Isle of Man 1965 1/2 sovereign
This specimen was lot 1183 in Jean Elsen sale 132 (Brussels, March 2017), where it sold for €120 (about US$152 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ILE DE MAN, Elisabeth II (1952-), AV 1/2 livre, 1965. Bicentenaire de l'acquisition de l'île. Superbe. (Isle of Man, Elizabeth II, gold half pound of 1965, on the bicentennial of the acquisition of the island. Extremely fine.)"
This specimen was issued for the Isle of Man the bicentennial of the acquisition of the island by the crown, it being a private estate heretofore. A sovereign was also issued on the occasion. The Isle of Man lies in the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland and remains a British dependency. It is famous for motorcycle racing and tailless cats.
Token coppers were issued for the island in the eighteenth century but large production did not commence until 1971. About 1980, the island fell under the domination of the Pobjoy Mint, which has minted and marketed dozens of NCLT commemoratives. This coin, featuring the triskeles, the badge of the island, was issued by the Royal Mint prior to that time.
Recorded mintage: 1,500.
Specification: 3.99 g, 0.917 fine gold.
Catalog reference: KM 15, Fr-3.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 132, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2017.
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