Ok, heres the scenario.
I have in my collection of 'true' pound coins, (that actually got me interested in this 'fake' coin mullarkey in the first instance), at least one 2008 pound coin with the Ornamental Arms, 3rd portrait and the 'Decus' inscription. Detailing is superb, lustre is what you'd expect for a new very limited circulated pound coin. There is absolutely no reason to believe these coins are fakes.
Now the mystery...!!
If you've read my other blog about the Royal Mails downloadable posters and have actually printed them off for yourselves, why on the 'Britains £1 Coin Designs' is the 2008 Ornamental Arms, 3rd Portrait, Decus not shown??
Surely a minor printing error by Royal Mail......
Hang on though, the other downloadable poster entitled 'A Guide For Identifying Genuine Coins' shows all the 'true' designs, perhaps the 2008 O/A 3 Decus is on here.
NO!!!!
But this is the Royal Mints definitive guide to what every single true £1 coin design is like.
Ah, perhaps its a very very very good fake, using the fact that everyone knew the design was changing to a completely new design for 2008/2009.
But again no, on the Royal Mint website they actually list that 3.91 million 2008 OA3D coins were produced, but it doesn't say whether they were to be circulated or uncirculated.
Does this lead us to believe it could actually be a mint error as almost significant as the 'undated 20p saga'??
Whatever the outcome, I'd suggest you hold onto these particular coins if you're lucky to come across them, because fake or not, they are going to be worth more than their £1 face value.
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I think it was an oversight that the Royal Mint did not list the 2008 Royal Arms variety on their excellent poster. It is definitely not a Mint error and I have seen many in circulation in London and the South East and I have taken several bright circulated examples out of circulation. With a mintage about half of the other so-called rarity (1988) I would agree that it is worthwhile holding onto them because they will command a slight premium over the years.
ReplyDeleteFound another 2008 Royal Arms in my change today, still fairly bright. Now in a box with the rest...
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