Lot 2245
Great Britain. Silver Crown, 1697. William III. S-3473. Third draped bust. 2nd harp. Edge not viewable in the slab, but designated as ESC-96 (i.e., "NONO" regnal year) by NGC. This coin is so rare that it is not illustrated by the Spink guidebook. Nor has the cataloguer, in over 25 years of writing about the best in British coinage, ever seen an example! It catalogues for 13,500 Pounds in the 2005 Spink book, in EF grade, one of the highest estimates of value for any crown, of any period. Here indeed is a landmark offering, a beautiful example, virtually Mint State! The slightest rub may be seen on the highpoints, but there remains strong 17th-century luster beneath unusually pretty, dark gray toning with hues of iridescence. The color is well set. The surfaces are hard to believe, showing a sheen not seen in many coins of the 1690s, of any denomination or even of any country. A few small pecks can be found here and there. A long die-break that looks like an adjustment, but is not, starts at the "V" in the king's name, disappears in the field, and resumes through the lower curls above the king's shoulder. The portrait is well struck, excellently balanced. The rims are clean and lightly denticled. The reverse is slightly die-rotated. Again, on the reverse side, the same sheen of luster remains under the same beautiful, dark gray toning. A few dots of minute die-rust appear in quadrants two and four, between the shield's arms. The strike on the shield, right to the center, is almost medallic in quality, it is so sharp. The letters of the legends show classic bifurcation at their bases. The date itself, so important on this coin, is clear and unmistakable, although the "97" digits are finely engraved, thin but very distinct. One of the most important coins in the Cheshire Collection, certain to elicit bids that leave the price guide in the dust, for the next nicest piece is in the VF grade range, meaning that catalogue value for "EF" is nothing but an extrapolated guess. Finest known. NGC graded AU-58.
Estimated Value $28,000 - 32,000.
The Cheshire Collection.
|
| |
| Realized $25,200 |
