BRITISH COINS, William III, Silver Pattern Sixpence, 1696, more finely engraved second laureate and draped bust in relief right, with hair across breast, GVLIELMVS. III. DEI. GRA, rev inverted die axis, crowned cruciform shields, seven fine strings to harp, Lion of Nassau at centre, date above, MAG BR.FRA ET.HIB RFX, note F for E in last word, 3.02g (ESC p.148, footnote 1; MCE obverse 3 – 900; Bull 1304). Pleasing cabinet tone, some light flecking, practically as struck and of the highest rarity and importance, one of only three examples in existence.
ex Spink, private transaction 1992 (with Spink ticket)
ex Alfred Bole Collection (part I), DNW, 29 September 2010, lot 1687 (with his ticket)
ex A H Baldwin & Sons Ltd, Fixed Price List, Winter 2011, item BM121
The only other examples are a recent discovery piece that sold in A H Baldwin & Sons Ltd Fixed Price List, Winter 2014 (item BM119) in about very fine condition, offered at £10,000, and that in the British Museum Collection, in similar condition to the piece offered here (the Museum coin is illustrated on page 21 of Spink's Milled Silver Coinage of England, published in 1925, and is listed in the table on page 22 as second bust variety, probably unique). The British Museum also hold other finely engraved second bust patterns of the Crown (two varieties) and Halfcrown, but alas no Shilling. The companion Shilling turned up at Seaby in 1949 and sold to Lord Hamilton of Dalzell, subsequently selling as part of his collection at Spink in February 1979, where it realised a hammer price of £13,000.
Estimate: £18,000-22,000