1084586 | GREAT BRITAIN. Victoria. (Queen, 1837-1901). 1845 (ND) AR Pattern Piefort Uniface Crown. NGC MS65. Edge: Plain. VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR : REG: F: D:. Young head, left / Blank; beaded border. Unlisted in all references, including Linecar & Stone and ESC.

A superb and enigmatic pattern; struck with a 33mm diameter on a piefort planchet and thus designated by NGC as a "crown". This piece was possibly by L.C. Wyon but more likely struck as a private pattern for Spink by Lauer in Nuremberg in the 1880s. Unfortunately there are no surviving records at Spink, as their records were destroyed by fire in World War II. We know Lauer made uniface strikings and was not conforming to the British weight standards, which may explain the slightly light weight for a crown. The portrait seems to match the Victoria pattern crown noted as ESC-342a in the old edition of ESC, which was struck by Lauer (https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/world-coins/great-britain-victoria-gold-pattern-crown-nd-1887-/a/3021-21015.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515). This piece is struck in sterling (.9774) silver.


Please use this link to verify the NGC certification number 2740215009