1871 Proof Half Sovereign - PCGS PR66DCAM

Great Britain, 1871 Proof Half Sovereign -

Today, the Royal Mint issues new proof coins almost every month, but during Victoria’s reign, commercial proof coin issues were far and few between. An even rarer occurrence was the minting of VIP proof coins; these exclusive coins were made to order in minimal quantities and struck to the highest proof standards. The present coin, photographed here, is one of those coins. Rare in any grade, this 1871 proof half sovereign, bearing die number 1, is in superlative condition, and one of the few to appear on the market in the last decade. In fact, a quick check of our records indicates that just two coins have been exhumed and offered to the market since 2012. The coin on offer here is the single-finest graded by PCGS and NGC (7/24), and is the plate coin in the Wilson and Rasmussen standard reference, English Pattern, Trial and Proof Coins in Gold. If you’re a serious collector of important British rarities, or just a casual accumulator seeking to add a unique and pedigreed coin to your collection, this is your coin.