British, Irish and Scottish Coins

George III (1760-1820), 1816 Pattern by T. Wyon after a cameo by B. Pistrucci, in silver, laureate bust right, rev. crowned arms in Garter, edge grained, 3.21g/12h (Davies 110P; ESC 1651). Reverse die-crack, good extremely fine, attractively toned, extremely rare £800-1,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Collection of Sixpences formed by the late Alfred Bole.

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Collection

The ESC rarity rating indicates five to ten examples known. Mrs Norweb did not own a silver pattern of this type, although she possessed one of the two known examples with a plain edge in gold. The handwritten note by Benedetto Pistrucci accompanying the gold proof in the Murdoch sale (1904) is perhaps worth quoting in part and states ‘the workmen at the Mint were unable to strike this piece on account of its too high relief and would not give themselves the necessary trouble in order to please Mr Wyon, who could not bear with good grace that a work of his, retouched by me, should be issued’