Goldberg Coins & Collectibles Auctions    
       

       

                             



Sale 31: The Pre-Long Beach Auction May 30 - June 1, 2005
             

             
            Lot 2169Great Britain. Copper "Royal Farthing" (1625-49). Charles I. 
            S-3189. Mintmark bell on obverse (struck 1634-35). These earliest of 
            coppers, which first appeared in the previous reign, are really 
            tentative efforts by the mint to produce small change for the masses 
            of citizens. Wretched is what most of them are today, ugly and 
            blackish gray, bent and damaged, full of bronze diseases. That's the 
            norm. Here, however, is a most happy exception, which NGC claims is 
            Mint State for its sharpness, and it most probably is, but 
            traditional collectors of these would probably label it "Good EF" 
            and would be thrilled to find it! Wear or its absence is axiomatic 
            in such coins as these, where rarity rules. The obverse shows a 
            small, light scratch revealing bright copper. NGC graded MS-62 
            Brown. 
            Estimated Value $100-150. 

            Provenance: The Cheshire Collection.
             Realized $150
             


          








Courtesy Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers, Beverly Hills, CA. www.goldbergcoins.com