St. James's Auctions
Auction 32 19 May 2015
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Victoria, pattern sovereign, 1880, plain edge, young head l., rev. crowned shield of arms within wreath (W&R.323 [R5]; Murdoch 513; Nobleman 273; Douglas-Morris 213), FDC, a splendid proof, fully original with a bold impression of the dies as well as 'watery' mirrored fields, and a lovely old-gold colour
*ex Virgil M. Brand Collection
ex Spink Numisatic Circular, December 1992, no. 7601
ex An Important Collection of Gold Sovereigns 1816-2000, offered as one lot, Sotheby's, November 2000, lot 525 (part)
ex Bentley Collection, Baldwin's Auctions, 8 May 2013, lot 1212, realised £32,400
This exceedingly rare coin exists only as a pattern in this die-combination without mint mark and seems to have been created in conjunction with the first 'international exhibitions' of Australia, the first at Sydney in 1879 and the second at Melbourne the following year. The occasions were indeed special: the first 'exhibition' or world's fair ever held by any Australian colony occurred from September 1879 to April 1880, and Sydney had gone to great lengths to set up before its rival Melbourne (which had planned a similar exhibition for 1880 to 1881) was able to accomplish the task. Sydney minted a special specimen or proof sovereign dated 1879 bearing the mint's 'S' mark on the reverse beneath the shield. It became a featured part of an exhibit of coins and medals shown at the Sydney fair. Melbourne had been outdone! However, the Royal Mint at London was convinced of the need to supply examples of the type of sovereign then being struck in Australia and prepared two examples of the type, lacking any mint mark, which were shipped to Melbourne for its exhibition. These were put on display, showing both sides next to each other. One remains in the collection of the Museum of Victoria at Melbourne, while the second example was traded after the exhibition ended, and this coin found its way into the private collection of Virgil Brand. It has recently appeared at auction twice, having been purchased privately from Spink in 1992. Perhaps two other specimens are known, one of which appeared in the Jacob Y. Terner Collection, sold a decade ago; Dr. Terner obtained it privately in the USA in 1989, along with an 1880 proof sovereign having the St. George reverse. Evidently the Australian impetus caused the Royal Mint at London to prepare several 'Imperial Proof Sets', which included both reverses of the 1880 sovereign along with a half sovereign, and these sets appear to be the sole source of all known examples.
Estimate: £20,000-25,000
*ex Virgil M. Brand Collection
ex Spink Numisatic Circular, December 1992, no. 7601
ex An Important Collection of Gold Sovereigns 1816-2000, offered as one lot, Sotheby's, November 2000, lot 525 (part)
ex Bentley Collection, Baldwin's Auctions, 8 May 2013, lot 1212, realised £32,400
This exceedingly rare coin exists only as a pattern in this die-combination without mint mark and seems to have been created in conjunction with the first 'international exhibitions' of Australia, the first at Sydney in 1879 and the second at Melbourne the following year. The occasions were indeed special: the first 'exhibition' or world's fair ever held by any Australian colony occurred from September 1879 to April 1880, and Sydney had gone to great lengths to set up before its rival Melbourne (which had planned a similar exhibition for 1880 to 1881) was able to accomplish the task. Sydney minted a special specimen or proof sovereign dated 1879 bearing the mint's 'S' mark on the reverse beneath the shield. It became a featured part of an exhibit of coins and medals shown at the Sydney fair. Melbourne had been outdone! However, the Royal Mint at London was convinced of the need to supply examples of the type of sovereign then being struck in Australia and prepared two examples of the type, lacking any mint mark, which were shipped to Melbourne for its exhibition. These were put on display, showing both sides next to each other. One remains in the collection of the Museum of Victoria at Melbourne, while the second example was traded after the exhibition ended, and this coin found its way into the private collection of Virgil Brand. It has recently appeared at auction twice, having been purchased privately from Spink in 1992. Perhaps two other specimens are known, one of which appeared in the Jacob Y. Terner Collection, sold a decade ago; Dr. Terner obtained it privately in the USA in 1989, along with an 1880 proof sovereign having the St. George reverse. Evidently the Australian impetus caused the Royal Mint at London to prepare several 'Imperial Proof Sets', which included both reverses of the 1880 sovereign along with a half sovereign, and these sets appear to be the sole source of all known examples.
Estimate: £20,000-25,000