May 26-27, 2003, The Dr. Jacob Terner Collection

May 26-27, 2003, The Dr. Jacob Terner Collection, Sale 20
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British Gold Coins

Lot 236
Great Britain. Guinea, 1797. George III, 5th Head. S-3729; Fr-356; KM609. Spade-shaped shield. Lustrous and choice. Rare grade. Purchased in 1987. PCGS graded MS-63.
Estimated Value $750-1,000.

King Farouk's 1798 Incuse Pattern half Guinea

Lot 237
Great Britain. Pattern Half Guinea, 1798. By Lewis Pingo with incuse engraving! WR-132, listed in that reference as R7, possibly unique (just 1 or 2 known). George III, small laureate head with short locks and a tie down the back of the king's neck, with a double border. On the reverse a unique design: four oval shields incuse, cruciform-style, with a small raised crown atop each by the border, and in the field between the shields the date 1798 in reverse, one incuse digit in each quadrant. Engrailed, or obliquely grained, edge. A marvelous Specimen of excellent quality, exhibiting lovely old reddish gold toning. PCGS graded Specimen 63. Color photo.
Estimated Value $10,000-15,000.
Ex Montagu, Brice, Murdoch and Farouk.

Proof 1798 Pattern Guinea

Lot 238
Great Britain. Pattern Guinea, 1798. Struck in gold by Kuchler. George III, Soho Mint style with broad rims and a cameo appearance, similar to the 1791 pattern in this collection, but on a thin flan. WR-110. DM-116. Stop after GRATIA. R6, extremely rare (only 3 to 5 known). A very choice, brilliant cameo Proof. PCGS graded Proof 62 Deep Cameo. Color photo.
Estimated Value $4,000-6,000.
Ex Herman Selig Collection.

Lot 239
Great Britain. Overdate Half Guinea, 1798/7. George III, 5th Head, so-called Spade-shaped reverse shield. S-3735; Fr-362; KM-608. For many years in the standard reference, this was an unlisted overdate - despite the fact that the 8/7 feature is very bold and obvious. Now it is listed, albeit with a modest valuation, despite the fact that this is the only Mint State example encountered in our 22 years of searching. It's a marvelous specimen with gleaming luster and superb original color. Among the finest known, not only for the overdate but also among its type. PCGS graded MS-63.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,000.

Lot 240
Great Britain. Half Guinea, 1798. George III, 5th Head, so-called Spade-shaped reverse shield. S-3735; Fr-362; KM-608. One of the first coins purchased, back in the early 1980s, and for all the succeeding years its equal has never been seen. Very rare indeed in this exalted state of preservation. PCGS graded MS-64.
Estimated Value $1,250-1,500.

Lot 241
Great Britain. Guinea, 1798. George III, 5th Head. S-3729; Fr-356; KM-609. Spade-shaped shield. This is the most often seen date of this series, yet it is seldom found in this stunning condition. Exceptionally fine! Purchased in 1983. PCGS graded MS-61.
Estimated Value $700-900.

Lot 242
Great Britain. Guinea, 1799. George III, 5th Head. S-3729, Spade-shaped shield. The rarest and last date of this type. Late die state (minor "crumbling" or die rust around some letters). An impressive guinea, boldly struck with gleaming luster! Purchased in 1993, after 13 years of searching for a fitting example. PCGS graded MS-63.
Estimated Value $1,200-1,500.

Lot 243
Great Britain. Half Guinea, 1801. George III, 6th (laureate) head. S-3736; Fr-363; KM-649. The portrait is a modification of that used previously mated with the "spade" reverse, but now having the crowned oval Order of the Garter shield on the reverse; this militaristic emblem was called on as a more political device, as these coins were intended to pay English soldiers and sailors fighting against Napoleon. Again, the engraving is of a shallow nature, making grading more difficult than for other types. This piece is especially nice with a really bold strike. PCGS graded MS-62. Color photo.
Estimated Value $500-700.

Lot 244
Great Britain. Half Guinea, 1802. George III, 6th (laureate) head. S-3736; Fr-363; KM-649. This short-lived design pairing was produced for only three years running; it is one of the few types in which Dr. Terner succeeded in locating nice examples of all issued dates. This piece is lustrous with an especially sharp strike on the shallow engraving. PCGS graded MS-61.
Estimated Value $300-400.

Lot 245
Great Britain. Half Guinea, 1803. George III, 6th (laureate) head. S-3736; Fr-363; KM-649. The last date using this portrait, with firey luster and an especially sharp strike. PCGS graded MS-63.
Estimated Value $400-600.

Lot 246
Great Britain. Half Guinea, 1804. George III, 7th ("military") head. S-3737; Fr-367; KM-651. This final design type of half guinea was struck for 8 years, through 1813, but was not issued each year. It is the half-size version of the famous Military Guinea. As only 2 dates were ever located in Mint State, during 22 years of hard searching, it's evident that most of these perished abroad or were subsequently melted, following the conclusion of the Napoleonic War. This is a nice choice example. PCGS graded MS-63.
Estimated Value $400-600.

Extremely Rare Yorkshire Gold Token of 1812

Lot 247
Great Britain. Yorkshire " phoenix' gold Token 10/6 (two-shillings and sixpence, or Half Guinea), 1812. Issued by merchants Younge, Wilsons & Younge, of Sheffield. Listed on page 46 as #37 in Dalton's classic reference on the token coinage of 1811-1812, one of only three such tokens known to exist in gold. The mythical bird is seen rising from the flames. This is a major gold-token rarity which fits well among the final series of half guineas, as it was made strictly for emergency use in a time of specie shortage, during the war against Napoleon. No 1812-dated regular issue half guinea was struck, possibly accounting for the sudden appearance of this intriguing piece. Extremely rare (R4 or R5), just a handful known. Choice surfaces with prooflike qualities, and sharp details. One of the finest survivors of its tumultuous era. PCGS graded AU-55. Color photo.
Estimated Value $5,000-7,000.

Shamrock Pattern 'Military' Guinea of 1813

Lot 248
Great Britain. Pattern Military Guinea, 1813. By Thomas Wyon. George III. Four kinds of reverse designs were executed in gold for the various patterns of the Military guinea. This one features an elegant crowned shield, with sprays of rose, thistle and shamrock at the base, the date split in two flanking the crown at top. Reeded edge. WR-119. DM-122 (this coin is superior to D-M's). Struck en medaille. R6, extremely rare (just 3 to 5 known, including those impounded in museums). This specimen is exceptionally choice, with brilliant mirrors, the cameo portrait and other devices beautifully frosted, producing strong contrast. Exquisite! PCGS graded Proof 63 Deep Cameo. Color photo.
Estimated Value $7,500-10,000.
Ex Plumbridge Collection.

Very Rare Proof 1813 Third Guinea

Lot 249
Great Britain. 1/3 Guinea, 1813. George III, 2nd Head with short hair (the style used on the Military guinea). Reeded edge. Engraved by Lewis Pingo after Marchant's model. WR-140. R6: just 3-5 specimens known. S-3740 for type, 1813 being the second rarest and final year of issue; thus this is obviously a Proof of Record, made to mark the end of this denomination. This is a splendid cameo specimen, with glittering mirrors and wonderful, original gold color. PCGS graded Proof 64 Cameo. Color photo.
Estimated Value $5,000-7,000.
Its provenance is impeccable: ex Virgil Brand, and most recently ex Norweb (11-86, lot 1032). The distinctive Norweb envelope accompanies this lot.

Choice Proof Military Guinea of 1813

Lot 250
Great Britain. Guinea, 1813. George III, 6th (Military) Head. WR-114. S-3730; Fr-357; KM-664. Reeded (curved graining) edge. R4, very rare (11 to 20 known). Proof of Record, for the currency issue of this year, those coins intended to pay troops abroad fighting Napoleon's armies. Seldom seen in any state, let alone this splendid grade. Cameo portrait. PCGS graded Proof 64 Cameo. Color photo.
Estimated Value $4,000-6,000.

Lot 251
Great Britain. Half Guinea, 1813. George III, 7th ("military") head. S-3737; Fr-364; KM-651. The king's portrait has something of the "bull neck" features of the silver coins struck beginning in 1817, as well as a Romanesque laurel with a tie running down the back of the king's neck. This final year of the long-lived half-guinea series is a rare date, elusive even in slightly circulated state. This piece is a real exception to the rule among survivors, still brilliant and beautiful, as made. PCGS graded MS-64.
Estimated Value $500-700.

Pattern 1816 Half Sovereign

Lot 252
Great Britain. Pattern ½ Sovereign, 1816. By Thomas Wyon. George III. WR-201. DM-133. Plain edge. An intriguing design, with a classic "bull head" styled bust of the king, and tiny letters in the legend surrounding his head. On the reverse, a large crowned shield of state, with the band of the Order of the Garter surrounding it, and again tiny letters in an outside legend, with the date in tiny digits split by the crown. Rated R5 (extremely rare, 6 to 10 known) by Wilson & Rasmussen, but this cataloguer knows of only two pieces outside of museums. Nonetheless, a great rarity and a true classic pattern from the first year of the New Coinage in gold. No currency half sovereign was coined until the following year, which adds to the allure of this 1816 piece. Dr. Terner was fortunate to acquire this marvelous Proof in 1985 (and the one piece seen subsequently, which had been in the Douglas-Morris Collection, was not as nice as this coin). PCGS graded Proof 63. Color photo.
Estimated Value $5,000-7,500.
Ex Norweb Collection.

Wonderful Proof 1817 Sovereign

Lot 253
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1817. George III. WR-197. S-3785; Fr-371; KM-674. Reeded edge. Proof of Record, struck to preserve examples for museum collections of the then-new gold coin of the realm. R5, extremely rare (6 to 10 known). A splendid, deeply mirrored cameo Proof. The finest of only about 5 pieces seen in 22 years. PCGS graded Proof 63 Cameo. Color photo.
Estimated Value $4,000-6,000.

Very Rare Proof 1817 Half Sovereign

Lot 254
Great Britain. ½ Sovereign, 1817. George III. Reeded edge. The first year of the New Coinage, which replaced the time-tested half-guinea series with a slightly lighter but decidedly more modern coinage. S-3786; Fr-372; KM-673. WR-204 (as R4). A lovely choice Specimen, very rare so fine. Purchased in 1983. PCGS graded Proof 64 Deep Cameo. Color photo.
Estimated Value $3,500-4,500.

Proof 1818 Sovereign

Lot 255
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1818. George III. WR-198. S-3785A; Fr-371; KM-674. Reeded edge. Another Proof of Record, but this one is even rarer! R6, extremely rare (just 3 to 5 known). We watched the London sales, passing two or three pieces (probably the same one, in fact) as not good enough, until this marvelous coin appeared in 1989. It's a spectacular cameo Proof. PCGS graded Proof 64 Cameo. Color photo.
Estimated Value $7,500-10,000.
Ex Sharps-Pixley Collection.

Extremely Rare Proof 1818 Half Sovereign

Lot 256
Great Britain. ½ Sovereign, 1818. George III. Reeded edge. S-3786; Fr-372; KM-673; WR-205. R5: extremely rare, just 6 to 10 known in all grades. A choice piece with a lovely cameo contrast. PCGS graded Proof 64 Deep Cameo. Color photo.
Estimated Value $6,000-8,000.

Shamrock Pattern 1820 Half Sovereign

Lot 257
Great Britain. Pattern ½ Sovereign, 1820. George III. WR-206. Plain edge. Designed and engraved by Thomas Wyon and Pistrucci. DM-138 (this coin). Portrait similar to that on WR-202 but the surrounding legend is in larger letters. Reverse: thistle, shamrock & Tudor rose, with a crown above, and legend surrounding in letters of the same size as used on the obverse. A neat design that fits perfectly onto the flan; unfortunately it was not used for the currency coinage! R5 (6 to 10 known), claim Wilson & Rasmussen, but we feel it is rarer. Nonetheless, a great pattern rarity which has a lovely cameo contrast and is exceptionally well preserved. PCGS graded Proof 64 Cameo. Color photo.
Estimated Value $10,000-15,000.
Ex Douglas-Morris and Pellegrino Collections.

Laureate Head Pattern 1820 Half Sovereign

Lot 258
Great Britain. Pattern ½ Sovereign, 1820. George IV Laureate Head, by Pistrucci. WR-239. DM-146. Reeded edge. An ornate reverse shows the crowned Hanover shield, with inverted legend "ANNO 1820" surrounding it, garnished with sprays of rose, shamrock and thistle. R7: just 1 or 2 known, and very possibly unique. A lovely Proof with the portrait brilliant (not frosted), while the reverse devices are deeply frosted. PCGS graded Proof 64. Color photo.
Estimated Value $10,000-15,000.
Ex Douglas-Morris Collection.

Ultra-Rare Cameo Proof 1820 Half Sovereign

Lot 259
Great Britain. ½ Sovereign, 1820. George III. Reeded edge. S-3786; Fr-372; KM-674; WR-207. So rare that Wilson & Rasmussen were not able to provide a photograph of it in their reference book, nor do they attempt an estimate of its rarity. The only Specimen this cataloguer has ever encountered, in 22 years of searching. Possibly R7, 1 or 2 known. A delightful, choice piece with light cameo contrast. PCGS graded Proof 64 Cameo. Color photo.
Estimated Value $4,000-6,000.

Lot 260
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1820. George III. S- 3785C; Fr-371; KM-674. Large date. One of the first coins bought for the collection, in 1980. Dr. Terner sought a choice Proof for all the succeeding years but could never locate one. He also discovered that Uncirculated examples of the various varieties of this, the last year of George III's sovereign, are also elusive. PCGS graded MS-62.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,000.

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