The photos were just quick with my cell so sorry about that. Has anybody seen this round/token before and know if it is legit?
Hmmm... The South African Gold Coin Exchange appears to be a bullion outfit in South Africa. Their website is here: http://www.scoinshop.com/en/home/ Looks like some bullion token they minted to promote their business.
Just looked it up in the Krause 5th ed of the standard catalog of world gold coins. Couldn't find anything I'm thinking a non government issue .
I don't know how I didn't find that. I ask if it is legit because the metal verifier wasn't to fond of it.
SAGCE is actually the first known user of what we call a slab - sonic sealed capsule. From memory (references are somewhere not to hand), 1974 (75?). They used their own grading scheme. This looks like a 1 ounce gold round from 1977, with a historical theme: 25 years since the 1st proof SA gold mintage.
That's interesting. I wonder how ACG was able to secure a patent on slabbing coins, then. Once you have the concept of a sonically sealed capsule with a "point value" on it, it's not like it's a big stretch to put a Sheldon scale grade on the label.
Because patents are all about the prior art and the claims. As the applicant there's very limited advantage in disclosing too much prior art. Most is identified by the examiner. The claims for the accugrade patent cover a different type of slab - it has compartments for the photograph, etc.
Well, since the company is still around I would like to imagine it is real gold, but it not passing on the metal verifier still scares me so I will pass on it. Thank you on the information.
