British Coins from the Collection of Ian Sawden

George III (1760-1820), Pre-1816 issues, A 1788 Pattern Halfpenny in gold:

Restrike Pattern Halfpenny, 1788, by W.J. Taylor after J.-P. Droz, in gold, from an altered Bermuda Penny die, laureate bust right with mass of hair curls under truncation, diamond stops, x in rex double-cut, rev. Britannia seated left, spear in right hand and left arm resting on shield, scroll pattern border to robe, rudder and palm in exergue, edge plain, 23.58g/12h (BMC – [dies of R 23]; WR – Selig –). Trifling marks in fields, otherwise brilliant, a spectacular coin of the highest rarity £20,000-£26,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, British Coins from the Collection of Ian Sawden.

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Provenance: J.G. Murdoch Collection, Part III, 15-19 March 1904, lot 221 (part); E. Roberts Collection, Plymouth Auction Rooms (Plymouth), 18 April 2008, lot 14.

Although C.W. Peck did not record any gold restrike halfpence of 1788, he would have been aware of the descriptions of the pieces in Murdoch collection (lots 219ff), doubtless the source for his comment ‘Restrikes R 20 to R 25 very probably exist also in gold’ (BMC, p.255)