Lot 398
Victoria (1837‑1901), Crown, 1847, cinquefoil stops, young filleted head left, W WYON. RA raised on truncation, date below,
Ancient, British and World Coins, Tokens and Medallions | 111
Auction: 5 July 2023 at 09:50 BST
Description
Victoria (1837‑1901), Crown, 1847, cinquefoil stops, young filleted head left, W WYON. RA raised on truncation, date below, toothed border surrounding both sides, legend surrounds VICTORIA DEI GRATIA. Crowned quartered shield of arms within laurel wreath, reads BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID DEF, edge inscription with cinquefoil stops, DECUS ET TUTAMEN ANNO REGNI XI (S.3882; ESC. 286; Bull 2567). Uneven tone with some surface haze, few contact marks and nicks both sides, otherwise pleasing definition in the portrait, free from any major edge knocks. Very fine.
The young head Crowns of Victoria by William Wyon are and remain difficult to grade, what can be said is that in true uncirculated state with mint bloom and brilliance they are unquestionably very rare coins. Offered in four key years; the Proof of 1839, then a short sequential run from 1844 to 1847 with a combination of star or cinquefoil stops on the edge. There are also some patterns available for commerce [see, Baldwin’s Auction 42, lot 1163 – Linecar and Stone 36]. A true uncirculated example would comfortably retail for £5,500 plus in today’s market, by uncirculated they would need to show all of the design elements on both obverse and reverse in a sharp and consistent manner, probably an impressive tone with mint bloom would go hand in hand with the above; ideally one would hope or presume a provenance would also be latched on to a coin of this hypothetical grade. At a lower to middle and upper middle grade they are invariably batched together, the disparity of pricing is considerable and disjunctive. The coins in and of themselves are ambiguous to grade due to the way in which they are struck, not least gauging the relief and mint brilliance on these types is also a difficult task. Thus, many of these coins in both auction itineraries and within dealers stock trays will inevitably be in between grades.
