Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 91 7-8 June 2016
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Great Britain. Pattern Silver Farthing, 1665. Peck-407. Charles II. Short hair and grained edge. Obverse portrait of King Charles II left, CAROLVS A CAROLO 1665. Reverse: Seated Britannia QVATTVOR MARIA VINDICO. Well struck and uncirculated with a deep blue and grey toning over mirror-like fields. Very scarce. As nice as the Colin Cooke collection specimen which was acquired from the Archbishop Sharp sale. PCGS graded Proof 62.
* Peck points out that the dies were made by John Roettier. The figure of Britannia was one of her first appearances on post-Roman coins and was almost certainly inspired by or even copied from the allegorical figure symbolising the Province of Britain which appears on the sestertii of Antoninus Pius. Britannia in this instance may have been modelled on Frances Stewart, later Duchess of Richmond. The rather pretentious reverse legend reads 'I claim the four seas.' The king had a great interest in the British navy and this may have been a reflection of his naval preoccupation!
Many of these attractive patterns do appear in worn state (probably because some were circulated alongside the eventual currency coins) and this is why selected specimens are nowadays truly rare. Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,600
* Peck points out that the dies were made by John Roettier. The figure of Britannia was one of her first appearances on post-Roman coins and was almost certainly inspired by or even copied from the allegorical figure symbolising the Province of Britain which appears on the sestertii of Antoninus Pius. Britannia in this instance may have been modelled on Frances Stewart, later Duchess of Richmond. The rather pretentious reverse legend reads 'I claim the four seas.' The king had a great interest in the British navy and this may have been a reflection of his naval preoccupation!
Many of these attractive patterns do appear in worn state (probably because some were circulated alongside the eventual currency coins) and this is why selected specimens are nowadays truly rare. Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,600