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 of 1821 struck in Lead
George IV (1820-1830), Uniface Base Metal Trial Reverse for a Sovereign, undated (c.1821), struck in lead on an oversize flan, by Benedetto Pistrucci, crude design with thin aspects to figures, St George, helmeted with streamer and cloak, slaying dragon right with incomplete sword blade, held by a left hand only, thin broken lance on ground, all within crudely ruled quadruple concentric circle, 6.44g, 28.3mm to 29.8mm, thickness 1mm (WR -; Douglas-Morris -). Light series of scratches at lower right quarter, otherwise as made with associated weaknesses from being "squeezed" in lead from the die and of ovoid form, some light corrosion and raised spots on plain side, extremely fine, perhaps 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 of 1821 struck in Lead
George IV (1820-1830), Uniface Base Metal Trial Reverse for a Sovereign, undated (c.1821), struck in lead on an oversize flan, by Benedetto Pistrucci, crude design with thin aspects to figures, St George, helmeted with streamer and cloak, slaying dragon right with incomplete sword blade, held by a left hand only, thin broken lance on ground, all within crudely ruled quadruple concentric circle, 6.44g, 28.3mm to 29.8mm, thickness 1mm (WR -; Douglas-Morris -). Light series of scratches at lower right quarter, otherwise as made with associated weaknesses from being "squeezed" in lead from the die and of ovoid form, some light corrosion and raised spots on plain side, extremely fine, perhaps 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