Lot 265

George III (1760‑1820), Set of 3 Cartwheel Proof Pennies, 1797,

Ancient, British and World Coins - 114 | C24002

Auction: 7 March 2024 at 10:00 GMT

Estimate: £3,000 - £5,000

Description

George III (1760‑1820), Set of 3 Cartwheel Proof Pennies, 1797, laureate draped bust right, reverse Britannia seated with shield and trident. An important and extremely rare set of Cartwheel Pennies. Sold with 3 hand written letters by Peck, an original letter from Seaby dated 1956 plus large, old, colour photoscans – see below for more information.

The first struck in Silver Plated Copper. BMC 1120 (this piece listed). The only known specimen. Practically as struck, small piercing. Ex. James F. P. Cavestro Collection. Bt. Colin Cooke Dec 2001 FPL. £950. Ex. R. N. P. Hawkins. Ex. Seaby.

The second struck in Gilt Copper. BMC 1121, very rare. Practically as struck, small piercing. Ex. James F. P. Cavestro Collection. Bt. Colin Cooke Dec 2001 FPL. Ex. R. N. P. Hawkins. Ex. Seaby. The third struck in Bronzed Copper. BMC 1122. Very scarce. Practically as struck. Ex. James F. P. Cavestro Collection. Bt. Colin Cooke Dec 2001 FPL. £950.

The third a currency struck in Copper. Very scarce. Practically as struck. Ex. James F. P. Cavestro Collection.

Footnote

The first and second coins have a small piercing, the first being very relevant as it led Peck to doing specific gravity tests on all silver plated patterns; the inner copper core is visible inside the hole. The first particularly important, see notes in Peck and in his hand written letters to R.N.P Hawkins, who owned the first two coins above. Originally there was a corroded currency 1797 penny in this set but this was replaced prior to 2001 with a Bronzed Proof to complete the sequence of BMC 1120‑1‑2. Unfortunately now the the the Bronzed Proof has been replaced with a currency specimen.

George III (1760‑1820), Set of 3 Cartwheel Proof Pennies, 1797,