Sovereign Rarities Ltd
Auction 4 21 Sep 2021
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William III (1694-1702), silver pattern Crown of Five Shillings, 1695, first laureate and draped bust right, legend and outer toothed border surrounding, GVLIELMVS. III. DEI. GRA., unbarred A in GRA, rev. crowned cruciform shields, eight strings to Irish harp, Lion of Nassau at centre with ten billets surrounding, date either side of top crown, legend and outer toothed border surrounding., MAG. BR.FRA. ET.HIB. REX., edge plain with diagonal striations, 29.18g (Bull 994 R4; ESC 88 R4; L&S 1; S.3470). Lightly reflective surfaces with a pleasing golden tone, faint evidence of double-striking on the reverse, very minor surface friction and scattered marks, otherwise about as struck, an extremely rare and desirable offering.
In any condition, pattern coins of William III are extremely rare and desirable, and the present piece must be amongst the finest known for this first-year type. Often referred to as a Proof, this type features a plain edge which means it can be more accurately classified as a pattern. Pattern coins of this period often show longitudinal – or in this case diagonal – edge striations as-made at the Mint. Additionally, Proof coins typically use accepted circulation dies, whereas the dies used to strike this Crown differ from those used for the currency 1695 piece. The central lion of Nassau on the reverse has nine billets on the circulation die, whilst this pattern features ten in a different arrangement; the Irish harp also shows eight strings here whereas the currency piece shows six. The obverse portrait is similar but with slight differences in the arrangement of the legend.
Provenance:
Ex A. Thellusson, Sotheby, 19-20th October 1931, lot 292
Ex M. A. Brigg, Part I, Glendining, 23-25th May 1939, lot 507
Ex H. M. Lingford, Part I, Glendining, 24-26th October 1950, lot 402
Ex Seaby Coin and Medal Bulletin, July 1951 (4519)
Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, November 1997 (5622)
Bt. Spink, January 1998
Ex Dix Noonan Webb Auction 51, 4th October 2001, lot 43
(£15,000-£20,000)
In any condition, pattern coins of William III are extremely rare and desirable, and the present piece must be amongst the finest known for this first-year type. Often referred to as a Proof, this type features a plain edge which means it can be more accurately classified as a pattern. Pattern coins of this period often show longitudinal – or in this case diagonal – edge striations as-made at the Mint. Additionally, Proof coins typically use accepted circulation dies, whereas the dies used to strike this Crown differ from those used for the currency 1695 piece. The central lion of Nassau on the reverse has nine billets on the circulation die, whilst this pattern features ten in a different arrangement; the Irish harp also shows eight strings here whereas the currency piece shows six. The obverse portrait is similar but with slight differences in the arrangement of the legend.
Provenance:
Ex A. Thellusson, Sotheby, 19-20th October 1931, lot 292
Ex M. A. Brigg, Part I, Glendining, 23-25th May 1939, lot 507
Ex H. M. Lingford, Part I, Glendining, 24-26th October 1950, lot 402
Ex Seaby Coin and Medal Bulletin, July 1951 (4519)
Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, November 1997 (5622)
Bt. Spink, January 1998
Ex Dix Noonan Webb Auction 51, 4th October 2001, lot 43
(£15,000-£20,000)