1860 F762 (Gouby A1+a; Freeman 1**+A) – inverted die axis (R19)
Originally thought to be an early pattern for the “new” bronze coinage to be issued in 1860, it is now considered that these early beaded border strikings with obverses A and B (Freeman 1** and 1*) were intended for circulation until the queen requested modifications to her nose and eye. Very few specimens of these early “unadopted” obverses found their way into circulation.
The key identifiers for this variety are (for obverse A) the long stem of the top right clover leaf stretching down to the rose and (for reverse a), the crosses of Britannia’s shield being edged by 2 close raised lines with her thumb short of St George’s cross.
This is the only bronze penny variety struck with the reverse “upside down” with respect to the obverse.
This variety is described in a very interesting article on the early beaded border pennies by Paul Holland in the British Numismatic Journal 2017 (pages 191-202).
Example 1
Note: all specimens have obverse Gouby A1 with R & E of REG not touching at the base
Michael Gouby 2001
Example 2
Sold by Dix, Noonan & Webb as part of the Laurie Bamford collection (June 2006)
Resold by Spink in September 2015 as part of the Andy Scott collection (lot 519)
Resold in March 2018 by London Coins (for £3978)
Example 3
Held in a private collection