@bosox said:
Leonard C. Wyon, the engraver who designed it. His initials are on the neck truncation. At least one very lightly used 1870 die did not have the initials and produced a very scarce variety. PCGS calls that the "No LCW" variety. The No LCW die was likely a trial die that was later used up coining business strikes.
There is also a possibility that if unsigned it could originally be the work of Thomas Minton. With the RM producing the dies, the fact it is Canadian has little bearing on the subject unless evidence be produced dividing the colonial workload.
According to records, the diademed head obverse pattern pennies dated 1862 through to 1870 for Britain was from a model by W Theed. That much is agreed. As these are given to Minton, with no reference to LCW, it is possible that the former was given the job of making a set of denomination obverses, with LCW doing a finishing job once agreement was reached on the design. LCW was the chief engraver of dies at the time, but with Thomas Minton credited with producing the diademed head obverse, it begs the question. The larger denominations are truncated at the neck, whereas the base coins cover the bodice in addition, but both are strikingly similar, and possibly the work of the same hand.
Proof one way or the other would be good, but I suspect may only come from a contemporary lead splash.
An 1870 pattern penny below which I bought in the last Sovereign Rarities sale is here.
I had a really hard time with that sale, a difficult time understanding the high prices for even cleaned and damaged pieces. I did end up overpaying for one, a pretty basic, collector quality coin. Bought it as a type (the earlier small head version) and to add to my collection of pedigreed coins.
There were a few I was really interested in, but the bids were SO strong, I couldn’t justify it at all. Not just a bump in price, but multiples of what I would pay, or could pay, with a little patience.
Who is this Grundy anyway? Is the pedigree really adding THAT much?
Comments
Sweet. The Sower is such an iconic image.
AU 55
A nice example of one of the lesser available dates within the PCGS set.
Congrats to the winners of some extreme rarities in this series from yesterday’s Grundy auction.
One of three proof pattern 1849 10R’s. SP65, the Norweb coin an SP64 and the Restrepo plate lesser quality.
Latin American Collection
My first Stacks Bowers win. Not high grade but I liked the color.
Charles II (the Merry Monarch) surely knew how to have a good time.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
March of Time - 27 Centuries in Gold
https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=36590
Nice on @OnlyGoldIsMoney. I really like the look on that one. Nice win!
There is also a possibility that if unsigned it could originally be the work of Thomas Minton. With the RM producing the dies, the fact it is Canadian has little bearing on the subject unless evidence be produced dividing the colonial workload.
According to records, the diademed head obverse pattern pennies dated 1862 through to 1870 for Britain was from a model by W Theed. That much is agreed. As these are given to Minton, with no reference to LCW, it is possible that the former was given the job of making a set of denomination obverses, with LCW doing a finishing job once agreement was reached on the design. LCW was the chief engraver of dies at the time, but with Thomas Minton credited with producing the diademed head obverse, it begs the question. The larger denominations are truncated at the neck, whereas the base coins cover the bodice in addition, but both are strikingly similar, and possibly the work of the same hand.
Proof one way or the other would be good, but I suspect may only come from a contemporary lead splash.
An 1870 pattern penny below which I bought in the last Sovereign Rarities sale is here.
Another semeuse, from the Heritage auction yesterday. Anyone else win one?
My current "Box of 20"
Large tombac medal commemorating Canada's Diamond Jubilee in 1927along with original case.
Phil Arnold
Director of Photography, GreatCollections
greatcollections.com
Favorite Grundy pick up:
NGC AU 58
I like that @MEJ7070 !
I had a really hard time with that sale, a difficult time understanding the high prices for even cleaned and damaged pieces. I did end up overpaying for one, a pretty basic, collector quality coin. Bought it as a type (the earlier small head version) and to add to my collection of pedigreed coins.
There were a few I was really interested in, but the bids were SO strong, I couldn’t justify it at all. Not just a bump in price, but multiples of what I would pay, or could pay, with a little patience.
Who is this Grundy anyway? Is the pedigree really adding THAT much?
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
Cool case from Heritage which came with my Grundy new purchase
Latin American Collection