Lot 4375
Great Britain. Pattern Twopence or 10 Cents, 1846. Peck-2077. Smith on Decimal Currency. Copper original striking. Reverse inverted. Victoria. No legend on obverse. Head of Queen to left, undraped, truncated above the shoulder. Hair bound with a double fillet, and gathered up behind in a knot from which two loose curls fall. Below, in small letter - MARRIAN & GAUSBY.D.BIRM. All within a circle of square teeth and a broad outer rim which mimics the 'cartwheel' two pence coins of George III, 1797. Reverse: SMITH ON DECIMAL CURRENCY around, and in the field 10 CENTS in 2 lines. The date 1846 below, between two oval ornaments. circle of teeth etc. as on obverse. Edge plain.
The original strikings of the pieces are actually rarer than Peck suggests. Nearly all of the pieces now seen are restrikes with numerous rust marks. This is an exceptional example which has no rust marks and which has escaped the knocks, cuts and scratches which seem so affect all of the Smith/Marrian & Gausby coins. Indeed many similar pieces are found in unusually worn condition - a puzzling fact when one considers that these are patterns whose size was far larger than the equivalent coins then in circulation. We have seen a nicer example of this denomination, even in the sets of coins which very occasionally appear in the marketplace. Finally, in many ways this coin appears to be a BRONZED copper original, which would mean it is unlisted by Peck. He only acknowledges the existence of the BRONZED copper restrikes. But, all in all a very desirable and intriguing specimen. NGC graded MS-64 Brown.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250.
The Dr. Robert Hesselgesser Collection.
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| Realized $1,380 |
