Victoria 1887 pattern Florin, rarest die variety CGS 82

Victoria (1837-1901), silver Proof or pattern Florin, 1887, slightly smaller crowned and veiled Jubilee type bust left, I.E.B. on truncation for engraver Joseph Edgar Boehm, no hooked J but I, wider gap below bust to rim, 8 beads on each arch of crown, cross at top does not meet border, fuller garter star on breast, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding both sides, VICTORIA DEI GRATIA, rev. crowned cruciform shields, sceptres in angles, garter star at centre, date either side of top crown, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, BRITT: REG: FID: DEF: (Bull 2950 R7;cf.Davies 810-1; ESC -; S.3925). Attractively toned, some light hairline marks otherwise practically as struck, has been graded and slabbed by Coin Grading Service UK as UNC82, extremely rare, only the third this cataloguer has seen.

CGS UK certification 38863-FL.V1.1887.09

London Coin Grading Service as it is now termed, claim that grade 82 in their 100 point system is a traditional "choice UNC" and equates to an American Sheldon scale of 64-65.

The Latin legend translates as "Victoria by the grace of God," on the obverse and "Queen of the Britons, Defender of the Faith." on the reverse.

Struck for the fiftieth anniversary, Golden Jubilee of the reign.

This variety of the proof Florin is most probably a pattern but some seem to have been issued in the proof sets. It is quite distinctive with the wider gap between the truncation and the rim (not the norm as suggested by Bull), and with I.E.B. on truncation rather than J.E.B. the cross on the crown does not meet the border, and the crown arches have an eighth pearl tucked up next to the central jewel at top. Additionally, the garter star is fuller with more rays projecting some 225 degrees around, rather than less than 180 degrees on the regular proof, the lower pearl of the earring is much larger than the one above and the necklace pearls are more bulbous than the regular proof coin. The reverse seems to match the regular proof Florin. This cataloguer was first made aware of this variety back in 1999 when the dealer Peter Wallwork of Grantham Coins came in to Spink with a full gold proof set that contained one of these unusual Florins wanting a second opinion upon it. Having purchased that set containing this variety of Florin, it has taken till now to secure another to offer for sale, having previously seen the ex Peter Davies piece offered by London Coins in 2009, making a total of three pieces this cataloguer is aware of.

Provenance:
London Coins, Auction 151, 6^th December 2015, lot 2431.