My gold coin budget is usually one gold coin a year, purchased with my tax refund. Expecting my refund soon, and was thinking about getting a gold sovereign this year. The Royal Mint is still selling the 2007 as well as now selling the 2008. (Have already decided on the uncirculated, or what they call the "bullion" sovereign, an extra $140 for it being proof and in a fancier box just isn't worth it for me.) I've heard rumors that people have noticed some design changes to the reverse on the 2008, though the Mint hasn't bother to mention or advertise this. Anyway who's seen both know the differences? Any pros or cons to one vs. the other, if I'm only getting one? Would appreciate any info or advice on the matter. Have also heard that the obverse tends to be struck weakly, but almost every coin I've ever seen since 2000 with the Queen's new portrait has this problem, and to be honest I care more about the reverse anyway.
Buy the 07, the Pistrucci design is much better artistically, and if it is the last in the series (very unlikely from the quality of the 2008!), $$$$
If you're going to get the Pistrucci design anyway, go for a one of the older ones. Victorian or Edwardian sovereigns usually go for right around bullion value.
Will think about it, was thinking about an older one possibly, main thing that got me thinking about a newer one is that the date on it marks the ocassion of getting it. Would probably collect these if had a better cashflow situation lol... the 2005 had a very interesting design but I'd want the classic Pistrucci design before anything else. No shortage of sovereigns with the classic design. Anyway thanks for your advice.
Great site on sovereigns, pretty much everything you could ever hope to know about them from 1489 to the present. Obverses Reverses The 1989 one is interesting too... a sort of recreation of the 1489 sovereign to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the gold sovereign. (1983 to 1999, sovereigns were only made in proof.) Likde I said I'd love to collect these if cashflow allowed lol... might be able to pick up one or two a year though. Would take forever to collect them by series that way but might be able to make a type set or monarch set that way.
If can only get one and most of the modern ones go for about bullion value, may get one for 1976, year I was born, as my first one. Anyway thanks for all the advice and info all.
