Hello all my name is Danielle and I just joined to learn more about a coin left to me by my deceased Great Grandfather. I will post a pic if necessary, but I'm really looking for it's ballpark worth and history if possible. The coin reads GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP: It's rather heavy and in great shape...almost like it's never been circulated. He collected coins from the time he was a child until the time he died and while it could be fake with his experience and knowledge I doubt it. I'm not sure if I'll ever sell it out of sentiment, but when if I chose to pass it down to my own children I like to know more about it and it's value Thanks in advance!
Hi Danielle & welcome! If you can't post a picture (or it'll take time), please describe the reverse (the 'tails') of the coin - and also whether it's silver or bronze. That way, we can be sure to help! From what you describe thus far, it's a George V coin, but we'd need more info! Thanks.
There is only one 1916 UK coin that has the legend on the obverse exactly as you describe it. Does the reverse look like: (taken from http://www.ukcoinpics.co.uk/florn.html) If so, it's a Florin, or Two Shilling (2/-), coin. It was 1/10th of £1. The reverse if a Cruciform Shield, with the crowned shield emblems of England (3 lions) twice, Ireland (harp) and Scotland (lion rampant), showing the Union of those countries. Composition: 92½% (Sterling) silver Diameter: 28.5mm Weight: 11.3g Mintage: 21,064,337 Values (in £, as at Jan 2010): F £5 VF £15 EF £22 Unc £50
The back is a man on a horse holding what appears to be a knife or really short sword in his hand. I went ahead and got is appraised today at a local coin shop and they offered me $350. I declined since I would rather pass it down to my kids and have it as a piece of my Great Grandfather. I have no clue if this is it's true value, but it is indeed real gold, authentic, and in mint condition. The guy agreed the coin could never have been circulated there wasn't a scratch on it. My kids now thought this was very cool and want to start collecting coins themselves. Not sure how to go about that without a little knowledge about coins from different times and countries, and I have no clue where to find coins other than our local coin shops. I figure I'll get them a few cheap ones to start while I research a ton more though
Danielle, Ah! Congratulations ... you have a gold sovereign! Contains 0.2354oz of gold ... so $350 was a good offer! Is there a little letter under the horse, above the date between 2nd and 3rd digit? If not, it was minted at the London mint. Other possibilities would be: S: Sydney M: Melbourne P: Perth C: Canada The guy is St. George, the patron saint of England, and he's slaying the dragon (a British legend). If you need any more info, let me know!
If its a 1916c, it sounds like you could be in the money. I wouldn't get too excited though, its probably one of the more common mints. But yeah, $325 was a good offer if it is one of the common mintmarks based on current gold prices....
Now, wouldn't that be something?! Far rarer even than the 1908C ... but the pic would tell us what mintmark it is ...
Until Danielle posts a photo of her 1916 sovereign here is a photo of an 1886M Australian sovereign that I sold recently on eBay: Different obverse, similar reverse. Certified AU50 by ANACS and later XF40 by NGC, I would have been thrilled to get $325 for it. It sold for $285 and considering that gold just pushed past $1300/oz the buyer got a pretty good deal.
I prefer NGC's grading on that one hiho. I'd have graded that Good Very Fine (GVF), possibly About Extremely Fine (AEF) on a good day... My jaw drops that any reputable grading company would put that coin at any kind of About Uncirculated sort of a grade... That said, whoever bought that coin did get a bargain....
