Stanley Gibbons Baldwin's
Auction 79 8 May 2013
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BRITISH COINS
The Bentley Collection of British Milled Gold Sovereigns
Uniface Trial Reverse for a Sovereign struck in Lead, c.1817
George III, Uniface Base Metal Trial Reverse for a Sovereign, undated, c.1816-1817, struck in lead, engraved by Benedetto Pistrucci, St George, helmeted with thin streamer and cloak, slaying dragon right without broken lance, only left hand visible griping rein as currency piece, design cruder and unfinished, groundline incomplete at left, and tail of horse incomplete and truncated, neck of horse thinner, dragon crude and of thin appearance, 6.06g, 22.6-23.3mm, thickness 1.5mm (WR -; Douglas-Morris -). Unrecorded in all the standard works of reference, as made with usual associated weaknesses for a lead striking, a little ovoid in shape, rim nicks and scratches on plain side, extremely fine and possibly unique.
This piece appears to be an earlier rendering of the reverse, perhaps an initial phase as many aspects are either incomplete or more basically rendered. Trials of this nature are usually only ever "squeezed" from a working die in uniface format in base metal because impressions can be taken from an unhardened die. Silver and gold require a hardened die, after which further work on the die is not possible.
Estimate: £800-1000
The Bentley Collection of British Milled Gold Sovereigns
Uniface Trial Reverse for a Sovereign struck in Lead, c.1817
George III, Uniface Base Metal Trial Reverse for a Sovereign, undated, c.1816-1817, struck in lead, engraved by Benedetto Pistrucci, St George, helmeted with thin streamer and cloak, slaying dragon right without broken lance, only left hand visible griping rein as currency piece, design cruder and unfinished, groundline incomplete at left, and tail of horse incomplete and truncated, neck of horse thinner, dragon crude and of thin appearance, 6.06g, 22.6-23.3mm, thickness 1.5mm (WR -; Douglas-Morris -). Unrecorded in all the standard works of reference, as made with usual associated weaknesses for a lead striking, a little ovoid in shape, rim nicks and scratches on plain side, extremely fine and possibly unique.
This piece appears to be an earlier rendering of the reverse, perhaps an initial phase as many aspects are either incomplete or more basically rendered. Trials of this nature are usually only ever "squeezed" from a working die in uniface format in base metal because impressions can be taken from an unhardened die. Silver and gold require a hardened die, after which further work on the die is not possible.
Estimate: £800-1000