Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3066 17 Aug 2018
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Great Britain
Charles II gold 1/2 Guinea 1670 MS63 NGC, KM431, S-3347. One of the finest known examples from only the second year of production for this denomination. Charles II's reign heralded England's final transition in coin production from the traditional hammered method to the cutting-edge milled technique, an event which nurtured the artistic imagination and skill of talented engravers such as Thomas Simon and the Roettiers brothers. However, in their excitement to take advantage of this new platform through which they could demonstrate their art, they overdid it somewhat and engraved many dies too deeply, with too much detail. As a result, much of Charles II's coinage sees a considerable loss of definition at the highest points where the metal could not reach the die. Accordingly, the present offering is all-the-more special and desirable for its unusually sharp portrait of the King, even down to the highest points of his hair showing many curls. Centrally and definitively struck, the obverse field is reflective and semi-prooflike, whilst the reverse shows an extent of cartwheel luster usually only found on coins 200 years younger than this Half Guinea. This is the only MS63 certified by either NGC or PCGS, superior to the Norweb specimen (graded an MS62 PCGS), the sole competition to this lustrous, lemon-gold and thoroughly exquisite offering being one MS64 seen by NGC. Outstanding in every regard and breathtaking to behold, this piece is not to be missed by the serious collectors of British gold.
Ex. M. Kaufman Collection
HID02901242017
Estimate: 11000-13000 USD
Charles II gold 1/2 Guinea 1670 MS63 NGC, KM431, S-3347. One of the finest known examples from only the second year of production for this denomination. Charles II's reign heralded England's final transition in coin production from the traditional hammered method to the cutting-edge milled technique, an event which nurtured the artistic imagination and skill of talented engravers such as Thomas Simon and the Roettiers brothers. However, in their excitement to take advantage of this new platform through which they could demonstrate their art, they overdid it somewhat and engraved many dies too deeply, with too much detail. As a result, much of Charles II's coinage sees a considerable loss of definition at the highest points where the metal could not reach the die. Accordingly, the present offering is all-the-more special and desirable for its unusually sharp portrait of the King, even down to the highest points of his hair showing many curls. Centrally and definitively struck, the obverse field is reflective and semi-prooflike, whilst the reverse shows an extent of cartwheel luster usually only found on coins 200 years younger than this Half Guinea. This is the only MS63 certified by either NGC or PCGS, superior to the Norweb specimen (graded an MS62 PCGS), the sole competition to this lustrous, lemon-gold and thoroughly exquisite offering being one MS64 seen by NGC. Outstanding in every regard and breathtaking to behold, this piece is not to be missed by the serious collectors of British gold.
Ex. M. Kaufman Collection
HID02901242017
Estimate: 11000-13000 USD