westminstrel

Jody Clark confirmed it was done for the 200th anniversary of the Double Sovereign. Here is the full range; doesn’t look like they did the £5. They did a tiny 1/8 Sovereign though https://hattonsoflondon.co.uk/product-category/gold/the-2023-double-sovereign-200th-anniversary-gold-sovereign-range/

Yeah that’s the range he mentioned. It’s a pretty great (re)representation of St. George and the Dragon, as imo it’s not easy to strike a balance between being different yet appealing.

Jody Clark responded to me 🙂 He said he did it for Hatton in 2023 as it was 200 years since the first circulation Double Sovereign was struck.

Yes exactly. He’s done work for other Mints, but the 1823 year date is the mystery. (I asked him. 😅)

Jody Clark shared this in a post: I can’t find any 1823 coin with this design; but it looks like it’s being reissued for 2xxx, so maybe 2024 or 2025? What could it be?

Yes you are right. 🙂

And everyone on TSF breathes a collective sigh of relief (heard all the way Down Under). 😆

£60 for that set hehehheheh. Your granddad left you something amazing for sure.

This is also interesting ephemera for someone like me who likes these sorts of things. 😎

Your granddad had a lovely choice and the 1887 set is one that immediately stands out. The 1951 Festival of Britain and the Coronation / Jubilee medals also stand out. I’m sure you’ll enjoy cataloguing them. 🙂

It most definitely is.

I have written to the RM about both issues (2-coin format and size) but of course they don’t discuss upcoming issues so I’m not really going to hear from them.

Totally agree and I’ve said as much in the other topic. Not forgetting that previous releases were also larger in diameter, closer to the original, and certainly better sized to appreciate such an intricate design.

This has been nagging me, so I have written to the RM, questioning the 2-coin format, and the size, neither of which make sense. @BackyardBullion - this topic could make for interesting content for a video. 🙂

New pic on the RM’s socials.

I think it’s fair to say everyone’s stress levels have gone up a notch. 🫥

You got me! 😆

It’s Arnold Machin. He designed the QE II portrait that appeared on all definitive stamps from 1967. And of course he also designed the “Second Portrait” that appeared on decimal coins and Sovereigns for a time. https://www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk/journal/people/arnold-machin/

Since we’re on the topic… here is an actual physical signature.

The marketing person who wrote the webpage content was probably thinking of “handwritten signature”. as opposed to “digitally signed”. Handwritten signature seems to include facsimiles, and digital copies of signatures that originated as physically written by hand on paper. So technically speaking, it would seem they haven’t really misrepresented things. Still, I can see why people’s expectations would be different. I’d have expected physically signed too purely based on that description.

I’ve always maintained that coin grading is a business based off of a non-existent problem that was fabricated to create a solution. A coin AUTHENTICATION service makes sense. Grading is not a science or fact - it will always be a grey area, and as we’ve seen, companies that have a duopoly can come up with anything they want. Brilliant Proof, Gem Proof, Gem Uncirculated, Brilliant Uncirculated, star, cameo, ultra cameo. Not to mention designations like First Releases (as if that makes any difference to a coin’s quality!) Or special labels. Novelties. You can see how it’s a business model that’s gone well beyond its purpose and nicely suckered people in. 🙂

I recall the COAs of the SotD Sovereigns were actually hand signed in ball point pen.

My milky 2oz silver is at the RM. They received it over a week ago. Not sure what the hold-up is as a new order was created last week. Hopefully this means they are actually striking new replacement coins. Hopefully your coin dealer can liaise and get you a perfect replacement?

I see a tank 🙈