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January 2018 NYINC Auction  15-16 Jan 2018
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Lot 24519

Starting price: 1200 USD
Price realized: 2200 USD
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NEW ZEALAND. Pattern Penny Token, 1879. By: J. Moore of Birmingham (unsigned). NGC MS-63 RB.
Andrews-399; Lampard-336; Renniks-392; KM-unlisted; Forrer-pg.136/141. Rarity 7. VERY RARE pattern of an unadopted design. Young laureate bust of Queen Victoria left, "Victoria Queen of Great Britain" around; Reverse: Seated liberty right holding trident, shield and olive branch, "New Zealand" above, date below. Mr. Joseph Moore was a very talented engraver who at the age of ten started in the employ of well-known silversmith Henry Follet Osler where he learned to draw. From there he entered an apprenticeship for eight and a half years under the tutelage of Thomas Halliday, a die-sinker of Newhall Street. He eventually went on to open his own business "Brummagem Button" as a button maker, which at the time was the greatest industry of the town. At the Exhibition of 1851 he was awarded the prize for excellent workmanship in the manufacture of buttons. Before his apprenticeship drew to a close he began to teach himself the fine art of becoming a medalist. For a short time when he was eighteen he began to study under Samuel Lines who had taught many talented die-sinkers and engravers before him. Because of his talent it was suggested to him in 1844 that he should try to make an improvement to the cumbersome and heavy Penny-piece then in circulation. His design, totally his own, was about the size of a Farthing with a small piece of silver inset near the rim which brought it up to the proper standard. Because of his ingenious design it was easily distinguishable by touch from similar size pieces from ones pocket. These private made tokens were met with such enormous demand that Wyon, the coin die-sinker of the Mint, paid him a visit to discuss their manufacture. They were met with such favor in the general public and Wyon was so impress that he was compelled to advertise that they were in fact of private manufacture and not a government issue. Mr. Moore grew to become a very well recognized and respected medalist throughout his lifetime. He would engrave medals for Queen Victoria as well as other individuals and institutions some of which he was told were too intricate, but was able execute them with excellence. The present pattern is just one example of his fine workmanship with fine details of the expressive young bust of the Victoria. Lovely mocha patina in the open fields and atop of the devices highlighted with original mint red. A lovely example sure to excite even the most advanced collector of Tradesmen tokens. NGC MS-63 RB.

Estimate: $2000.00- $3000.00
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