight: 7.98 grams Measurements: 22.04mm and 1.55mm See the attached files, please! My question is, is this an authentic coin? And if yes, is asking for $500 fair? Thank you very much for your help!
Here's some info about it. Your weight and size looks a tad off http://www.bluesheet.com.au/Australia/Gold/Full_Sovereign/Shield/Type_II/1879_S_MS.html And here's the value http://www.bluesheet.com.au/Australia/Gold/Full_Sovereign/Shield/Type_II/1879_S_MS-values.html Looks like an alright coin but that huge gash on the back takes it down.
I sold two Indian Head gold coins - two really rare pieces, seldom available. But I learned my lesson and now, after months of research, I'm also a friend of coins and plan to keep some of them.
Assuming it is real - There are two different 1879 Australian (Sydney mint) Sovereigns, yours with a Shield reverse and the other with a St.George slaying dragon reverse. The rarer one is the St.George slaying dragon (XF - $1500 to Unc $6600 in Krause). The Shield reverse (XF - $450 - Unc $650 in Krause). Cannot really make out the condition of yours (VF-XF?) but with that slash on the reverse I'd assume bullion value, which is around $285 today.
