1927 Pretoria Sovereign

Although South African gold sovereigns from 1925 onward are mostly common in even better Mint State grades, there is a level of state of preservation where even the most common coins are rare. For the common 1927-SA sovereign, that grade is PCGS MS66. With 778 pieces certified by PCGS overall (9/20), only three have made the coveted MS66 grade (and none have graded finer). The coin photographed above came from an old European hoard amongst many other lesser-grade South African sovereigns and stood out amongst them as one of the best South African sovereigns I’d ever seen, even when uncertified. If you’re chasing a high-grade example of this common date or would just like a superior George V sovereign for your type set, this is your coin.