| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 30246 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Great Britain George VI gold Matte Proof Sovereign 1937 PR64 PCGS, KM859, S-4076 var. (matte finish), Marsh-296C (R6). This piece is a true numismatic treasure, representing the pinnacle of rarity. The unique matte finish of this specific piece stands out strikingly against the typical brilliant Proofs of the same year, with its mustard-yellow planchet evolving to autumnal tones at the edges. Unlike some sandblasted coins that exhibit a 'stippled' or wispy texture, this coin maintains a smooth, sleek appearance without any reflectivity, ideal for photography. While we have had two opportunities to handle the matte 1937 1/2 Sovereign, this is our first instance to offer a full Sovereign of this intriguing finish. This offering, being the tied finest among only three recognized by NGC or PCGS, is expected to attract significant collector interest. It is a remarkable artifact of British numismatic history, embodying extreme rarity and meriting a place in the most distinguished collection of British gold. Ex. Auction World 7 (January 2017, Lot 1127) The abdication of King Edward VIII in December 1936, to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson, led to his brother George VI ascending the throne. This necessitated the scrapping of already prepared dies featuring Edward's portrait and the creation of new ones for George VI, from which the 1937 coronation Proof Sets were minted. With 5,501 sets struck in gold, these sets are relatively common today; however, the challenge at the time was how to advertise these new coins due to the limitations of photographic technology in the late 1930s, especially for capturing numismatic items. Early sales catalogs resorted to wax casts for illustrations, but by the 1930s, flash photography had become popular, although it proved unsuitable for brilliant Proofs because of the metal's reflectivity. As a result, the Royal Mint had to individually sandblast each coin to reduce their glossiness for photography, deviating from the typical method of sandblasting the dies before striking the coins. This painstaking process was applied to only a few coins, making them incredibly rare and sought-after today. From the Ezen Collection https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/great-britain-george-vi-gold-matte-proof-sovereign-1937-pr64-pcgs-/a/3115-30246.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3115-05082024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
