Newfoundland 1874 50 cents
This specimen was lot 31102 in Heritage sale 3089 (Dallas, TX, January 2021), where it sold for $60,000. The catalog description[1] noted, "Canada. Newfoundland. Victoria Specimen 50 Cents 1874 SP67 Cameo PCGS, London mint. Simply put: breathtaking. To call the present coin an extreme rarity would be a vast understatement. Missing entirely from the Pittman and Norweb collections in this brilliant specimen finish, the description for the VF35 in the latter sale merely noting "unknown in Mint State...A 'Fremantle Proof' is in the British Museum", this coin together with one other surfaced in Britain in the 1990s, where they were rapidly recognized as the finest in existence. At present the finer of the two known, and the only example to have been awarded a Cameo designation by PCGS, this representative is completely stunning--a soft veil of seafoam and topaz-peach tone hardly concealing a vibrant flash in the fields, while a prevalent layer of mint frost graces the raised features. Typically regarded as the second most challenging date for the type after the 1873, to draw a comparison between this and any other Newfoundland 50 Cents on the basis of standard mintage figures would be inadequate. One of the true treasures of Canadian coinage, and a piece that is not to go passed up. Ex. Belzberg Collection (Heritage Auction #312, January 2003, Lot 15771); Cornerstone Collection; John Temple Collection (Privately liquidated by Sandy Campbell); Parrino Collection." This type was struck at Heaton and London 1870-1901 for Newfoundland and is slightly heavier than the contemporary Canadian fifty cents. Struck in small numbers and exposed to long circulation, it is very rare in nice condition. Proofs exist.
Recorded mintage: 80,000 plus proofs, a key date in this quality.
Specification: 11.78 g, 0.925 fine silver, reeded edge, 29.85 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 6.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Cross, W. K., The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 62nd Ed., Toronto: Charlton International, 2008.
- [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.
Links to: