Auction Catalogue

16 March 2011

Starting at 10:00 AM

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British and World Coins, Numismatic Books

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 580

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16 March 2011

Hammer Price:
£700

Victoria (1837-1901), Penny, 1874h, dies Kj, ‘specimen’, aged portrait, small date, edge plain, 9.30g/12h (Gouby D; cf. Freeman 74; Bamford 172; Adams –; cf. BMC 1698). Trifling obverse rim nick at 3 o’clock, otherwise brilliant and virtually as struck, attractive dark patina, rare £500-600

Provenance: D. Wallis Collection, DNW Auction 83, 30 September 2009, lot 3372 [from J. Welsh January 2000].

Periodically, the Heaton mint struck carefully finished ‘specimen’ coins of varying denominations as an example of what the company could produce; in some instances they were presented as gifts to dignitaries and government officials and in other cases were part of the travelling portfolio of a Heaton sales representative (cf. Gunstone, SNC December 1977, p.545; cf. Tansley Collection, DNW 67, lot 369)