Lot 2287
Great Britain. Pattern Farthing in silver, 1713. Queen Anne. Peck-746. Very rare. Britannia seated on globe, with shield below her left arm. Flan 23mm in diameter. Aside from the deeply toothed borders, and different placement of the date and reverse legend, this is the design ultimately used for the commercial copper issue of 1714 (S-3625). Most observers would argue that the later placement of the date within the exergue, rather than at the end of the legend as seen on this pattern, ultimately produced a neater and more balanced design, which is also to be seen on the example of P-758 in this collection. The first patterns of this exact style were struck in copper, and Peck labels the silver strikes with slight variation in the style of the obverse letters "pieces de plaisir," suggesting unusual experimentation at the mint. Rarely does the student of coins have a chance to compare a "linkage" of styles, as are presented in this collection, to literally view the design of a coin as it evolved through a variety of "thinking stages" to completion and final issuance to the public. Additionally, this is a beautiful specimen, a very choice example of light silver-gray toning enhanced by delightful "splashes" of iridescence. NGC graded Proof 64.
Estimated Value $2,750 - 3,000.
The Cheshire Collection.
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