Buy 1/2 Sov or Crown 1887

[JohnA]

I have a dilemma. I want to get these two coins. But I can only afford one this month. Is it harder to come across a nice 1/2 Sov or a nice Crown

I think maybe the 1/2 Sov is in better cond. Hard to tell by the pics.

 

[KDave]

A tough one, but gold first for me as it has lower premium to spot value. Stacker logic. 

Remember that which ever you choose, a better one will appear next month 

[reidpj]

Gold for me, too.

[JohnA]

I'm debating eating vs buy both 

[sovereignsteve]

50 minutes ago, JohnAnsink said:

I'm debating eating vs buy both 

Depends entirely on price. personally I think the crown is in slightly better nick but not much in it. The1887 crowns are very common though.

[JohnA]

1 minute ago, sovereignsteve said:

Depends entirely on price. personally I think the crown is in slightly better nick but not much in it. The1887 crowns are very common though.

A good crown seems hard to find on eBay. I like the details in this one.

[sovereignsteve]

2 minutes ago, JohnAnsink said:

A good crown seems hard to find on eBay. I like the details in this one.

It's nice enough but nice ones are easy enough to find at good prices. Concentrate on the price, don't overpay.

[JohnA]

I have a Farthing, 1/2 Penny, Penny, 3 Pence, two different 6 Pence, Shilling, Florin, Half Crown. 

If I get these two, will I only be missing the Full Sov? Or are there other denominations?

Also, I am selling all my odd coins, except for some sets. I am just gonna get these 1887. Sov next then start on Proof Silver.

[CarlosSilver]

15 minutes ago, JohnAnsink said:

I have a Farthing, 1/2 Penny, Penny, 3 Pence, two different 6 Pence, Shilling, Florin, Half Crown. 

If I get these two, will I only be missing the Full Sov? Or are there other denominations?

Also, I am selling all my odd coins, except for some sets. I am just gonna get these 1887. Sov next then start on Proof Silver.

There was also a double florin in 1887. Still technically legal tender too. Here's mine in not great condition

 

[sovereignsteve]

28 minutes ago, JohnAnsink said:

I have a Farthing, 1/2 Penny, Penny, 3 Pence, two different 6 Pence, Shilling, Florin, Half Crown. 

If I get these two, will I only be missing the Full Sov? Or are there other denominations?

Also, I am selling all my odd coins, except for some sets. I am just gonna get these 1887. Sov next then start on Proof Silver.

yes, double florin but also double and quintuple sovereigns The latter two are a nightmare, you see more fakes than real ones.

[Cacc]

Psssh. Who needs food?!!!

The crown is beautiful, but I would still go for the 1/2 sov if you had to choose between them.

[JohnA]

Anyone want to have a guess at the prices?

[reidpj]

15/-

[sovereignsteve]

4 hours ago, JohnAnsink said:

Anyone want to have a guess at the prices?

I don't know what they are priced at but I can tell you what I think they're worth.

1887 half sov (assuming common variety) - bad photos so guess grade at VF to gVF  £125 - 150

1887 crown gVF to aEF  £60 - 80

[airmac]

Food is overrated. I lost 40 pounds for silver that way  ?

[Murph]

I wish I could pick up jubilee half sovs at £125.  Back when gold was cheaper, before you know what, it wasn't hard but not so much now.

[sovereignsteve]

4 minutes ago, Murph said:

I wish I could pick up jubilee half sovs at £125.  Back when gold was cheaper, before you know what, it wasn't hard but not so much now.

10% premium for a VF, probably lowest price but can still be had occasionally. Would be closer to 150 most of the time.

[Jay2]

12 hours ago, CarlosSilver said:

There was also a double florin in 1887.

I think they called that coin 'the barmaid's grief' because of how close it was to the slightly larger crown.

[JohnA]

$250 & $120

[sovereignsteve]

3 hours ago, JohnAnsink said:

$250 & $120

I would buy the crown, you should be able to get a slightly better example of the HS for that price.

[JohnA]

2 hours ago, sovereignsteve said:

I would buy the crown, you should be able to get a slightly better example of the HS for that price.

I did buy the Crown...but also I'll be getting the Sov next week. I was able to afford it.

[JohnA]

8 hours ago, Jay2 said:

I think they called that coin 'the barmaid's grief' because of how close it was to the slightly larger crown.

I found one...same dealer as Crown
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GREAT-BRITAIN-Double-Florin-1887-SILVER-KM-763-XF-Better-/292119835436?hash=item4403b2f32c

I think I'll get this and look for a 1/2 sov next month. Double Florins are probably more rare on the market.

How can I tell the difference between a Florin and Double and Half Crown, just by looking without in hand?

[metallica73]

10 hours ago, JohnAnsink said:

How can I tell the difference between a Florin and Double and Half Crown, just by looking without in hand?

 

The half crown is easy, its a different design.

From Tony Claytons website where the pictures have been resized to the same scale... the Double Florin at the top - the D in 'Dei' is much closer to the crown and the ornaments on top of the sceptres are also larger.

 

[JohnA]

PS...I'm getting the 1/2 Sov on Tues. I posted here because of that

[sovereignsteve]

1 hour ago, JohnAnsink said:

PS...I'm getting the 1/2 Sov on Tues. I posted here because of that

Don't forget to post piccies, I'm curious to see if it's any better than it looks in the top photo