Lot 2429
Great Britain. Pattern Halfcrown, 1799. Forrer-Vol II,p.170. Silver. 33 mm. George III, armored "Scottish" bust engraved by John Milton for Col. Fullerton. Often catalogued as Scots patterns as they were commissioned for Ayrshire by a member of the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, these were originally a group of patterns for halfcrowns, shillings, sixpence, halfpennies and farthings, of which the halfcrown was the largest piece. Mules exist, as do piedforts and off-metal strikes. The obverse portrait is of George as Prince of Wales and Seneschal (an Old French word for "steward" or "old servant") of Scotland. It's an elegant rendering of the king, made during the Regency period. Originals were coined in 1799, a small number of restrikes about 1828 by Matthew Young. While these pieces are sometimes "dissed," it should be borne in mind that their creator, Milton, was employed as assistant engraver at the Royal Mint from 1789 to 1798 and was also official medallist to the Prince of Wales (later George IV). He and Col. Fullerton continued a handy relationship for some years, as the Colonel became governor of Trinidad and Milton engraved a number of coins for the colonies, including the Barbados penny of 1788. The great Sir Joseph Banks was highly impressed by the Fullerton patterns, which he cautioned the Colonel to stop making as they were never officially sanctioned. Today these patterns, of which the present lot is an exceptionally fine example, are widely accepted by even advanced British collectors as classic works of numismatic art that are indisputably "of their times." This piece is both of high grade and beautifully toned a deep purple-blue, the reflective mirrors still strong. One of the finest known. NGC graded MS-64.
Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,400.
The Cheshire Collection.
|
| |
| Unsold |
