Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3030 5-6 January 2014
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Great Britain
Victoria gold pattern Double-Florins 1868, by Wm. Wyon, WR-372 (R4) plain edge, and WR-373 (R5) reeded edge, Coronet Bust facing left, a pair with a contemporary red leather plush presentation box measuring 67x40 mm, 17 mm thick, inscribed "PATTERN DOUBLE FLORIN. 1868." in gilt letters and digits on top, with a scribed rectangular gilt line surrounding. Graded respectively by PCGS as PR65CAM and PR64CAM, each coin virtually identical with gorgeous eye-appeal and excellent gold color. Very rare as singles, but as a matched pair with the plush case -- probably unique. The late 1860s into the middle 1870s was a time when various European governments, and the United States, had formed committees to consider ways to promote and facilitate international trade among themselves. France created a neat, small gold coin called 5 Francs. The United States had its gold dollar and its $5 gold piece, the Half Eagle, which competed perfectly with the British gold Sovereign, but the U.S. also contracted with various artists to come up with other denominations which might be used for this purpose, most of which never got beyond initial consideration and a handful of pattern strikes. Great Britain, always reluctant to do anything friendly with France, had the grand old master engraver William Wyon design and fashion dies for this "Double-Florin" in gold, which clearly states its purpose on the reverse, giving the equivalent value of 5 Francs "International" in the encircling legend. The U.S. gold dollar was of the same value. The British experiment never got beyond the thinking stage, however, and little jewels like this pair were dismissed to history. So what have we here? A spectacular collecting opportunity for the fancier of Victorian coins, or proof gold, or patterns, or numismatic history, or just plain rare coins.
Estimate: 20000-25000 USD
Victoria gold pattern Double-Florins 1868, by Wm. Wyon, WR-372 (R4) plain edge, and WR-373 (R5) reeded edge, Coronet Bust facing left, a pair with a contemporary red leather plush presentation box measuring 67x40 mm, 17 mm thick, inscribed "PATTERN DOUBLE FLORIN. 1868." in gilt letters and digits on top, with a scribed rectangular gilt line surrounding. Graded respectively by PCGS as PR65CAM and PR64CAM, each coin virtually identical with gorgeous eye-appeal and excellent gold color. Very rare as singles, but as a matched pair with the plush case -- probably unique. The late 1860s into the middle 1870s was a time when various European governments, and the United States, had formed committees to consider ways to promote and facilitate international trade among themselves. France created a neat, small gold coin called 5 Francs. The United States had its gold dollar and its $5 gold piece, the Half Eagle, which competed perfectly with the British gold Sovereign, but the U.S. also contracted with various artists to come up with other denominations which might be used for this purpose, most of which never got beyond initial consideration and a handful of pattern strikes. Great Britain, always reluctant to do anything friendly with France, had the grand old master engraver William Wyon design and fashion dies for this "Double-Florin" in gold, which clearly states its purpose on the reverse, giving the equivalent value of 5 Francs "International" in the encircling legend. The U.S. gold dollar was of the same value. The British experiment never got beyond the thinking stage, however, and little jewels like this pair were dismissed to history. So what have we here? A spectacular collecting opportunity for the fancier of Victorian coins, or proof gold, or patterns, or numismatic history, or just plain rare coins.
Estimate: 20000-25000 USD