Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3061 7-8 Jan 2018
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Great Britain
Victoria Proof "Gothic" Crown 1847 PR66 NGC, Royal mint, KM744, S-3883. "UNDECIMO" edge. A truly sublime example of this classic crown, with a mintage of a mere 8,000 pieces. These were meant mainly for gentlemen of the day, who fancied carrying a metallic image of their monarch in their vest pockets--thereby impairing most of the mintage as the coins were shown one by one to friends and handled endlessly (though rarely spent). The famous edge lettering translates to mean "an ornament and a safeguard in the eleventh year of our reign." Anti-counterfeiting, which was the original intent of decorated edges, was hardly the concern in 1847. Instead, this was a fancy and very stylish means of giving the coin a second date, and doubtless it was a feature remarked upon by the coin's contemporary admirers. Holding the coin between two fingers, touching each side, so as to study the edge, obviously accounts for much of the surface impairment seen on most specimens--but not here! Here we see a coin essentially as it looked when minted in 1847--167 years ago--with its deeply reflective mirrored fields, its almost perfect portrait, and now its joyous, magenta-blue and gold iridescence. The strike on each side is also deeply detailed, which is not true of all Gothic crowns. A beautiful example of what has been called the world's most exquisite crown!
Ex. Eric P. Newman Collection
HID02901242017
Estimate: 20000-30000 USD
Victoria Proof "Gothic" Crown 1847 PR66 NGC, Royal mint, KM744, S-3883. "UNDECIMO" edge. A truly sublime example of this classic crown, with a mintage of a mere 8,000 pieces. These were meant mainly for gentlemen of the day, who fancied carrying a metallic image of their monarch in their vest pockets--thereby impairing most of the mintage as the coins were shown one by one to friends and handled endlessly (though rarely spent). The famous edge lettering translates to mean "an ornament and a safeguard in the eleventh year of our reign." Anti-counterfeiting, which was the original intent of decorated edges, was hardly the concern in 1847. Instead, this was a fancy and very stylish means of giving the coin a second date, and doubtless it was a feature remarked upon by the coin's contemporary admirers. Holding the coin between two fingers, touching each side, so as to study the edge, obviously accounts for much of the surface impairment seen on most specimens--but not here! Here we see a coin essentially as it looked when minted in 1847--167 years ago--with its deeply reflective mirrored fields, its almost perfect portrait, and now its joyous, magenta-blue and gold iridescence. The strike on each side is also deeply detailed, which is not true of all Gothic crowns. A beautiful example of what has been called the world's most exquisite crown!
Ex. Eric P. Newman Collection
HID02901242017
Estimate: 20000-30000 USD