Lot 3816
Great Britain. Farthing, 1714. S.3625 Peck/BMC 741. Copper Queen Anne. Obverse, laureate bust of Queen left by J. Croker. Reverse, depiction of Britannia seated, modelled on the Queen herself. Small flan variety, but with bronzed Proof surfaces. A type which was not represented in the celebrated Colin Cooke collection of farthings. Seldom does such an attractive mint state example of this classic British copper coin appear for sale. Choice dark chocolate mirror surfaces on a well centered and detailed striking. Sold by Spink of London several years ago for £1150 (around $1800). NGC graded MS-63 Brown.
Peck, in his substantial volume 'English Copper, Tin and Bronze Coins in the British Museum' provides evidence that even several centuries ago, Queen Anne farthings were effectively valued at many thousands of pounds each. It is said that men would kill to obtain a specimen. Peck writes (p.177): 'In Esperella's Letters from England, 1808, it is stated that 'a man was brought before the magistrates charged by a soldier with having assaulted him on the highway, and robbed him of eight pounds, some silver and a Queen Anne's farthing. The man protested his innocence and brought sufficient proof of it. Upon further investigation it was discovered that some pettifogging lawyer, as ignorant as he was villainous, had suborned the soldier to bring this accusation against an innocent man, in the hopes of hanging him and getting possession of the farthing'.
Estimated Value $1,600 - 1,800.
|
| |
| Realized $1,763 |
