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ANA Signature Sale 3094 19-20 Aug 2021
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Serbia
Alexander I silver Pattern 2 Dinara 1890-E MS61 NGC, KM-Pn8, Mandić-R11, Viščević-S22 (R). By Wolfgang Lauer. A fascinating Serbian Pattern issue which, despite a general lack of auction appearances, seems to disclose several secrets as to its history and the possible intentions behind its production. Produced when Alexander was just 14 years old and still under the regency of his mother, Queen Natalie, this is one of just two dates for which Patterns were designed prior to the Prince's majority in 1893. Clearly conceived with Proof- or Specimen-like specifications and essentially medallic execution, close examination of the piece reveals residual traces of lacquering, by all indications seeming to be quite original to the piece, and which may suggest that a thin coat of lacquer was applied at the mint. Such would certainly not have been out-of-line if the coin was meant as a presentation piece produced in anticipation of the young King assuming the royal authority. What is even more puzzling, however, is the fact that the engraver's signature below the bust, which would already have been rather shallow, appears to have been removed from--a feature also present on the Pattern Dinar of the same date in this sale. Whatever their meaning, these characteristics certainly will serve as pedigree markers and points for future research on this exceptionally rare series.
We have offered only one example of the 2 Dinara Pattern from this series previously (in aluminum bronze), as part of our September 2008 Long Beach sale #3002 (lot 22332), with no other auction occurrences recorded by Viščević. Although the Standard Catalog leaves the aluminum bronze striking unpriced while assigning an arbitrary market value to the silver pieces, we would note that silver examples are in fact far rarer, this issue altogether unpriced by Viščević and assigned the second-highest rarity (just below unique) in his catalog.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/serbia/serbia-alexander-i-silver-pattern-2-dinara-1890-e-ms61-ngc-/a/3094-33288.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD
Alexander I silver Pattern 2 Dinara 1890-E MS61 NGC, KM-Pn8, Mandić-R11, Viščević-S22 (R). By Wolfgang Lauer. A fascinating Serbian Pattern issue which, despite a general lack of auction appearances, seems to disclose several secrets as to its history and the possible intentions behind its production. Produced when Alexander was just 14 years old and still under the regency of his mother, Queen Natalie, this is one of just two dates for which Patterns were designed prior to the Prince's majority in 1893. Clearly conceived with Proof- or Specimen-like specifications and essentially medallic execution, close examination of the piece reveals residual traces of lacquering, by all indications seeming to be quite original to the piece, and which may suggest that a thin coat of lacquer was applied at the mint. Such would certainly not have been out-of-line if the coin was meant as a presentation piece produced in anticipation of the young King assuming the royal authority. What is even more puzzling, however, is the fact that the engraver's signature below the bust, which would already have been rather shallow, appears to have been removed from--a feature also present on the Pattern Dinar of the same date in this sale. Whatever their meaning, these characteristics certainly will serve as pedigree markers and points for future research on this exceptionally rare series.
We have offered only one example of the 2 Dinara Pattern from this series previously (in aluminum bronze), as part of our September 2008 Long Beach sale #3002 (lot 22332), with no other auction occurrences recorded by Viščević. Although the Standard Catalog leaves the aluminum bronze striking unpriced while assigning an arbitrary market value to the silver pieces, we would note that silver examples are in fact far rarer, this issue altogether unpriced by Viščević and assigned the second-highest rarity (just below unique) in his catalog.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/serbia/serbia-alexander-i-silver-pattern-2-dinara-1890-e-ms61-ngc-/a/3094-33288.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD