Lot 352
Great Britain. Proof Gold Guinea, 1702. S-3562; WR-60. Queen Anne, 1702-1714. Pre-Union; First Bust. Design by John Croker. Draped bust left. Reverse: Crowned cruciform arms, Garter star at center. Plain edge. Beautiful and alluring almost beyond words, this special coin sparkles with mirrored-field brilliance on the obverse, and fine satiny fields on the reverse. The exceptional, crisp strike is enhanced by a delicate, old-gold reddish toning. Probably the finest known of this issue. The Spink guide book simply calls it "extremely rare" without a price in any state! Once sold, five times what it fetches would not produce another of its equal. NGC graded Proof 63.
WR-60, lists as R5, just 6 to 10 known in all states of preservation. Wilson and Rasmussen's plate coin does not appear to be as sparkling and mark-free as the specimen here. That says volumes, because they generally photograph the best coins they know of, including coins from the British Museum collection. Some of the 6 to 10 known are clearly in museums. As a Proof, this coin is also struck on a slightly larger or "jumbo" flan compared to that used for a normal currency coin.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 18,000.
Ex Cheshire Collection (5/30 - 6/1/05), lot 2268.
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| Realized $34,500 |
