Goldberg Coins & Collectibles Auctions    
       

       

                             



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

             
            Lot 2333Great Britain. Halfcrown, 1732. George II, young draped 
            bust. Roses & Plumes reverse. S-3692. Edge not visible in the slab. 
            Rare type, made from what is called "West Country" silver alloy, ore 
            taken from mines in Wales and vicinity, supplied by the Company for 
            Smelting Pit Coale and Sea Coale, whose symbols were the roses and 
            plumes seen in the open quarters of the reverse shield. What we have 
            here is a simply fabulous example, a wonderful Gem Uncirculated 
            halfcrown, with almost perfect surfaces showing no abrasions of any 
            note, a generally sharp and nicely balanced strike that shows only a 
            touch of softness at the center of the reverse shield and perhaps in 
            the deep recesses of the king's hair, which also shows lines through 
            it, produced at the mint during the rolling process of the silver 
            bar out of which blanks were stamped. These provide a glimpse at the 
            minting technology of 1732. A little die-rust may be seen in the 
            obverse field. The toning is a lovely golden silvery gray, with 
            bright white luster peeking out here and there among the letters and 
            devices. One of the finest of this type seen by the cataloguer over 
            more than 25 years of working with British coins. NGC graded MS-65. 
            Estimated Value $3,000-3,500. 

            Provenance: The Cheshire Collection.
             Realized $2,700
             


          








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