Goldberg Coins & Collectibles Auctions    
       

       

                             



Sale 31: The Pre-Long Beach Auction May 30 - June 1, 2005
             

             
            Lot 2286Great Britain. Pattern silver Halfpenny (1712-14). Queen 
            Anne. Undated. Peck-727. 29 mm in diameter. Rated "extremely rare" 
            by Peck. A lovely complement (Peck calls it "among the most 
            attractive in the whole copper series") to the several silver 
            pattern farthings in this sale, and all prospective bidders should 
            review our comments about these issues made under those lots. This 
            is a fascinating coin, made under the direction of mint master Sir 
            Isaac Newton, one of the most notable of England's scientific 
            thinkers of that age. Reverse features an early, sharply engraved 
            Britannia motif, which in fact bears more than slight resemblance to 
            Queen Anne herself, in facial features and body style. Above her, 
            suspended in the air, a crown. The obverse portrait is sharply 
            engraved. In this pattern we see a big step made by the Royal Mint 
            towards more modern-looking copper coins, which were to come shortly 
            in the reigns of George I and II, the first Hanovers. But in Anne's 
            time the only issued coppers were the rare farthings of 1714. A 
            series of patterns for the coming halfpenny was made, of which this 
            is an excellent example. Peck claims (page 183) that this was struck 
            during Anne's final year, or perhaps even shortly after her death, 
            in 1714. Edge not viewable in the slab. Struck as a Proof, with 
            striated edge, and should be labeled PR58. An ancient long scuff on 
            the queen's cheek, and a number of tiny abrasions in the fields, but 
            these are typical of early patterns and should not be seen as 
            serious impairments in a 300-year-old coin. Double-struck reverse on 
            the border, showing an entire extra row of denticles from 1 to 7 
            o'clock! Reflective surfaces remain, and the coin is blessed by 
            gorgeous silver-gray toning with some sparkling iridescence, 
            creating exceptionally fine eye-appeal. Peck believed that only 2 
            pieces were known to exist. NGC graded AU-58. 
            Estimated Value $3,250-3,500. 

            Provenance: The Cheshire Collection.


          








Courtesy Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers, Beverly Hills, CA. www.goldbergcoins.com