Geroge III Newp 1812 18 Pence - Yahooo!!!

JCMhouston · February 19, 2014 11:25AM

I posted this a while back, wondering if it would grade or not, and if so would they give is a 58 for the cabinet friction on the obverse. Just got the grade posted today and they gave me an early Christmas present, a 63. Talking with Baldwins they believe there are 5 of these in existence.

LineItem Year Mint Mark Variety/Pedigree Denom. Grade Comments Comments
001 1812 BANK OF ENGLAND ESC-975 BARE HEAD SMALL REVERSE LETTERS 1S/6P MS63

Guess I should go out and buy some lottery tickets now, although I still would just give it a 58 personally.

I just managed to complete a deal on this coin, which won't seem very impressive when you see it but makes me very happy. This is ESC 975 - 1812 Proof 18 Pence Bank of England Token with small letters reverse, considered a pattern for the laureate head design used from 1812-1816. ESC lists this as an R7 (1 or 2 known) but it seems more likely to me that there could be as many as 4-5 around, although I can't prove it. There have been at least 4 sales of one of these since 1900 but without images available you can't conclude how many of those sales were the same coins. There is 1 example certified at NGC and after this one arrives that will go up to 2, although this one may only grade genuine.

So it has a few issues, and the images certainly don't make the toning look attractive, but since I may never see another one for sale I figured I better go ahead. Luckily since there are only 2 of us in the world that collect these (and the other guy doesn't have an internet connection) the price was surprisingly cheap.

mnemtsas2 · February 19, 2014 11:28AM

I like the toning, looks original. I love your comments on the scarcity and the size of the market

Looks rubbed on the highpoints?

marcmoish · February 19, 2014 11:52AM

nd the other guy doesn't have an internet connection) the price was surprisingly cheap.

lol

You might get it graded - don't be so sure it merits only genuine details

JCMhouston · February 19, 2014 12:01PM

Thanks, I agree, it may well grade 55-58, just depends on how bad the reverse scratch looks in hand.

LochNESS · February 19, 2014 6:28PM

Aw man, what's this? I was really excited to see a Geroge III token! Way to get our hopes up!

Seriously, a cheap R7. wow. Did the seller not realize what they had? Well done, sir. Well done indeed

STLNATS · February 19, 2014 9:49PM

Who cares what it grades after all? An attractive and apparently quite scarce example of an interesting series that anyone would be happy to have. Congrats.

nicholasz219 · February 19, 2014 10:26PM

That's an awesome coin, the first time I have seen one. Very nice pick up JCM!

theboz11 · February 19, 2014 11:21PM

Nice snag, WTG. You just have to love Great condition ultra rarity on the cheap.

7Jaguars · February 19, 2014 11:42PM

Our hosts have been occasionally very strict on grading these patterns, and on occasion not. The obverse edge details and perhaps the cheek/jowl has a couple of hits that might limit grade. 55 still seems possible. I had a pattern that IMO was def. a 61/2 that came back 55 (interestingly it also fit the TPG Achilles Heel of being a matte pattern that none of the "Big Two" seem to reliably or reproducibly grade)...

1960NYGiants · February 20, 2014 1:07PM

I see some "cabinet" friction. Looks Proof 62 to me.

lordmarcovan · February 20, 2014 4:38PM

Nice. The proof striking sure is crisp.

Did you get the modest goodies I sent a while back, from one of the giveaways tied to my England trip?

I still owe Ilafoe a holey George III gold half-guinea, but he's never contacted me back so I can send it to him!