Goldberg Coins & Collectibles Auctions    
       
Sale 31: The Pre-Long Beach Auction May 30 - June 1, 2005
Lot 2286

Great Britain. Pattern silver Halfpenny (1712-14). Queen 
Anne. Undated. Peck-727. 29 mm in diameter. Rated "extremely 
rare" by Peck. A fascinating coin, made under the direction 
of mint master Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most notable of 
England's scientific thinkers of that age. 
Reverse: early, sharply engraved Britannia motif, 
resembling Queen Anne in facial features and body style. Above her, suspended in the air, a crown.
In Anne's time the only issued coppers were the rare farthings of 1714. A series of patterns for the coming 
halfpenny was made, of which this is an excellent example. 
Peck claims (page 183) that this was struck during Anne's 
final year, or perhaps even shortly after her death, in 
1714. 
Double-struck reverse on the border, showing an extra row of 
denticles from 1 to 7 o'clock
Peck believed that only 2 pieces were known to exist. NGC graded AU-58. 
Estimated Value $3,250-3,500. 
Provenance: The Cheshire Collection.

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