Pattern Set 1846 Private Patterns, Smith on Decimal Currency a 5-coin set by Marrian & Gausby, comprising Ten Cents 1846 Original striking with no die rust spots, 6mm thick, Freeman 812, X#50, formerly KM#PPn35, Five Cents 1846 Original striking, 3.25mm thick, Freeman 818, X#49, formerly KM#PPn33, Two Cents 1846 Freeman 819, X#48, formerly KM#PPn29, One Cent 1846 without Marrian & Gausby below the head, Freeman 823, X#46, formerly KM#PPn27, One Centum 1846 in White metal, X#47a, nFDC to FDC a superb set, the copper coins all rated R17 by Freeman, in a contemporary fitted case, we note each coin in this set superior to the examples from the Freeman collection, (two purchased by P.Deane, two purchased by G.Monk), the Freeman example later sold as part of the J.Tansley collection of Patterns, Proofs and Coining Trials. The coins in this set were the earliest patterns for a British Decimal Coinage. While restrikes were made in 1888 (by Shorthouse) that exist in various metals, only the original strikings are in copper and are free from die rust marks. Peck states in a footnote (page 479, 2nd Edition) describing the copper 10-cent, 5-cent, 2-cent, and 1-cent pieces as being the 'Decimal equivalents of a Twopence, a Penny, a Halfpenny, and a Farthing, respectively'. Further, Peck states that 'It is highly probable that the 1-centum piece was intended to represent a silver Decimal Shilling of 50 cents'.
Penny 1860 Toothed Border Freeman 10 dies 2+D, the top leaf in the wreath, the signature below the bust and linear circle below the bust are missing due to weak striking, (see notes 'The Early British Bronze Bun Pennies 1860-1865 by John Jerrams, page 10, note (c)), GVF/VF the reverse with a patch of light verdigris in the left field, an unusual piece and worthy of further study by the Bronze Penny enthusiast
Penny 1902 GVF with a few small rim nicks, Ex-Michael Freeman who states 'MATT PROOF- Has seen light circulation, but surfaces different from those on currency specimens, exactly as those in the Royal Mint and British Museums', Ex-Michael Freeman collection study group, in an LCGS holder and graded LCGS 45, Ex-London Coins Auction A138 Lot 2494 hammer price £360
Penny 1862 with two extra 'spikes' emanating from the left of Britannia's helmet plumes, this would appear to be a later die state variant of Satin 43 (Three short extra plumes), showing the upper and lower spikes only. A hand-drawn illustration of the 'Three short extra plumes' type is shown in 'The Early British Bronze Bun Pennies and Their Varieties' by John Jerrams 2003, page 41. LCGS Variety 16, Lustrous UNC with some toning, in an LCGS holder and graded LCGS 80, the only example thus far recorded by the LCGS Population Report
Penny 1860 Toothed Border as Freeman 10 dies 2+D, with the T of VICTORIA struck over a higher, misplaced T, the underlying T having its top line merging with the linear circle, the rocks to the left of the lighthouse fail to meet the linear circle (see illustration on page 14 of 'The Early British Bun Pennies and Their Varieties' by John Jerrams) LCGS Variety 46, UNC with good, slightly subdued mint lustre, in an LCGS holder and graded LCGS 80, the only example thus far recorded by the LCGS Population Report, Ex-London Coins Auction A148 March 2015 hammer price £160
Penny 1860 Toothed Border Freeman 13 dies 3+D, very little trace of the L.C.W. below the shield due to die filling, as noted in John Jerrams' 'The Early British Bun Penny 1860-1865 and their Varieties' A/UNC and lustrous, in an LCGS holder and graded LCGS 75, Ex-London Coins Auction A109 June 2005 Lot 1169 hammer price £95
Penny 1860 Toothed Border with missing Colon Dots after D:G: BP1860T (Gouby dies G+d) VG or slightly better with some old scuffs on the obverse, Michael Gouby stated '4 known'; in his 2009 publication 'The British Bronze Penny 1860-1901' only the second example we have offered
Penny 1864 Crosslet 4 Peck 1664 with 239/136 scratched in the obverse field, toned UNC with traces of lustre and a few small spots. The numbers were scratched into the field during the mastership of Professor Thomas Graham (1855-1869) have been shown by G.P.Dyer to represent overall output in tons of bronze coin minted since 1860 (the higher figure) and output in tons of that particular denomination since 1860 (the lower figure) This is not the example pictured in Michael Gouby's 'The British Bronze Penny' - Specialised Edition (Page 49) but displays a superb sharp strike. A highly desirable piece of Victorian bronze coinage history, as stated by Gouby there are only 2 examples known, this, Ex-D.W.Grey 20/10/1971, Lot 111, Ex-Seaby Bulletin, September 1974, item K162, Ex-Sotheby Auction 9/10/1979 Lot 257, Ex-Michael Freeman, and one other, the other example illustrated in Gouby's book being the Ex-Norweb, Ex-A.H.F.Baldwin example, described by Spink as 'Extremely Fine and attractively patinated'. A total of 34 'scratched field' bronze coins are recorded of all dates and denominations, made up of 20 Pennies, 7 Halfpennies and 7 Farthings. Of the 20 Pennies, 12 are known to be in the British Museum Collection, this being one of the remaining 8 available to commerce. An extremely rare opportunity to bid on a piece of Victorian numismatic history. We note a standard currency 1864 Crosslet 4 Penny in UNC sold in our March 2014 auction (Lot 1844) for £3978 inclusive of buyers premium.
Books - Peck - English Copper Tin and Bronze Coins in the British Museum 1558 - 1958 Second Edition 1970, Gouby - The British Bronze Penny Specialised Edition, John Jerrams - Satin Coins (4) A Comprehensive Listing of Varieties For The Currency Issue British Bun Penny of 1860 1861 1862 1863, Bronze Bun Pennies 1860 to 1865 and Their Varieties (3) (Currency Issues) (Currency Issues Only 1999) and (With Updates Valuations), Michael Freeman The Bronze Penny 3 different editions the 1970 Edition signed by Mr Freeman, British Numismatic Journals (2) Volume 52 1982 containing Numbered Strikings of Victorian Bronze Pennies G.P.Dyer (page 234) Volume 54 1984 Richard Sainthill and the Bronze Coinage G.P Dyer (page 263). Generally good second hand.
Penny 1860 as Freeman 10 dies 2+D but variety with the colon after D:G: pointing left of a tooth rather than directly at a tooth (see notes on page 14 Satin's 'British Bun Pennies and Their Varieties' 2003 edition), now listed as Gouby Obverse E with similar legend to edge alignments, GF/NVF once cleaned, Ex-London Coins Auction A123 7/12/2008 Lot 1243 hammer price £75
Penny 1860 Freeman 10 dies 2+D with T over T in VICT, rocks to the left of the lighthouse fail to meet the linear circle (see illustration on page 14 of 'The Early British Bun Pennies and Their Varieties' by John Jerrams) UNC with good, slightly subdued lustre
Halfpenny 1694 Proof in copper Letters T.M are about 2.5mm apart, edge striated, Peck 611 About as struck with an area of darker toning behind the bust, Extremely Rare, Note: Peck recorded only the example in the British Museum, this similar to the Nicholson collection example no.072
Halfpenny 1694 PatternPeck 598 29mm diameter VF/GVF with a verdigris spot by Britannia's elbow, Extremely Rare with few specimens known, the notes accompanying the Nicholson Collection state that Peck noted only one example outside the British Museum, this clearly a third example and superior in appearance to the Nicholson coin
Penny 1902 GVF with a few small rim nicks, Ex-Michael Freeman who states 'MATT PROOF- Has seen light circulation, but surfaces different from those on currency specimens, exactly as those in the Royal Mint and British Museums'
Halfpenny 1694 PatternPeck 598 29mm diameter VF/GVF with a verdigris spot by Britannia's elbow, Extremely Rare with few specimens known, the notes accompanying the Nicholson Collection state that Peck noted only one example outside the British Museum, this clearly a third example and superior in appearance to the Nicholson coin
Penny 1867 with 542/329 scratched in field before bust Peck 1675 and listed as 'probably unique', Ex-Peck collection, UNC with minor cabinet friction and traces of lustre, these numbered Pennies seldom appear on the market, it is believed that only 30 examples of all the dates of Pennies, Halfpennies and Farthings bearing these numbers are in existence, and of that number, 17 are in the British Museum (Source: The British Bronze Coinage by Michael Gouby 3rd Edition 2000)
Penny 1877 Freeman 91 dies 9+J Gouby BP1877Bc Large Date with 13 teeth from the 1 to the foot of the 7, an interesting piece showing the same curved line from the left of the exergue to a position under the 8 of the date, further study will tell if this is always the case with this die pairing, (see pictures Page 72 'The British Bronze Penny' specialised edition by Michael Gouby) UNC with good subdued lustre with underlying tone and some contact marks on the portrait
Halfpenny 1796 Copper PatternPeck 924 probably by Pingo. EF with some weaknesses on either side. A specimen is in the British Museum Collection, another was sold in Spink Auction 95 Lot 330 where reference is made to Ex-Peck, Ex-Rogers specimen sold in the 1970s by Spink. Lot 330 claimed to be the third known example, this piece is probably a fourth example. Ex-Dr.Terry Aitken 5/6/1996 bought from Baldwins for £320 in earlier years, Aitken Collection was bought by C.Cooke in 1995/1996, Ex-Dr. Nicholson collection 2003
Penny 1860 as Freeman 10 dies 2+D but variety with the colon after D:G: pointing left of a tooth rather than directly at a tooth (see notes on page 14 Satin's 'British Bun Pennies and Their Varieties' 2003 edition VF/NVF once cleaned
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