Lot 1351
Great Britain. Coronation Gold Proof set, 1937. George VI. An unusually fine and especially brilliant set that consists of the following four coins: 1937 £5 S-4074 PCGS graded PR65 Deep Cameo; 1937 £2 S-4075 PCGS graded PR66 Cameo; 1937 Sovereign S-4076 PCGS graded PR65; and 1937 Half Sovereign S-4077 PCGS graded PR64 Cameo. All are Terner Registry coins. Each coin has beautiful old-gold color. The PCGS grades seem harsh to this cataloguer, who has owned many dozens of these sets, few of which have equaled this one. The Half Sovereign has only a few whispy hairlines and looks like a Gem. The rarity of these sets in top grade is not fully appreciated, for most have been poorly handled since 1937 and have numerous scratches and other abrasions. This is the official coronation gold set for King George VI, the last gold Proofs minted in England until 1980. For the past twenty-four years or so, the Royal Mint has become quite a commercial enterprise, and the recent gold Proofs were made in large numbers, as many as could be sold each year. Such was not the case for earlier gold sets, the last of which was this 1937 issue. Records vary slightly, but the mintage is now generally taken as only 5,001 sets (formerly it was thought to be 5,501). The cataloguer would estimate that perhaps three-quarters of all the sets made in 1937 have been impaired to some extent. The present lot is an original set, matched in color. It is typical for some pieces to have cameos while others do not. The £5 in this set has the deepest cameo contrast imaginable, and is exquisite in and of itself. Nice sets have sold this year for some $5,000 in England. This set should be worth more but we will give a more reasonable estimate. Total: 4 coins.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
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| Realized $4,974 |
