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Auction: 24004 - British and World Coins and Medals Spring Auction
Lot: 239

George II (1727-1760), 'Old Head' Half-Guinea, 1746, intermediate laureate head left, reads GEORGIVS, rev. crowned garnished shield, edge obliquely grained, 4.20g, 6h (MCE 355; Schneider II, 603; EGC 648 [R2]; Spink 3683A), some die softness to hair curls, otherwise beautifully toned with reddish-orange hues overlying handsomely cartwheel lustrous, about extremely fine, a choice example of this one year type, very rare thus and a and former celebrated Terner reference coin, unencapsulated, and formerly certified by PCGS as AU58+, the second finest at PCGS [Cert. #90060908]

Provenance

Sovereign Rarities, by private treaty, ref. EM16241 - wherein graded PCGS AU58+ [Cert. #90060908]

CNG MailBid Sale 69, 8 June 2005, lot 2175 - $1,300

CNG Auction 66, 19 May 2004, lot 2011 - wherein graded PCGS AU55 - [Unsold]

Dr Jacob Y. Terner, Goldberg 20, 26 May 2003, lot 185 - "a choice coin with pleasing eye-appeal, the best 1746 located in 22 years" - $2,100

The cataloguer's note would indicate a period of acquisition in 1981, since which point the Norweb coin (1985-1987) and a Stack's specimen surfaced at global public auction that would be considered comparable. Despite the excellent eye-appeal of this particular coin, across the PCGS and NGC censuses at least three coins exist between MS61 and MS63, before this latterly AU58+ and formerly AU55 graded coin was positioned, thereby objectively testing the veracity of such an auctioneering claim.

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Sold for
£2,200

Starting price
£1200