Baldwin & Sons
Auction 73 8 May 2012
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THE BENTLEY COLLECTION OF BRITISH MILLED GOLD SOVEREIGNS. Elizabeth II (1952- ), Pattern Sovereign, 1976, designed by Arnold Machin, experimental pattern struck with a totally brilliant finish without frosting, second crowned and draped bust right, ELIZABETH. II. DEI. GRATIA. REGINA. F: D:, finely toothed border within twin linear concentric circles and raised rim both sides, rev struck en médaille, engraved after Benedetto Pistrucci, St George slaying dragon with sword, horse with long tail, broken lance on ground-line to left, date in exergue, tiny B.P. to upper right, edge milled, 8.00g, 22.2mm (S 4204). Brilliant mint state and one of only two specimens struck to proof quality with this brilliant finish, excessively rare.
ex Mark Rasmussen Numismatist via Spink and Son Ltd, May 2005
This intriguing coin has been seen and verified by the Royal Mint, though the letter from them has since gone astray. It basically confirmed that only two such coins were struck experimentally with a non-frosted finish to the design elements and legend. The other specimen of this is housed in the Royal Mint’s own collection in Llantrisant in Wales. The only reference for this coin is the VIP Proof listing in the Spink Standard Catalogue, it only having come to light about 2004-2005.
The calendar year output for 1976 Sovereigns for currency is 4,045,056, a figure which probably includes this coin and the one in the Mint Collection.
Queen Elizabeth II has ruled for sixty years in 2012 and is the second-longest reigning monarch in British history after Queen Victoria. If she rules beyond the 10 September 2015, Queen Elizabeth will become the longest reigning British monarch.
In her long reign Queen Elizabeth’s coinage has been through several portrait changes, more so since decimalisation in February 1971. The scope of the Bentley Collection really ends at decimalisation with the more modern Sovereigns becoming perhaps too commemorative in their issue today. However the collection does include three coins of the “decimal” bust designed by Arnold Machin, two of which are offered here in part one, being of highest rarity.
The main portrait therefore present in the Bentley Collection is the young head type designed by Mary Gillick (1881 - 27 January 1965), the first woman sculptor to have an adopted design on a British coin. The master punch was engraved by Cecil Thomas, who designed the Coronation Crown of 1953. The young head portrait by Gillick continued on most issues until the 1967 dated coins, with one last final issue for a commemorative 1970 proof set. The Maundy coinage presented each Maundy Thursday continues to carry this young head portrait to the present time. It has become rather worn and touched up on the master tools and famously in 2002 when issued in gold for the Golden Jubilee proof sets, some of the Maundy Twopences literally had no nose on the portrait as the dies were engraved so weakly and shallow.
The first Sovereign of the reign was an excessively rare 1953 proof Sovereign as part of a set of record for Institutional collections only, consisting of a gold Five Pounds, Two Pounds, Sovereign and Half-Sovereign. One set was sold some decades ago by one of the Institutional owners, and has since been broken up into individual coins and sold, though the Bentley Collector has never had the opportunity to acquire one. At least two extra single proof Sovereigns are in private hands, though one of these was stolen and presumably melted many years ago. If one should ever come up for sale it would be one of the most valuable modern British gold Sovereigns.
The Second Bust of Queen Elizabeth II
Decimalisation “D-Day” was 14 February 1971 and marked a change in the design of the coinage with new decimal reverses for the new denominations. A new obverse design of a more mature crowned portrait was also introduced. Arnold Machin (30 September 1911 - 9 March 1999) was the designer and also for the portrait upon the decimal stamps. His obverse lasted until 1984 dated coinage, 1985 marking the introduction of the portrait by Raphael David Maklouf. The Bentley collection is principally a pre-decimal Sovereign collection but does include a 1974 mistrike to be offered in part three, and the following two lots.
The Reign of Queen Elizabeth II (1952- )
House of Windsor
Born: 21 April 1926
Accession: 6 February 1952
Married: Philip of Greece and Denmark, 20 November 1947
Coronation: Tuesday, 2 June 1953
Children: three sons, one daughter
Celebrating her Diamond Jubilee Year 2012
Estimate: £7000-9000
ex Mark Rasmussen Numismatist via Spink and Son Ltd, May 2005
This intriguing coin has been seen and verified by the Royal Mint, though the letter from them has since gone astray. It basically confirmed that only two such coins were struck experimentally with a non-frosted finish to the design elements and legend. The other specimen of this is housed in the Royal Mint’s own collection in Llantrisant in Wales. The only reference for this coin is the VIP Proof listing in the Spink Standard Catalogue, it only having come to light about 2004-2005.
The calendar year output for 1976 Sovereigns for currency is 4,045,056, a figure which probably includes this coin and the one in the Mint Collection.
Queen Elizabeth II has ruled for sixty years in 2012 and is the second-longest reigning monarch in British history after Queen Victoria. If she rules beyond the 10 September 2015, Queen Elizabeth will become the longest reigning British monarch.
In her long reign Queen Elizabeth’s coinage has been through several portrait changes, more so since decimalisation in February 1971. The scope of the Bentley Collection really ends at decimalisation with the more modern Sovereigns becoming perhaps too commemorative in their issue today. However the collection does include three coins of the “decimal” bust designed by Arnold Machin, two of which are offered here in part one, being of highest rarity.
The main portrait therefore present in the Bentley Collection is the young head type designed by Mary Gillick (1881 - 27 January 1965), the first woman sculptor to have an adopted design on a British coin. The master punch was engraved by Cecil Thomas, who designed the Coronation Crown of 1953. The young head portrait by Gillick continued on most issues until the 1967 dated coins, with one last final issue for a commemorative 1970 proof set. The Maundy coinage presented each Maundy Thursday continues to carry this young head portrait to the present time. It has become rather worn and touched up on the master tools and famously in 2002 when issued in gold for the Golden Jubilee proof sets, some of the Maundy Twopences literally had no nose on the portrait as the dies were engraved so weakly and shallow.
The first Sovereign of the reign was an excessively rare 1953 proof Sovereign as part of a set of record for Institutional collections only, consisting of a gold Five Pounds, Two Pounds, Sovereign and Half-Sovereign. One set was sold some decades ago by one of the Institutional owners, and has since been broken up into individual coins and sold, though the Bentley Collector has never had the opportunity to acquire one. At least two extra single proof Sovereigns are in private hands, though one of these was stolen and presumably melted many years ago. If one should ever come up for sale it would be one of the most valuable modern British gold Sovereigns.
The Second Bust of Queen Elizabeth II
Decimalisation “D-Day” was 14 February 1971 and marked a change in the design of the coinage with new decimal reverses for the new denominations. A new obverse design of a more mature crowned portrait was also introduced. Arnold Machin (30 September 1911 - 9 March 1999) was the designer and also for the portrait upon the decimal stamps. His obverse lasted until 1984 dated coinage, 1985 marking the introduction of the portrait by Raphael David Maklouf. The Bentley collection is principally a pre-decimal Sovereign collection but does include a 1974 mistrike to be offered in part three, and the following two lots.
The Reign of Queen Elizabeth II (1952- )
House of Windsor
Born: 21 April 1926
Accession: 6 February 1952
Married: Philip of Greece and Denmark, 20 November 1947
Coronation: Tuesday, 2 June 1953
Children: three sons, one daughter
Celebrating her Diamond Jubilee Year 2012
Estimate: £7000-9000