British Bronzed Proofs
Yorkshireman
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What was the point of “bronzing” a British copper proof coin? George III era)
Any background or insights would be appreciated,
Yorkshireman,Obsessed collector of round, metallic pieces of history.Hunting for Latin American colonial portraits plus cool US & British coins.
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I believe only the Soho Mint made bronzed proofs, not the Royal Mint. Experts, please correct me if I'm wrong.
I think they did it for beauty, just like they did some gilt proofs.
Soho made many coins for presentation (gifts, advertising, collectors) and they wanted those coins to look nice. Soho took great care in design, engraving, and striking, so the coin's finish is just another part of that.
The US Mint also bronzed copper medals in the early to mid nineteenth century for that same reason.
Bronzing does help protect the surface of copper to some extent, and that may have played a part as well.
Thank you!
That makes sense.
Medals were routinely bronzed as it seems to have provided a more evenly toned product over time. Presumably copper proofs were similarly treated for the same reason. Consumers like a consistent product.
Bronzed proofs were produced as presentation pieces whether by Soho or the RM and not intended for circulation. e.g. the boxed proof year sets for 1826, 1831, 1839 all contained bronzed coppers. 1853 is a much rarer year for proof sets, and in this case the bronzed examples are the rarities. There were a few bronzed proofs of the bun head coinage, with the latest being dated 1867. The earlier dated bun heads were considered to be later strikes by Peck, but he didn't offer a date. This is the ex Fred Baldwin, Norweb, Nicholson and Cheshire Collection 1867 bronzed proof halfpenny (previously NGC 66).
The last bronzed coins produced were probably for 1839 sets, which appear to have been produced until the mint was refurbished in 1882, this based on the 1839 proof sixpences known with final young head obverse introduced in 1880. These late pieces probably also account for the (unusual and rare) inverted die axis proofs, my halfpenny of which is a reworked 1841 obverse die (previously NGC 63). Note the heavily polished surface resulting in a noticeable thinning of the letters and loss of peripheral detail to the bust and hair.
As others have said, the look. Bronze also holds up better than just copper, especially if you as a patina to it. Maybe they were just trying to stabilize the surface.
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