2573

Great Britain. Pattern Penny, 1797

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:550.00 USD Estimated At:1,100.00 - 1,200.00 USD
Great Britain. Pattern Penny, 1797
<Our item number 138660><B>Great Britain. Pattern Penny, 1797.</B> Peck-1083. Copper. George III. Obverse: Draped laureate bust of King right. Small letters. M B &#40;Matthew Boulton&#41; incuse on scroll under head. <I>Reverse</I> Helmeted Britannia left with trident. <B>NGC graded Proof 62 Brown.</B> <BR><BR>The story goes that this, and a very similar coin &#40;P1080/81 with a somewhat larger bust&#41; were the very first patterns for a currency penny produced by Boulton. These were shown to King George III who approved this, the smaller portrait for what was to be Britain&#39;s first circulating penny, but rejected the helmeted Britannia as &#39;too warlike.&#39; Britannia was duly redesigned minus the helmet, and with a prominent olive branch, for the currency issue, and she was destined to be without a helmet until her appearance on the Pistrucci farthing of 1821!<BR>This rare and historically interesting piece has lovely surfaces under a dark chocolate tone. One of the very few coins to have Matthew B oulton&#39;s initials prominently featured, and a true pattern in every sense. <BR>Estimated Value &#36;1,100 - 1,200. <BR><BR>Our item number 138660<BR><IMAGES><P ALIGN="CENTER"><IMG SRC="http://www.goldbergcoins.net/liveauction/48jpegs/138660.jpg"> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.goldbergcoins.net/liveauction/48jpegs/138660N2.jpg"> </P></IMAGES>