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Auction: 21122 - Spink Numismatic e-Circular 8: The Rymer and Trajan Collection of English and World Coins
Lot: 5406

William and Mary (1688-1694), Halfcrown, 1689 PRIMO, conjoined busts right, seriffed V in GVLIELMVS, rev. reads FRA for FR, first shield, caul and interior frosted, with pearls, lettered upwards, 7h (ESC 829 [507B] [R2]; Spink 3434), rubbed with some flawing by reverse shield, otherwise the variety rare and seldom encountered at auction or private sale listing, in NGC holder, graded VG8 (Cert. #6135235-001)

Provenance
Spink, 24 September 2008, lot 951 [part]
Seaby, 1953


As fascination with the English Coinage finds new heights as a consequence of recent COVID lockdowns, the subject of 'discovery pieces' should come to prominence amongst mindful collectors. As is the case of this offering, which at the time of our 2008 sale was accompanied by correspondence with Messrs Seaby, the result of which brought recognition of the FRA spelling as a variety of this broad 1689 Halfcrown series. Further cursory study by the cataloguer has confirmed that the unusual seriffing to the first V of GVLIELMVS is also a unique feature of this die marriage with all of the few specimens of the FRA type encountered possessing the form, but with no other precedent across the rest of the series. Close examination would suggest it a deliberate feature rather than a die break, but why such styling would apply only to the first V of GVLIELMVS is not clear.

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Sold for
£220

Starting price
£100