Victoria 1887 proof Halfcrown unrecorded die variety

Victoria (1837-1901), silver Proof Halfcrown, 1887, crowned and veiled Jubilee type bust left, rare Davies variety with open lace at front of veil, angled J type J.E.B. on truncation for engraver Joseph Edgar Boehm, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding both sides, VICTORIA DEI GRATIA, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, within Order of the Garter, French garter motto HONI. SOIT. QUI MAL. Y. PENSE.. date either side of St George and dragon at bottom, the one of date in line with a border tooth, BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF: (Bull 2772; Davies 640 dies 1+A; ESC 720; S.3924). Slightly uneven tone, otherwise practically as struck, has been graded and slabbed by Coin Grading Service UK as a 78 and their database variety 07, Davies only records the open lace veil for the currency coin and does not record the reverse 1 to tooth variety at all, extremely rare.

CGS UK certification 38864-HC.V1.1887.07

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

London Coin Grading Service as it is now termed, claim that grade 78 in their 100 point system is a traditional "UNC" and equates to an American Sheldon scale of 63-64.

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

Provenance:

London Coins, Auction 151, 6^th December 2015, lot 2653.