Lot 464
Great Britain. Pattern Proof Crown, 1887. Victoria, 1837-1901. Queen Victoria, veiled and wearing the famous, bejeweled "small crown," used on state occasions. Reverse: Crowned and helmeted arms supported by crowned lion and collared unicorn. ESC-343; KM-ppn 105. Engraved by J.R. Thomas for Spink. Silver. Plain edge. ESC rates this pattern R5: extremely rare, just 5-10 known! A magnificent example of this most elegant of all Victorian pattern crowns; without doubt the finest known, exhibiting nearly flawless surfaces together with splendid, bright silvery blue iridescence and splashes of gold toning. No finer provenance could exist. NGC graded Proof 66.
This is a superb example of the experimental Jubilee Bust engraved by L.C. Lauer, struck by J.R. Thomas for Spink & Son. The distinctive obverse, which appears on no regular issue, shows the queen's portrait surrounded by her name and titles in English, rather than the traditional Latin abbreviations. This is mated to an exquisitely rendered reverse showing a lion and unicorn on either side of the royal arms. A thistle, shamrock and rose appear in the reverse exergue along with the date in roman numerals.
Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection, obtained from the grandson of the designer. Probably J.R. Thomas's own specimen.
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| Realized $12,075 |
