Lot 2596
Great Britain. Pattern silver Shilling, 1824. George IV Bare or Uncrowned Head. Thin inner circle surrounding the portrait and the reverse shield. Engraved by William Wyon and J.B. Merlen. ESC-1263. Plain edge (not viewable in the slab). R6: just 3 or 4 pieces known! Also known with a Reeded Edge, also R6. Thus, for those desiring to own this pattern, there are only 6 to 8 pieces to locate, of both edge types, including those in museums. So rare, the cataloguer has seen this coin only once before, in 25 years. Crowther (A Guide to English Pattern Coins, published in London, 1886) knew of only a Reeded Edge specimen, from the 1875 Marshall sale (at 9 Pounds, almost the same price as an Una and the Lion gold Five Pounds at the time). This is one of the most alluring of all patterns for this denomination, at once the prototype for the Bare Head type which was introduced as currency the following year, 1825, and also a specimen with a unique reverse which was probably a model for, or inspired, the exquisite engraving seen on the Proof crown of 1826. Yet, this reverse is distinctly different, and conceived on a high level, offering the eye a balance seldom found except on the most classical of items. A large squarish crown rests atop an intricately engraved Hanover Shield, beneath which the Order of the Garter banner appears as a spray with floriated ends. The fine circle separates this from the outer legend, which consists of the royal titles; the crown intrudes into this at 12 o'clock, and at 6 o'clock is a tiny Tudor rose, open, with three oak leaves at each side. Both sides have a deep-beaded rim, itself inside a high raised edge which is squared off. This wonderful specimen is tightly graded by NGC. Its surfaces are silvery gray and reflective, showing only fine hairlines and a few tiny ticks in the field behind the portrait. All in all, a wonderful memento of its age! The Cheshire collector believes this piece is the only example in private hands. NGC graded Proof 63.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
The Cheshire Collection.
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| Realized $5,175 |
