kimchi

The function (Fn) key is on your keyboard, but that is not the one to use. On Firefox it's the same instruction, right click> select 'view page source' from the drop down menu. Then hold down control (Ctrl) and press the F key on your keyboard to open up a little search box on screen, type 'available' into that. A control +F search is very useful on any web page or document you have open on your computer

One of my builders did work on the toilets at St James' Palace while the then Prince Charles and his new wife Diana were present, honestly he told me that Charles had a gold throne and made a huge joke out of it 🤣

My goodness, I can just imagine the headline news: Founder of Famous Blackpool Precious Metals Dealership Found Barbecued! Police say a 'reckless and criminally negligent' amount of charcoal was used, and the result was therefore clearly not fit for human consumption. In order to avoid civil unrest, hungry patrons have temporarily been diverted to the chippie around the corner.

Ah that's a shame, I enjoyed seeing this a lot last year, and was ready to jump in this year, I think it's a brilliant idea

Reminds me of an old Brittas Empire episode for some reason 🤣

People seem generally pretty ambivalent about him (recent egg throwers aside!) - I don't think Charlie would be bold enough to have a crowned coin. I am guessing a crown privy reverse only on the G&D design.

I feel a bit for Liz on this one, she gets a far better design as a memorial than for her Platinum, obviously never gets to see it, and for the final kick in the proverbial crown jewels is she's not even on it!

I think the 4 (for the double) or 5 (for the double and quintuple) are the best bets, but it depends how much money you have. If I were very rich I would get both of those, plus the 3 to match my Jubilee set

Definitely! I love the proof Sovs I have, imo they are incredible, and as you say look worse in photos. I have a Viccy and that is glorious too, but in a different way. I understand a preference, but I don't get all the 'hate' for the alloy at all.

I picked up a three coin 2022 set from the RM well as a single proof sov weeks after they were 'sold out' (but suddenly a few reappeared). Obviously I can't complain for myself, but not only did I receive them just a few days later (before many people who had actually ordered on the day, through sitting through the dreadful queues etc) they were pristine (again unlike many who had ordered on release day). It's simply not good enough.

Are you in any of the World Cup squads Paul? If so I'll put a tenner down!

They are indeed watering it down, I know many collectors of the moderns (especially those who followed the first three or four SotD 'excuses') that have already given up. I don't mean to be crude or disrespectful, but they milked every opportunity they had (and beyond!) in the last few years for QEII. They have two choices from now, and that's carry on (in which case I expect many or even most to give up and finish their collection with Liz) or to return to modest and traditional coins with far lesser mintages that will appeal to the core, and build that solid base and faith in their releases again back up.

All that incredible knowledge and incredible insight, and he was a helluva football player too

I am sure I will get mine in a week or two as per usual 🤣 This is where I think it's been particularly brilliant of the RM! It's the first with Charles, but it's ostensibly a 'memorial' for QEII (I don't think they emphasised this enough) which completes the 'handover' perfectly (plus they get to release an extra sov, lol). It's also an absolutely glorious design! Everything's set for the 2023 (G&D I am expecting) and the Coronation SotD (though I think they may mess these up with a mintage of 1000+), at these same higher prices but no doubt a lower mintage for the Sovereign - they will want a return to 'hot hot hot!'. They've tested the waters and rightfully so imo, given everyone a chance to buy (even if they did mess up the 'Sold Out' and marketing) and tested the limits of what they can/should aim for. Lessons will be learned, Charlie is not as popular as they'd guessed - next year (his official first) at a far lesser mintage (imo) may actually be the one to go for.

Definitely, especially the Piedfort (being selfish, but I do think it's the dark horse after the erratic but mostly significant Lizzie releases, and likely to be slashed/omitted after 2023)! Absolutely, and I actually think the RM has been very clever here and it's going to be a win-win for all given time. Sure, they messed up the 'sold out'. I don't buy that this was deliberate to let them trickle through, I don't think they're that clever, considerate of customers (!) in different timezones, I just think they were a bit too cautious (for once) and some of their marquee customers (the seriously wealthy who only want 'the thing no-one else can get') withdrew. Or, most likely, Dave from the pub who they got in to redo their website just screwed up.

Yes and it's tarnishing my enjoyment of the DVDs from one of my favourite childhood shows Can't we call them Lassies or even (for the younger generation) Teletubbies? I am guessing Mr Noseybonks may be too obscure (?)

That makes perfect sense to me. This then potentially becomes an extra release, and the 2023 (technically the first fully for Charles) can launch earlyish next year (?). I wouldn't expect them as late as May, because the RM then also go to town on a Coronation SotD.

You can't disappear gouges with an eraser.

There is no need to be such a pedant when the meaning is clear to all, imvho you knew what was meant. Then why does Lawrence pick up on minor mistakes by others when he makes terrible ones himself? Why be so pedantic at all? It just reflects badly on the forum imvho.

Bullion Brits are generally not collectable (there are a few exceptions, like the Orientals or privy marks, but not the 'bog standard' yearly releases). That said, of course I cannot defend the 'quality' you've received - that is dreadful On pure bullion like this many dealers would not take a return/exchange but it seems like you found one who do. I can only encourage you to keep returning until you're happy (or just cancel and ask for a refund). Don't let this put you off silver entirely though, and yes gold is a good bet! Agreed with Perth, they set the standard! But I have had a milky Kook or two, they're not perfect either. Not sure about the recent dragon bars but I've had horrible ones from 2018 that had machine damage and marks, and ones that tarnished terribly - since then I've only ever seen them as equivalent to the Perth Kangaroos (again cheapest bullion quality, even if they do charge a premium for the Dragons). I'd only do that on your own coins, not ones you think you might sell on in the future. If you sell them and don't disclose that rough cleaning it might very well come back to bite you in terms of reputation! Hope that helps

#justiceforlawrence

Weren't there two - and no-one came forward to having got one? I seem to recall Chards at the time being very keen for someone to do so, but alas we never heard from the lucky recipients.

If 'half a sovereign' is OK (and I think we are agreed it is) how would you insert 'proof' into the phrase?

I think that you are right I'd just add that 'half a sov' in Victorian times, (it was revisting Sherlock Holmes that alerted me to the fact it was correct common parlance in the 1890s), may not actually mean a half sovereign, but a sum equivalent to - in the same way that while I would say I owe someone a tenner, I may in fact e.g. give them two fivers instead. I just found it interesting because you picked up @ant1882 on 'half proof sov' (when I think anyone would know what was meant), and I wondered what people at the time would have called them, and if that 'slip' would have been 'acceptable'

Lawrence, what do you think about the contemporary use of the phrase 'half a sovereign' when sovereigns were circulating currency? For example, 'I'll give you half a sovereign for it'.