HANOVER. Victoria. 1837-1901. Proof Pattern AR Halfcrown (32mm, 12h) (13.76 g). Young head type. London mint. By W. Wyon and Pistrucci. Dated 1875. Head left, with hair tied in filet, date below / St. George on horseback rearing right, holding reins and sword and slaying dragon to lower right. Date below. Edge: plain. Bull 2791 (this coin illustrated); Davies 633; ESC 738 (R7). In NGC encapsulation 4754438-001, graded PF 64. Much as struck. Attractively toned with considerable underlying brilliance. A beautiful coin of the highest rarity.
Ex Colin Adams Collection (Spink 177, 1 December 2005), lot 693 ('As struck'); H.M. Lingford Collection (purchased en bloc by Baldwin's, 1951).
One of two pattern Halfcrowns struck in 1875 bearing Benedetto Pistrucci's famous Saint George and the Dragon reverse. These patterns are excessively rare and represent the only instance when this iconic reverse type was used on the Halfcrown denomination.