Lot 1946
Great Britain. Proof Shilling, 1746. George II, Old laureate Head. Engrailed edge. S-3704. Mintage: about 100 sets prepared for museums and aristocratic collectors by the Royal Mint in 1746; in fact, this year was the first full set of silver Proofs ever created for numismatists. Dr Terner loved early Proofs and always felt they were far from fully appreciated, in terms of price. The engraving is fully shown in well-saved Proofs, of course, but more important to him was the buying opportunity created by the rarity of choice pieces, as almost all seen in the market, and over many years in the London sales rooms, are impaired to one extent or another. Thus a particularly nice specimen seemed a bargain compared to the similar prices for which impaired pieces regularly sold. The piece in our last Terner sale sold for $3,105 which still seems a bargain considering the significance and beauty of this coin, showing the old king with a "lion face" epaulet in the armor on his shoulder, together with the charming periwig on his head, so typical of men's fashion in the 1740s. Here again is an exceptional coin! very choice, rich silvery gray surfaces with some pale blue iridescence. Very rare! PCGS graded Proof 64.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,750.
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| Realized $2,415 |
