Cheeky Spink!
Maybe their angle is that back then you didn't pay wacky premiums on NEWLY minted sovereigns, because it really was just money? Not that old rare coins are a rip-off.
Nowadays, the Royal Mint pre-taxes your good decisions by taking an extra £250 off whatever the coin appreciates right out the gate. Isn't that a fair assessment?
They want a slice of the secondary market before it's even become secondary.