Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3066 17 Aug 2018
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Great Britain
Victoria gold Proof 5 Pounds 1893 PR63 Ultra Cameo NGC, KM787, S-3872. A captivating one-year Proof, one of only three 5 Pound types produced during Victoria's reign, and from a mintage of just 773 pieces. The preceding Proof set issued in 1887 introduced the new 'Jubilee' head portrait, the first major portrait change since the beginning of Victorian coinage in 1838; 797 of these sets were produced, hardly a significant amount more than in 1893, but the excitement generated by Victoria's Golden Jubilee coinciding with this radically different portrait elicited major public numismatic interest. Consequently, huge numbers of the 1887 currency issues were put aside by individuals as royalist keepsakes, aided by jewelers creating cased specimen sets of high-grade currency coins. This effect reduces the impact of the 1887 set somewhat as, although appealing and similarly scarce, one is quite accustomed to encountering pristine 1887 currency issues. In 1893 the new 'Widow Head' coinage was produced but public interest was far less; this was due to there being no significant event associated with this change in style, and as this portrait followed the previous type by only six years. Consequently, far fewer currency coins were put aside, and mintage figures themselves were also considerably less. As a result, the 1893 coins in Proof are particularly visually striking, there being far fewer high-grade currency issues to dampen their effect. The current offering is in a brilliant Proof 63 grade, a deep yellow-gold in color which deserves in-hand examination to fully appreciate its appeal; a worthy bearer of the 'Ultra Cameo' designation, the Victoria's 'Widow Head' portrait deeply frosted in contrast to the superb mirror fields. A type which has exploded in popularity of late and a delight to view, and sure to attract the attention of any premium collector of English Proofs.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 20000-30000 USD
Victoria gold Proof 5 Pounds 1893 PR63 Ultra Cameo NGC, KM787, S-3872. A captivating one-year Proof, one of only three 5 Pound types produced during Victoria's reign, and from a mintage of just 773 pieces. The preceding Proof set issued in 1887 introduced the new 'Jubilee' head portrait, the first major portrait change since the beginning of Victorian coinage in 1838; 797 of these sets were produced, hardly a significant amount more than in 1893, but the excitement generated by Victoria's Golden Jubilee coinciding with this radically different portrait elicited major public numismatic interest. Consequently, huge numbers of the 1887 currency issues were put aside by individuals as royalist keepsakes, aided by jewelers creating cased specimen sets of high-grade currency coins. This effect reduces the impact of the 1887 set somewhat as, although appealing and similarly scarce, one is quite accustomed to encountering pristine 1887 currency issues. In 1893 the new 'Widow Head' coinage was produced but public interest was far less; this was due to there being no significant event associated with this change in style, and as this portrait followed the previous type by only six years. Consequently, far fewer currency coins were put aside, and mintage figures themselves were also considerably less. As a result, the 1893 coins in Proof are particularly visually striking, there being far fewer high-grade currency issues to dampen their effect. The current offering is in a brilliant Proof 63 grade, a deep yellow-gold in color which deserves in-hand examination to fully appreciate its appeal; a worthy bearer of the 'Ultra Cameo' designation, the Victoria's 'Widow Head' portrait deeply frosted in contrast to the superb mirror fields. A type which has exploded in popularity of late and a delight to view, and sure to attract the attention of any premium collector of English Proofs.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 20000-30000 USD