1860 F8B Bronze Pattern (Gouby B+b; Freeman 1*+B) (R19)
Note: Although originally thought to be an early pattern striking, it is now thought that coins with obverse A and B (Freeman 1** & 1*) were intended for circulation but withdrawn because Queen Victoria demanded some changes to her image (eye and nose) although a few specimens found their way into circulation.
Obverse A cape Obverse B cape
Obverse B varieties tend to be rarer than those with obverse A and it is not always easy to differentiate between the two obverses on worn coins. On obverse A, the stem of the upper right clover (or shamrock) leaf is long and terminates at the rose. On obverse B, the rose is more compact and much further to the right (and therefore closer to the Order of the Garter) and the stems of the top 2 clover leaves join above the lower clover leaf (the clover leaves are all much smaller than those on obverse A). The Order of the Garter on obverse B is larger than on A and extends beyond two border beads. The other distinction, which is useful on worn specimens, is that the colon dot nearer the cape almost touches a slight indentation in the cape on Obverse A, but is marginally further away from the (non-indented) cape on Reverse B (which is also more heavily engraved with incuse lines, clearly visible in the picture above).
Some other indicators of Obverse B on very worn specimens are shown below:
This can be identified as obverse B by the fact that the inside edge of the Order of the Garter touches the top centre of the right-most border bead (see higher quality specimen further above). The small circled indentation above the 7th bead from the right is the last remnant of the rose, which is further to the right than on obverse A. |
This can be identified as obverse B by similar factors to the photograph on the left, including the indentation above the 7th bead. |
The key identifiers for this variety are obverse B as described above and (for reverse b), the crosses of Britannia’s shield being edged by 3 incuse lines with her thumb touching St George’s cross.
In the 2003 edition of his book “The Early British Bronze ‘Bun’ Pennies 1860 to 1865 and their Varieties”, John Jerrams’ census (up to September 2001) recorded 4 specimens (as Satin 3).
Example 1
Sold in January 2007 by Colin Cooke as part of the Alderley collection
(Also sold by Baldwins, date unknown)
Example 2
Sold in November 2010 by Colin Cooke as part of the James Workman collection
Example 3
Held in a private collection
Example 4
Provenance unknown
Example 5
Sold on Ebay in February 2021
Example 6
Sold on Ebay in February 2021
Example 7
Sold on Ebay in July 2021
Example 8
Listed on Ebay in February 2022
Example 9 ?
Sold by London Coins in March 2024 but I am not fully convinced that it is obverse B (for £643-50)