Heritage World Coin Auctions
Dallas Signature Sale 3088 5-6 Nov 2020
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Great Britain
Victoria gold Proof Pattern Sovereign 1837 PR63 Ultra Cameo NGC, KM-Unl., S-Unl., W&R-295 (R5; this coin). Plain edge. By William Wyon, reverse by Jean-Baptiste Merlen. A choice example of this elusive and very rare pattern, having a lovely frosted and contrasting effect on both the portrait and the royal shield, the fields bright and deeply mirrored, the short-toothed borders crisp with a high unblemished rim on each side, and the surfaces revealing only a few tiny contact abrasions and light wisps. All in all, a very pleasing "63" coin. Of great historical importance among the issues of this monarch, not only as the first pattern for her sovereigns but also as one of the finest executions of William Wyon's image of her as a young lady (Princess Victoria was 18 years old when this pattern was created, and not yet coronated), though the pattern itself remains unsigned. Victoria's portrait here is the so-called Small Young Head, her hair pulled back into a ponytail and bound by two fillets, which are each "plain", or unornamented. The rear portion of the lower fillet is textured with parallel raised lines, a subtle feature. A tiny rose appears in the field on each side of the date, about 4 mm distant from each tip of the bust. The most distinctive feature of this first head, however, is the spacing of VICTORIA DEI GRATIA over the top portion of the field; the portrait does not intrude into it, as it does on the following two patterns (W&R-296 and 297), and this serves to give the visual impression of a smaller image. It would seem that this piece was the first creation of this style. All in all, then, this is nothing short of a gorgeous specimen, and of utmost importance for advanced collectors of either Victorian coins or sovereigns, its appeal only further heightened by its use as the plate coin in Wilson & Rasmussen.
Ex. Hunterian Museum-Coats Collection (c. 1938)
https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/great-britain-victoria-gold-proof-pattern-sovereign-1837-pr63-ultra-cameo-ngc-/a/3088-33187.s?type=CoinArchives3088
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 20000-30000 USD
Victoria gold Proof Pattern Sovereign 1837 PR63 Ultra Cameo NGC, KM-Unl., S-Unl., W&R-295 (R5; this coin). Plain edge. By William Wyon, reverse by Jean-Baptiste Merlen. A choice example of this elusive and very rare pattern, having a lovely frosted and contrasting effect on both the portrait and the royal shield, the fields bright and deeply mirrored, the short-toothed borders crisp with a high unblemished rim on each side, and the surfaces revealing only a few tiny contact abrasions and light wisps. All in all, a very pleasing "63" coin. Of great historical importance among the issues of this monarch, not only as the first pattern for her sovereigns but also as one of the finest executions of William Wyon's image of her as a young lady (Princess Victoria was 18 years old when this pattern was created, and not yet coronated), though the pattern itself remains unsigned. Victoria's portrait here is the so-called Small Young Head, her hair pulled back into a ponytail and bound by two fillets, which are each "plain", or unornamented. The rear portion of the lower fillet is textured with parallel raised lines, a subtle feature. A tiny rose appears in the field on each side of the date, about 4 mm distant from each tip of the bust. The most distinctive feature of this first head, however, is the spacing of VICTORIA DEI GRATIA over the top portion of the field; the portrait does not intrude into it, as it does on the following two patterns (W&R-296 and 297), and this serves to give the visual impression of a smaller image. It would seem that this piece was the first creation of this style. All in all, then, this is nothing short of a gorgeous specimen, and of utmost importance for advanced collectors of either Victorian coins or sovereigns, its appeal only further heightened by its use as the plate coin in Wilson & Rasmussen.
Ex. Hunterian Museum-Coats Collection (c. 1938)
https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/great-britain-victoria-gold-proof-pattern-sovereign-1837-pr63-ultra-cameo-ngc-/a/3088-33187.s?type=CoinArchives3088
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 20000-30000 USD