As much as I am thrilled with how my collection is going (Honestly I adding things now, which I thought I would never have), like every collector I lust for more and better.
My 1927 British proof set (And a prospective 1911 one) has made me lust after these beauties. These are the first four proper British proof sets. Very few were made as no one really bothered collecting them and most are pretty much in bespoke cases and have survived through time well. Hoarding really took off in 1887 with the Golden Jubilee and even though 1887 sets are rare too, you can likely buy one much more than any of these.
This spooky looking purple box contains a ultra rare 1826 British Proof set which has only 8 coins, just the £5, £2, sovereign, its half, crown, halfcrown, shilling and sixpence of that era. All are insanely rare in that state. Catalogues list them starting at £30k each if you can find one. This one sold for $130k to an American a few years ago. I just love that spooky looking purple case too, you can tell its pre Victorian.
A bit cheaper and no less rarer is his less extravagant brother William IV, who dispensed with the elaborate cases, the £5 gold coin and purple spookery of the 1820. We have an oblong case that has just 3 gold coins, all the silver with set of Maundy coins and the 3 copper coins, Penny, half and farthing. This one sold to Japanese collectors for a mere $65k
So basically to get them, i would need at least $200k and a airfare to the USA and Japan along with some awesome social skills.
Next comes the famous 1839 proof set, called una and the Lion, which was a special £5 coin with a young Victoria as “Una” leading the lion. An amazingly rare coin in itself (6 figures) its the highlight of this collection which features a sovereign and its half, a crown which was only issued in this set, halfcrown, shilling, sixpence, groat and a copper trio again with a Maundy set. This lot went for over $200k. On the box is pieces from an 1850s coin auction. The set was so rare as no one was really buying proof coin sets in 1839 and most people earned a pound a week if they were lucky.
Now we have the last of the truly scarce - an 1853 set, again we have at least 2 coins here which were basically only seen in this set. The case again is incredibly sexy but also spooky as hell (I need to stop reading gothic novels). We have only 2 gold coins which are bog standard shield sovereigns and half. But the 1853 Gothic crown is the star, as its rarer than the 1847 even. Also in the set is an 1853 halfcrown, which is interesting as the last circulation one was 1850 and the next would not be until 1874 (Some 1860s patterns exist). Plus you get proof florin, shilling, 6d, groats (One standard and one Maundy), the copper is backed up with a half farthing as well. A maundy set finishes it off. Again expect no change from six figures here.
Even rarer is a reputed 1746 Proof set, only one I know exists and I suspect its case is Victorian, the coins are graded PF63 to PF65. However its just 4 coins, a Crown, Halfcrown, Shilling and Sixpence, no gold or copper.
These four sets are so desirable to me, I would die a very happy man If I got even one of them.
So what are you biggest dreams in coins.
