British, Irish and Scottish Coins

Victoria (1837-1901), 1869 Pattern or Trial by T. Graham, in palladium, young bust left, no legend, rev. graham in centre, palladium – hydrogenium around, date below, edge plain, 2.98g/12h (ESC –). Some metal flaws on reverse, otherwise extremely fine or better, of the highest rarity
£1,200-1,500

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

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Collection

Provenance: King Farouk Collection, Sotheby Auction (Cairo), 24 February-6 March 1954, lot 1501; SNC April 2002 (MS 2562).

Similar pieces have appeared on the market from time to time offered as pattern or trial half-sovereigns (cf. Spink Auction 183, 26 September 2006, lot 105).

Thomas Graham, master of the Mint from 1855 until his death in 1869, was an eminent chemist, renowned for his pioneering work on dialysis and the diffusion of gases (Graham’s Law). His interest in metallurgy prompted the striking of coins in various metals and establishing their reaction to gases, including the absorption of hydrogen gas by palladium. According to his calculations this piece is said to contain 900 times its volume in hydrogen