Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3094 19-20 Aug 2021
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Great Britain
Commonwealth Pattern Shilling 1651 XF45 NGC, Sun mm, KM-Unl., ESC-175 (R6; prev. ESC-445A), N-2734 (VR). 6.12gm. Plain edge. By David Ramage. Of the highest rarity in regards to not only Commonwealth issues, but British numismatics as a whole. Struck during a historically fascinating era at the Royal mint in the midst of a technological shift, and the attempt at modernizing the coining process from hammered issues to milled. The "old brigade," according to Maurice Bull, headed by David Ramage, held their ways in higher regard than that of newcomer and pioneer of milled coinage, Pierre Blondeau and his screw-press. Throughout the course of 1651, Patterns of both Ramage and Simon/Blondeau were commissioned and produced with varying degrees of success. While Blondeau's efforts produced consistent and vastly superior coins than that of his rival, the lack of proper financing and political will to fund the full modernization efforts proposed by Blondeau would limit his Patterns to just that, with the moneyers producing the remaining coinage of the Commonwealth series. In total, Blondeau coined 300 of his Patterns in similar style to contemporary hammered issues but of much higher quality, with the larger denominations bearing crisp and regular edge inscriptions, for both ornament and security. Ramage minted 1/2 Crowns, Shillings, and 6 Pence, numbering a mere 12 each, the current example being one of just a few Shillings still extant. In recent decades we've witnessed numerous of Simon and Blondeau's pieces crossing the auction block, including a small handful in the present auction, while Ramage's issues are quite infrequent and always fiercely contested.
On offer here is one of a significantly few remaining examples of Ramage's design, struck on a thin flan from 1/2 Crown dies, depicting an obverse of the Cross of St. George within a shield and twin laurel branches and an obverse featuring conjoined shields with the Cross of St. George and Irish Harp. With its trademark raised features veiled in gunmetal patination with hints of glossy, peach undertones, one would be hard-pressed to find a more pleasing example of this vintage, likely having witnessed no actual circulation after spending significant time in an advanced collector's cabinet. While Murdoch's sale included two plain edge examples, neither listing is plated or includes identifying information, while an engrailed edge specimen is the only occupant from Montagu's collection. It is unlikely that Ramage Patterns will enter the market with any regularity in the coming years, and we expect the level of bidding on the present piece to reflect that fact.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/great-britain-commonwealth-pattern-shilling-1651-xf45-ngc-/a/3094-33196.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 40000-60000 USD
Commonwealth Pattern Shilling 1651 XF45 NGC, Sun mm, KM-Unl., ESC-175 (R6; prev. ESC-445A), N-2734 (VR). 6.12gm. Plain edge. By David Ramage. Of the highest rarity in regards to not only Commonwealth issues, but British numismatics as a whole. Struck during a historically fascinating era at the Royal mint in the midst of a technological shift, and the attempt at modernizing the coining process from hammered issues to milled. The "old brigade," according to Maurice Bull, headed by David Ramage, held their ways in higher regard than that of newcomer and pioneer of milled coinage, Pierre Blondeau and his screw-press. Throughout the course of 1651, Patterns of both Ramage and Simon/Blondeau were commissioned and produced with varying degrees of success. While Blondeau's efforts produced consistent and vastly superior coins than that of his rival, the lack of proper financing and political will to fund the full modernization efforts proposed by Blondeau would limit his Patterns to just that, with the moneyers producing the remaining coinage of the Commonwealth series. In total, Blondeau coined 300 of his Patterns in similar style to contemporary hammered issues but of much higher quality, with the larger denominations bearing crisp and regular edge inscriptions, for both ornament and security. Ramage minted 1/2 Crowns, Shillings, and 6 Pence, numbering a mere 12 each, the current example being one of just a few Shillings still extant. In recent decades we've witnessed numerous of Simon and Blondeau's pieces crossing the auction block, including a small handful in the present auction, while Ramage's issues are quite infrequent and always fiercely contested.
On offer here is one of a significantly few remaining examples of Ramage's design, struck on a thin flan from 1/2 Crown dies, depicting an obverse of the Cross of St. George within a shield and twin laurel branches and an obverse featuring conjoined shields with the Cross of St. George and Irish Harp. With its trademark raised features veiled in gunmetal patination with hints of glossy, peach undertones, one would be hard-pressed to find a more pleasing example of this vintage, likely having witnessed no actual circulation after spending significant time in an advanced collector's cabinet. While Murdoch's sale included two plain edge examples, neither listing is plated or includes identifying information, while an engrailed edge specimen is the only occupant from Montagu's collection. It is unlikely that Ramage Patterns will enter the market with any regularity in the coming years, and we expect the level of bidding on the present piece to reflect that fact.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/great-britain-commonwealth-pattern-shilling-1651-xf45-ngc-/a/3094-33196.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 40000-60000 USD