Great Britain 1884 half crown
This specimen was lot 32825 in Heritage sale 3089 (Dallas, TX, January 2021), where it sold for $4,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "Great Britain. Victoria 1/2 Crown 1884 MS65+ PCGS. A prized example at this elite level of certification, currently unrivaled at either grading service. The satin-sheathed surfaces are mint fresh, with just the slightest hint of champagne color woven throughout the argent planchet, and the strike has been boldly delivered, revealing highpoint definition across even the most intricate details. A technical marvel, and an ideal representative of the type. From the Trident Collection." This type was struck in substantial numbers 1839-50, then only proofs were offered 1851-53 as the mint attempted to circulate the florin (two shillings). In 1874, production of this denomination resumed with a modified bust and continued until the end of sterling coinage in the 1960's.
Recorded mintage: 1,569,000.
Specification: 14.14 g, 0.925 fine silver, 32.3 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 756, S-3889.
- 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.
- Rayner, P. Alan, and Maurice Bull, English Silver Coinage from 1649, 6th Ed., London: Spink & Son, 2015.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage Auction 3089: NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum & Signature Auction - Dallas, featuring the Cape Coral Collection of European Crowns and the Penn Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2020.
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