Heritage World Coin Auctions
CICF Signature Sale 3032 10-12 April 2014
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Canada
Victoria Pattern Specimen 20 Cents 1871, London mint, DC-51, SP62 PCGS. Plain Edge - Medal Alignment. Struck from the same dies and in the same orientation as the previous lot, but with a plain edge instead of a reeded one. When we cataloged the reeded edge example (DC-50) as a part of the Belzberg Collection, we mentioned that of the two varieties, the reeded edge was rarer. While perhaps correct, the difference very likely comes down to which one has two extant and which has three. In our search of recent auction sales, both named and general, only the Belzberg coin and the present piece, a part of the Dr. John Temple Collection, were found. Further inspection into the National Currency Collection of Canada reveals an example of the plain edge type. So, while two examples if each type are known, only one collectible example of the plain edge type has come to light. The present offering, impressively detailed throughout, has somewhat sporadically toned, with deep olives and golds largely haloing the devices, but meandering blues and reds also finding a home. Mirrored fields remain apparent with tiny pockets of brilliance on both sides. While some handling is apparent, most of the lines in the fields appear to be from die polishing (as made), and thus the piece is seemingly conservatively graded. Likely the first time that both the varieties have been offered together since their original striking - a fortuitous happening indeed!From The Prager Collection of Canadian Specimen Coins
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD
Victoria Pattern Specimen 20 Cents 1871, London mint, DC-51, SP62 PCGS. Plain Edge - Medal Alignment. Struck from the same dies and in the same orientation as the previous lot, but with a plain edge instead of a reeded one. When we cataloged the reeded edge example (DC-50) as a part of the Belzberg Collection, we mentioned that of the two varieties, the reeded edge was rarer. While perhaps correct, the difference very likely comes down to which one has two extant and which has three. In our search of recent auction sales, both named and general, only the Belzberg coin and the present piece, a part of the Dr. John Temple Collection, were found. Further inspection into the National Currency Collection of Canada reveals an example of the plain edge type. So, while two examples if each type are known, only one collectible example of the plain edge type has come to light. The present offering, impressively detailed throughout, has somewhat sporadically toned, with deep olives and golds largely haloing the devices, but meandering blues and reds also finding a home. Mirrored fields remain apparent with tiny pockets of brilliance on both sides. While some handling is apparent, most of the lines in the fields appear to be from die polishing (as made), and thus the piece is seemingly conservatively graded. Likely the first time that both the varieties have been offered together since their original striking - a fortuitous happening indeed!From The Prager Collection of Canadian Specimen Coins
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD