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ANA Signature Sale 3094 19-20 Aug 2021
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Great Britain
Victoria gold Proof 5 Pounds 1887 PR64 Cameo NGC, KM769 var., S-3864, L&S-73, W&R-286 (R3), Marsh-F32 (R5). Reeded edge. By Joachim E. Boehm. Variety without B.P. initials on reverse. An extraordinarily rare subvariety of this classic British Proof, and one whose utter elusiveness is made immediately apparent by a survey of recent sales records and the certified population--while 11 total have been graded between NGC and PCGS to date, perhaps as few as 3 have crossed the auction block in the last two decades. Outranking the ex. Douglas-Morris, Lady Duveen specimen by a full two grade points, and "bested" by just a single piece at NGC by virtue of that coin's Ultra Cameo designation, the present piece hardly leaves much to be desired, its fields laden with heavy die polish while an absolute minimum of handling is detectable. Indeed, the reverse details can only be regarded as sculpturesque, the scene of St. George trampling the dragon rising in stark relief to the deep wells of the neighboring fields, an effect strengthened by a generous coating of mint frost. Though sometimes considered a Pattern, the exact reasons for the omission of Pistrucci's initials from the reverse have long been uncertain, with an example listed in Spink's fixed price list presented in the Numismatic Circular in June 1897 simply stating "without the artist's initials having been struck before the dies were finally hardened" (pg. 2273). The fact that full Proof sets are known (see Sotheby's May 1906 sale of the C.E.G. Mackerell Collection, lot 294 and St. James's December 2010 Auction 16, lot 193), however, seems to suggest a purpose beyond a mere die concept. Regardless, an issue sure to pique the interests of even the most seasoned collectors of large British gold.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/great-britain-victoria-gold-proof-5-pounds-1887-pr64-cameo-ngc-/a/3094-33231.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 60000-80000 USD
Victoria gold Proof 5 Pounds 1887 PR64 Cameo NGC, KM769 var., S-3864, L&S-73, W&R-286 (R3), Marsh-F32 (R5). Reeded edge. By Joachim E. Boehm. Variety without B.P. initials on reverse. An extraordinarily rare subvariety of this classic British Proof, and one whose utter elusiveness is made immediately apparent by a survey of recent sales records and the certified population--while 11 total have been graded between NGC and PCGS to date, perhaps as few as 3 have crossed the auction block in the last two decades. Outranking the ex. Douglas-Morris, Lady Duveen specimen by a full two grade points, and "bested" by just a single piece at NGC by virtue of that coin's Ultra Cameo designation, the present piece hardly leaves much to be desired, its fields laden with heavy die polish while an absolute minimum of handling is detectable. Indeed, the reverse details can only be regarded as sculpturesque, the scene of St. George trampling the dragon rising in stark relief to the deep wells of the neighboring fields, an effect strengthened by a generous coating of mint frost. Though sometimes considered a Pattern, the exact reasons for the omission of Pistrucci's initials from the reverse have long been uncertain, with an example listed in Spink's fixed price list presented in the Numismatic Circular in June 1897 simply stating "without the artist's initials having been struck before the dies were finally hardened" (pg. 2273). The fact that full Proof sets are known (see Sotheby's May 1906 sale of the C.E.G. Mackerell Collection, lot 294 and St. James's December 2010 Auction 16, lot 193), however, seems to suggest a purpose beyond a mere die concept. Regardless, an issue sure to pique the interests of even the most seasoned collectors of large British gold.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/great-britain-victoria-gold-proof-5-pounds-1887-pr64-cameo-ngc-/a/3094-33231.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 60000-80000 USD