Bentley Has The Midas Touch The Great British sping may have been a wash out so far but the sale of The Bentley Collection raised more than a few smiles (as well as hands) as part one of the collection got off to a flying start.
circles and bevelled rim both sides, VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:, rev struck en medaille, after Benedetto Pistrucci, St George slaying dragon with sword, horse with long tail, three strand end to tail, one spur of extra hair on curve of tail, dragon with 4 claws to left and 3 to right arm, all attached, broken lance on ground-line to left, WWP in relief under lance, date in exergue, tiny B.P. to upper right, edge plain, 7.98g, 21.8mm (WR 324 R5, this coin illustrated; Murdoch 512; Nobleman 274; DM 214). Well defined strike with a pleasing red tone, mint state FDC and of the highest rarity.
Plate coin in Wilson and Rasmussen
presumably ex Capt. K J Douglas-Morris, Sothebys, 26 November 1974, lot 214
ex Spink Numismatic Circular, December 1992, item 7602
ex Spink Numismatic Circular, May 1993, item 2554
ex Spink Numismatic Circular, February 1994, item 169
This Proof is of the highest rarity and was perhaps struck by order of the Melbourne Mint for display at the International Exhibition in 1880 in Australia. Deputy Master of the Melbourne Mint V Delves Broughton approached the London Royal Mint during 1879, and C W Fremantle, Deputy Master at London, supplied two specimen proofs of each coin in issue, one to display an obverse, the other to show a reverse. Note the bevelled finish to the usually raised rim.
For further reading see the Journal of the Australian Numismatic Association, Volume 2, 1986, article by John Sharples “The Numismatic Collection of the Museum of Victoria.”
Estimate: £12,000-15,000
Hammer: £20,000
320 Victoria, Proof Sovereign, 1887, engraved after William Wyon, young head left of third rendering, hair with double fillet, WW buried in thin truncation in relief, finely toothed border within twin linear concentric circles and raised rim both sides, VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:, the last letter doubled, rev struck with inverted die axis, after Benedetto Pistrucci, St George slaying dragon with sword, complete hem to cloak, horse with short tail, three strand end to tail plus one higher, two spurs of extra hair on curve of tail, dragon with 3 claws to left and 4 to right arm, all attached, broken lance on ground-line to left, WWP in relief under lance, date in exergue, tiny B P to upper right, no stops, the P incomplete, edge milled, 8.01g, 22.1mm (WR 332 R5; DM 218). Brilliant mint state and of the highest rarity.
ex Grant Collection of English Milled Coins, Spink Auction 107, 22 November 1994, lot 434
The final year for the young head design upon the coinage was 1887, thus resulting in some young head Sovereigns of proof quality from highly polished dies being struck probably as a matter of record for the Mint and for presentation to highly important persons.
Estimate: £12,000-15,000
Hammer: £22,000
Notes to the Editor:
• Established in 1872 A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd has over 100 years experience in servicing the numismatic industry.
• Baldwin’s auction department was established in
