Great Britain 1825 1/2 sovereign
The first specimen was lot 20914 in Heritage sale 3021 (New York, January 2013), where it sold for $2,115. The catalog description[1] noted, "George IV gold Half Sovereign 1825, Laureate Head, MS63 NGC, a number of small abrasions but brilliant luster and certainly nicer than most seen." The second specimen was lot 323 in Sincona sale 75 (Zurich, May 2022), where it sold for 30,000 CHF (about US$ including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted, "Grossbritannien | Königreich. George IV. 1820-1830. Proof Half sovereign 1825, London. Laureate head. Sehr selten. NGC PF65 ULTRA CAMEO. Prachtexemplar. (Very rare, Cabinet piece.)" This type is listed for 1823-25 and is very scarce as is the superseding bare head type of 1826-28 (KM 700). Half sovereigns would not be minted in large numbers until the 1840's.
Recorded mintage: 761,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 3.99 g, .917 fine gold, the second specimen 3.97 g.
Catalog reference: S-3803, KM 689, WR 248. Fr-379.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th 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.
- Bressett, Kenneth E., A Guide Book of English Coins, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, 2nd Ed., Racine, WI: Whitman Publishing, 1962.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3021, featuring the Cecil Webster, Richard P. Ariagno and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collection, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.
- [2]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 75, SINCONA British Collection - Part 2, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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