Edward VIII 1937 matt proof Threepence, PF61, ex Globus and Portraits of a Prince

Edward VIII (Jan-Dec 1936), half-silver matt Proof Threepence, 1937, bare head left, HP below for designer T Humphrey Paget, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, EDWARDVS VIII D: G: BR: OMN: REX, rev. struck en medaille, three interlinked rings of St Edmund, lower legend THREEPENCE, upper legend :FID: DEF: : IND: IMP: 1937, edge plain (Giordano P5b; cf.Bull 4015 R7; ESC -; S.p.512 note). Toned with some light flecks and spots, practically as struck, the only known example with a matt finish, has been graded and slabbed by NGC as PF61, of the highest rarity thus.

NGC Certification 696286-002.

The Latin legends translate as on obverse "Edward the Eighth, by the grace of God, King of all the Britons," and on the reverse as "Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India."

The matt proof coins of this period are of the highest rarity as they were only produced for photographic purposes for internal use within the Mint to go toward promoting the eventual coins to the press when released. As Edward VIII's coinage was never issued it seems only a few matt proofs of the smaller denominations, had been produced by the time of the abdication. This coin is therefore unique at the current time and was last sold publicly at auction in Stacks of New York in the late 1990s.

Bull did not list the matt proof for the silver threepence.

For further reading of how the proposed coinage progressed from start till the King's abdication please see "The Proposed Coinage of Edward VIII" by G P Dyer, published by HMSO 1973.

Provenance:

Ex Dr Alfred Globus, Stacks, New York Coin Convention Auction, 1st December 1999, lot 1003.

Ex Portraits of a Prince, collection of Joseph S Giordano, Spink Auction 206, 21^st October 2010.