St. James's Auctions
Auction 39 30 September 2016
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† Victoria, pattern florin, 1848, plain edge, laur. head l., rev. ONE CENTUM ONE TENTH OF A POUND, royal cypher interlinked with rose, thistle and shamrock, Prince of Wales's plumes below, all within quatrefoil (Bull 2931), certified and graded by NGC as Proof 65, a superb gem proof
With laureate bun head obverse and a reverse featuring the Royal Cypher VR (for Victoria Regina) intertwined with a rose, thistle and shamrock (for England, Scotland and Ireland), this coin is a Superb Gem Proof and fully struck with every tiny detail of Wyon's complex reverse design visible.
This particular coin type was created as part of a design trial for a new decimal two shilling coin and has the denomination 'Centum' on its reverse. Other pattern florin types of this series are bear the denomination 'Decade' or 'Florin'. Ultimately, the 'Florin' designation was selected for the new circulating two shilling coinage. All of the pattern florins are considered to be very rare.
The technical grade assigned by NGC, PR65, is almost superfluous as this coin is one of the most beautiful silver coins you can imagine, possessing vibrant, iridescent red and blue toning. It is a testament to the infinite colorations that a silver coin can develop when left alone for more than 150 years. Unfortunately, most proof silver coins of this era suffer from the effects of collectors trying to 'improve' their looks by 'shining' them up. Happily, this coin has evaded such treatment and comes to us with pristine surfaces that colorfully enhance William Wyon's splendid and delicate portrait of the young Queen Victoria. In such a wonderfully preserved state, the present coin is extremely rare. In fact, after more than 20 years, NGC has only graded three coins of this variety, all at PR65 and, in the cataloguer's opinion, the present coin is the nicest.
The 'VR' reverse design appears very infrequently, so do not miss your chance to own this gorgeous coin.
The most recent appearance of one of the other two NGC-PR65 coins of this variety was at a Heritage auction in 2014 where it sold for over $9,000. (£5000-6000)
With laureate bun head obverse and a reverse featuring the Royal Cypher VR (for Victoria Regina) intertwined with a rose, thistle and shamrock (for England, Scotland and Ireland), this coin is a Superb Gem Proof and fully struck with every tiny detail of Wyon's complex reverse design visible.
This particular coin type was created as part of a design trial for a new decimal two shilling coin and has the denomination 'Centum' on its reverse. Other pattern florin types of this series are bear the denomination 'Decade' or 'Florin'. Ultimately, the 'Florin' designation was selected for the new circulating two shilling coinage. All of the pattern florins are considered to be very rare.
The technical grade assigned by NGC, PR65, is almost superfluous as this coin is one of the most beautiful silver coins you can imagine, possessing vibrant, iridescent red and blue toning. It is a testament to the infinite colorations that a silver coin can develop when left alone for more than 150 years. Unfortunately, most proof silver coins of this era suffer from the effects of collectors trying to 'improve' their looks by 'shining' them up. Happily, this coin has evaded such treatment and comes to us with pristine surfaces that colorfully enhance William Wyon's splendid and delicate portrait of the young Queen Victoria. In such a wonderfully preserved state, the present coin is extremely rare. In fact, after more than 20 years, NGC has only graded three coins of this variety, all at PR65 and, in the cataloguer's opinion, the present coin is the nicest.
The 'VR' reverse design appears very infrequently, so do not miss your chance to own this gorgeous coin.
The most recent appearance of one of the other two NGC-PR65 coins of this variety was at a Heritage auction in 2014 where it sold for over $9,000. (£5000-6000)