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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;johnmilton, post: 8127893, member: 101855&quot;][ATTACH=full]1415606[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>This is my “Christmas coin,” a 1902 Edward VII five pound, Matte Proof coin. This is the last piece I needed to complete an Edward VII coronation set. The coin is a little too bright to be a choice Matte Proof coin. It is PCGS graded Matte Proof 62. There is a large &quot;trophy coin&quot; demand for this piece, which larger and heavier than a U.S. $20 gold piece. Prices have increased greatly in recent years.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1415607[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I had acquired the two pound coin some years ago when I was working on my “one coin for each British king or queen” collection.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1415608[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1415609[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1415610[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Later I acquired the 11 piece coronation set. I am very much drawn to these sets in the original box. These sets were issued with 11 and 13 coins. Overall the face value of the 11 piece &quot;short set&quot; is two pounds, one shilling and 10 pence. The two large gold coins adds seven pounds to the face value of the set, which, of course, added a great deal to its cost. Seven pounds was a considerable sum in the early 1900s. Therefore the &quot;short set&quot; was issued as a sort of &quot;economy offering.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p><b>A Brief History of King Edward VII</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Edward VII was the second child and first born son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. He was the heir apparent to the British throne for 59 years. Prince Charles surpassed that record in 2011.</p><p><br /></p><p>Victoria and Albert were very strict with Edward, who was known as Albert of “Bertie” for most of his life. That strategy backfired. He was a poor student and when he reached adolescence and maturity, he became a notorious playboy. Despite his shortcomings, he had a pleasing personality. He genuinely liked people and was very popular. His social talents would serve him well later in life. Overall his flamboyant behavior brought excitement and spice to the Victorian period which was generally stodgy and dull. The queen was in morning after her husband, Albert, died in 1861.</p><p><br /></p><p>Edward married Alexandra of Denmark. They genuinely like each other, and she was willing to overlook Edward’s serial affairs. They had six children, including the future King George V.</p><p><br /></p><p>Edward’s coronation, which held in 1901, was delayed for six weeks because he contracted appendicitis. He chose to use the name “Edward” instead of “Albert” because he wanted to preserve his father’s name in history.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Edwardian Age was noted for its fun an excitement. By this time, the British monarch was mostly a head of state and not the head of the government. Still Edward was able to use his charm and multi-lingual abilities to conclude a diplomatic coup, the <i>Entente Cordiale </i>which sealed an alliance between England and France. The two countries had been at war off and on for centuries, and that agreement was historically important.</p><p><br /></p><p>Edward VII died on May 6, 1010 from bronchial complications.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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