British History
When all three elements of a coin are right, you can’t go wrong…
Introducing the brand new British Isles Gold Proof Sovereign released to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day!
Over the years, the popularity of various coins have come and gone. But none have stayed as unrivalled as the Gold Sovereign.
Quite simply, the Sovereign is without a doubt the world’s premier Gold Coin. Struck from 22 Carat Gold to the exact same specification since 1817, it epitomises all that is British.
Traded across the world during the 19th Century and early 20th Century, it became known as “The Chief Coin of the World”, whilst today’s modern Proof Sovereigns show consistent collector interest and regular sell-outs.
Most importantly for the thousands of Sovereign collectors around the world, it’s a coin that demands attention and the intricate detail and sell-out status remains unrivalled.
FIFTEEN TIMES more limited than the UK’s most recent Proof Sovereign
Serious collectors tend to look at three key things when choosing a coin to add to their collection.
When all three elements are right, you can’t go wrong. And that’s definitely the case with the BRAND NEW British Isles Gold Proof Sovereign that has just been issued by the Isle of Man for 2020.
1. The edition limit
2. The country of issue
3. The subject and design
Let’s take each of the three key elements in turn…
1. The edition limit
This is simple. The coin is limited to just 495 pieces. This is more than 15 times RARER than the UK’s recent Gold Proof Sovereign.
Let me give you a few comparisons of recently issued Sovereigns:
495 coins is a tiny edition limit for a gold Sovereign-specification coin such as this.
2. The country of issue
Importantly this is a British Isles issue, authorised by the Government of Isle of Man. That means that it benefits from a sterling denomination, as well as the associated interest for British Isles coins within the UK.
3. The subject and design
This is the BIGGEST of all the ticks, especially when combined with the edition limit.
This year we mark the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. The day which signalled the end of World War II in Europe and brought long-awaited peace to our nation.
Here are just some of the national plans to celebrate:
- The May Bank Holiday has changed from Monday to Friday for the VE Day anniversary.
- Bells in churches and cathedrals across the country will take part in a Ringing out for Peace celebration.
- Street parties and celebrations at pubs, clubs, hotels, village greens and halls have been planned up and down the country.
- A national service of commemoration and celebration.
As I mentioned previously, when all three elements of a coin are right, you just can’t go wrong. And I am certain that demand will exceed availability. Especially when a strike of just 495 coins have been authorised for release.
And that’s before you consider the design…
The reverse is very fitting. The Union Flag fills up the complete surface of the coin while the text ‘VE DAY’ is displayed up large at the centre.
So I am sure you can now understand why serious collectors will want to own the remarkable new VE Day 75th Anniversary Gold Proof Sovereign. It’s the perfect coin to mark 75 years since our country rejoiced as Allied victory swept across Europe and our nation’s soldiers, sailors and airmen began their journey home.
I know it’s easy to sing the praises of every new coin. But, this one REALLY DOES tick all three key collecting boxes. All of the elements of this latest Gold Sovereign lend themselves to a complete sell-out.
Given the symbolic anniversary, the fact it carries a sterling denomination, and a strike of just 495 coins have been authorised, I am certain that demand will exceed availability.
The most famous penny of them all
In today’s video we’re taking you back to the 18th century – or 1797 to be more precise.
Of course, this was the year of the Cartwheel Pennies. The largest and heaviest coins to ever have been issued for circulation and they really were HUGE.
The story behind how these coins came about is honestly fascinating making them one of the most sought-after coins in British coin collections.
So buckle up as today I’m taking you back in time for a history lesson in British coinage…
If you’re interested…
Click here to add the 1797 George III ‘Cartwheel’ Coin Set to your collection>>
The 100 year old tin that was delivered to ‘every sailor afloat and every soldier at the front’…
As they left for war in Autumn 1914, the soldiers, and the country, believed that it would all be over by Christmas of that year. We know now that the brutal conflict was to drag on for another 4 years, but Christmas 1914 became famous for being the first respite from the war.
Many felt the need to show give a small token of appreciation to those who had put their lives on the line. And so, on 30th October 1914, Princess Mary launched her Christmas Gift fund. She asked the public:
“I want you now to help me send a Christmas present from the whole nation to every sailor afloat and every soldier at the front.”
And they did. Her appeal was met with an enthusiastic response, eventually raising over £162,000 (an incredible sum at the time). This led to the memorable Princess Mary’s Gift Box. It was a beautiful embossed brass box, 128 x 84 x 30mm (5 x 3.3 x 1.2 inches), containing one ounce of pipe tobacco, 20 cigarettes, pipe, a tinder lighter, a Christmas card and a photo of Princess Mary.
On Christmas Day 1914 alone, almost 500,000 Christmas tins were distributed to British service personnel. The boxes were sent to “every sailor afloat and every soldier at the front” in accordance with Princess Mary’s wishes.
A large number of these tins were subsequently damaged in the war, with many being blown apart by shells or corroded in the wet conditions in the trench. However, the boxes that have survived are now distinctive mementoes of the war’s first Christmas.
They are also absolutely fascinating historic artefacts – each tin is totally unique and may have even been there in the trenches 100 years ago protecting a young tommy’s keepsakes. They each tell their own story, and just looking at them you can see the small bits of damage, the smells and stains that tell the story of how they survived 100 years to remind us of the soldiers who suffered the extreme conditions of the Great War.
With the festive season approaching, it is especially important to remember those soldiers who would have received one of these tins. It’s hard not to think about a young tommy, sitting in his trench on Christmas Day, opening his Princess Mary Christmas tin as carols drifted across No-Man’s Land.
If you’re interested…
We have a limited number of genuine Christmas Tins available and ready to deliver for Christmas, with 5 coins all from 1918. But with such a limited number available you will need to be quick to own this ultimate Christmas gift… Check out the video to see Adam explain what makes this tin so special or click here to order yours now >>>