Goldberg Coins & Collectibles Auctions    
       

       

                             



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

             
            Lot 2287Great Britain. Pattern Farthing in silver, 1713. Queen Anne. 
            Peck-746. Very rare. Britannia seated on globe, with shield below 
            her left arm. Flan 23mm in diameter. Aside from the deeply toothed 
            borders, and different placement of the date and reverse legend, 
            this is the design ultimately used for the commercial copper issue 
            of 1714 (S-3625). Most observers would argue that the later 
            placement of the date within the exergue, rather than at the end of 
            the legend as seen on this pattern, ultimately produced a neater and 
            more balanced design, which is also to be seen on the example of 
            P-758 in this collection. The first patterns of this exact style 
            were struck in copper, and Peck labels the silver strikes with 
            slight variation in the style of the obverse letters "pieces de 
            plaisir," suggesting unusual experimentation at the mint. Rarely 
            does the student of coins have a chance to compare a "linkage" of 
            styles, as are presented in this collection, to literally view the 
            design of a coin as it evolved through a variety of "thinking 
            stages" to completion and final issuance to the public. 
            Additionally, this is a beautiful specimen, a very choice example of 
            light silver-gray toning enhanced by delightful "splashes" of 
            iridescence. NGC graded Proof 64. 
            Estimated Value $2,750-3,000. 

            Provenance: The Cheshire Collection.


          








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