Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3071 6-7 Jan 2019
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Great Britain
Victoria Penny 1860/59 MS64 Brown PCGS, KM739, S-3948, Peck-1521 (this coin). By far the scarcest copper Penny issued during Victoria's reign, one of the most desirable types available to collectors. By the late 1850s, the copper content in the Pennies, Halfpennies and Farthings outweighed their face value, prompting a switch to a smaller-sized bronze issue (Britain had already been on a 'token' coinage since 1816 anyway, so this was not a drastic change). The changeover was initiated in 1860, but a handful of 1860/59 dated copper Pennies were produced in error. Some of these were circulated, some were lost, and some were saved in perfect preservation by collectors--clearly the story of the magnificent present offering. Incredibly, this piece represents the single-finest example graded by either NGC or PCGS, making this very coin the absolute best of the best; and indeed its near-gem quality is starkly apparent to the eye. Vibrant red luster haloes the razor-sharp portrait of the young Queen, some minor die clash present beneath her chin (but present on the majority of known examples). The fields glisten with a blue-white patina, a pleasing contrast to the russet luster playing in the peripheries of the chocolate-brown planchet. It is no surprise that it is this specimen which was selected for the collection of the man who, quite literally, wrote the book on British copper and bronze coins, C. W. Peck. An extraordinary survivor and a treasure amongst Victorian coins, we can only anticipate the excitement this piece will generate amongst any serious collectors of British material.
Ex. C. W. Peck Collection
HID02901242017
Estimate: 7000-9000 USD
Victoria Penny 1860/59 MS64 Brown PCGS, KM739, S-3948, Peck-1521 (this coin). By far the scarcest copper Penny issued during Victoria's reign, one of the most desirable types available to collectors. By the late 1850s, the copper content in the Pennies, Halfpennies and Farthings outweighed their face value, prompting a switch to a smaller-sized bronze issue (Britain had already been on a 'token' coinage since 1816 anyway, so this was not a drastic change). The changeover was initiated in 1860, but a handful of 1860/59 dated copper Pennies were produced in error. Some of these were circulated, some were lost, and some were saved in perfect preservation by collectors--clearly the story of the magnificent present offering. Incredibly, this piece represents the single-finest example graded by either NGC or PCGS, making this very coin the absolute best of the best; and indeed its near-gem quality is starkly apparent to the eye. Vibrant red luster haloes the razor-sharp portrait of the young Queen, some minor die clash present beneath her chin (but present on the majority of known examples). The fields glisten with a blue-white patina, a pleasing contrast to the russet luster playing in the peripheries of the chocolate-brown planchet. It is no surprise that it is this specimen which was selected for the collection of the man who, quite literally, wrote the book on British copper and bronze coins, C. W. Peck. An extraordinary survivor and a treasure amongst Victorian coins, we can only anticipate the excitement this piece will generate amongst any serious collectors of British material.
Ex. C. W. Peck Collection
HID02901242017
Estimate: 7000-9000 USD