1860 F8D (Gouby B+c; Freeman 1*+C) (R19)
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striking, it is now thought that coins with obverse A and B (Freeman 1** & 1*) were intended for circulation but withdrawn because Queen Victoria demanded some changes to her image (eye and nose) although a few specimens found their way into circulation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).
The key identifiers for this variety are obverse B as described above and (for reverse c), the crosses of Britannia’s shield being edged by 2 far raised 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 4).
Example 1
Photographs courtesy of Dix, Noonan & Webb
Sold in June 2006 by Dix, Noonan & Webb as part of the Laurie Bamford collection
Example 2
Sold in September 2010 by Colin Cooke as part of the James Workman collection
Example 3
Held in a private collection