St. James's Auctions
Auction 86 28 Feb 2024
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Victoria, pattern shilling by Wiener and Taylor, 1865, wreathed head left, rev. crowned square-topped shield, tressure over cross, plain edge (ESC.3107, old ESC.1386), certified and graded by NGC as Proof-65, medium grey toning, a delightful example of this charming portrait style, rare
The only one graded as Proof-65 by NGC, none higher.
Patterns for shillings of the Victorian era are generally rare-mainly because the Young Head image of the queen was so popular, so widely used and admired, that the mint never seriously considered alternatives. Among the earliest is a series produced by Charles Wiener of Brussels and W.J. Taylor, the engraver of the Port Philip Australian issues of the 1850s who infamously re-struck numerous Soho Mint coins. Wiener worked as an assistant at the Royal Mint from 1862-64. Both men were quite skilled at their craft. Their patterns of 1863 and 1865 (some not dated) offer today's collectors delightful images of the young Victoria combined with stylish reverses. Many varieties were created in an attempt to convince the Royal Mint to adopt their patterns, which though unsuccessful fashioned some of the more beautiful of Victoria's coins-most of them unknown to the general public and seldom seen by collectors.
Estimate: 3000 - 3500 GBP
The only one graded as Proof-65 by NGC, none higher.
Patterns for shillings of the Victorian era are generally rare-mainly because the Young Head image of the queen was so popular, so widely used and admired, that the mint never seriously considered alternatives. Among the earliest is a series produced by Charles Wiener of Brussels and W.J. Taylor, the engraver of the Port Philip Australian issues of the 1850s who infamously re-struck numerous Soho Mint coins. Wiener worked as an assistant at the Royal Mint from 1862-64. Both men were quite skilled at their craft. Their patterns of 1863 and 1865 (some not dated) offer today's collectors delightful images of the young Victoria combined with stylish reverses. Many varieties were created in an attempt to convince the Royal Mint to adopt their patterns, which though unsuccessful fashioned some of the more beautiful of Victoria's coins-most of them unknown to the general public and seldom seen by collectors.
Estimate: 3000 - 3500 GBP