Australia: Victoria gold Proof Pattern 1/2 Sovereign 1856-SYDNEY PR65+ Ultra Cameo NGC,...

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Fully Gem Proof Plain Edge 1/2 Sovereign Pattern with a Century's-Old Provenance

Victoria gold Proof Pattern 1/2 Sovereign 1856-SYDNEY PR65+ Ultra Cameo NGC, London mint, KM-Pn5, McDonald-003 (this coin), Rennik-pg. 24, Marsh-381B (R6), QM-233 (R6; this coin). Type II. Plain edge. By Leonard Charles Wyon. The absolutely ideal "sister" coin of the same-dated Sovereign in this sale, which, much like that piece, offers the prospective bidder plenty of reasons to stop and pause. Though awarded a technical certification just shy of PR66 Ultra Cameo by NGC, it is impossible not to see this specimen as edging on that designation in every sense. Its fields--mirrorlike from an arm's length--turn from oscillating honey-gold brilliance and jet-black depth to an almost silky texture on the reverse when viewed head-on. Tender die polish fills the open expanses, with hardly a stray mark to be observed anywhere. According to our research, the coin offered here likely belongs to a small body of 3 traceable examples in auction records from the last several decades and likely still held privately--the other two appearing in Noble Numismatics Auction 62 (November 1999, Lot 1420), also ex. Spink Australia Sale 22 (July 1987, Lot 1879), cited by Rennik; and another formerly in the Pretoria Mint South Africa Collection up to 1996, and offered by Noble Numismatics in their Auction 80 (November 2005). One example is held by the British Museum (1919,0512.14), while the Museums Victoria record none among their holdings, nor did Hocking note any in the Royal Mint Museum's collection. Further topping these statistics with its illustrious pedigree and status as the lone certified representative, we can only anticipate the heights to which this offering will soar.

Ex. Quartermaster Collection (Monetarium, Australia June 2009, Lot 233); Winsor & Sons to Tom Hadley (Quartermaster) in 2003; Morton & Eden Auction 6 (December 2003, Lot 521); Spink Australia Auction 6 (November 1981, Lot 985); Farouk Collection (Sotheby's February 1954, Lot 846) [part]; J. G. Murdoch Collection (Sotheby's July 1903, Lot 616) [part]

From the Regent Collection

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