Great Britain 1862 half crown
This specimen was lot 24100 in Heritage sale 3020 (Long Beach, September 2012), where it sold for $8,225. The catalog description[1] noted, "An 1862 Proof Halfcrown Victoria Proof Halfcrown 1862, Young Head, plain edge, PR63 Deep Cameo PCGS, deeply reflective surfaces and light silvery blue iridescence, the portrait brightly frosted, evident hairlines and a few ticks but still a choice example of the extremely rare proof of this date, when no currency halfcrowns were minted; struck by the Royal Mint for unknown reasons. Interested bidders might want to review our comments about the era of this mysterious piece by seeing Lot 24424 in our Sale #3016, January 2012 (online, go to HA.com and look at Auction Archives). An intriguing coin, and genuinely rare in any grade." No half crowns were struck for circulation during 1851-70.
Recorded mintage: unknown, proof only.
Specification: 14.13 g, 0.925 fine silver, .420 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: S-3888, KM 740.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Bressett, Kenneth E., A Guide Book of English Coins, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, 2nd Ed., Racine, WI: Whitman Publishing, 1962.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date, London: Coincraft, 1995.
- [1]Tucker, Warren, and Cris Bierrenbach, Heritage Signature Auction 3020: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.
Link to: